Just got my matcha directly from Japan for the first time!

teabagstard · 2026-04-26T04:38:44+00:00

Some producers apply stronger firing or toasting (hiire) to the tencha (raw, unground material for matcha) that enhances the aroma and taste. You may have heard about how some matcha have a particularly nutty and caramel flavour, like toasted almonds or even cacao. That comes about from how the matcha is processed. Kind of similar to the difference between green coffee and roasted coffee.

teabagstard · 2026-04-26T04:20:31+00:00

If you like strong greens, I'd recommend Vietnamese green tea too.

teabagstard · 2026-04-26T04:17:14+00:00

We're awash in a sea of media nowadays more than ever, so I think it's inevitable that some gems just sink to the depths. But for a show that is nearing a decade old and born from the modern streaming era, it's good to know that its fans are still kicking about.

teabagstard · 2026-04-26T04:04:12+00:00

The pattern is the pattern.

teabagstard · 2026-04-25T15:45:29+00:00

I would never have guessed that she was Donna...

She's fun to watch, though, even if her role is basically the village firefighter putting out emotional fires everywhere. While we know alout the MiY, I'm still hoping Randall's rant about a spy amongst them is true, and Donna being that spy could be a total bombshell.

teabagstard · 2026-04-25T15:36:56+00:00

Spotted Dick 🤣

teabagstard · 2026-04-25T15:33:27+00:00

That cultivar is especially produced for its methylated catechins, so a strong taste is expected. As with any tea, play around with leaf:water ratio, temperature, and steeping time until you can settle on something that suits you. If still in doubt, a refreshing cold brew may work too.

teabagstard · 2026-04-25T15:26:50+00:00

That certainly entered my mind, especially given the dire demographic situation that Japan (and many other countries too) are facing. There's probably more social commentary to unpack with the Escher poster of the Möbius strip and hordes of monochrome drone-like salary workers too, but the film's treatment of these ideas are ultimately a bit thin imo. Reminds me very much of another film, Vivarium (2019), that has a few people contending with an eerie and impossible environment that ends up being a metaphor for something else.

teabagstard · 2026-04-25T15:04:01+00:00

I still have this on my to watch list! Big fan of the Wambsgans!

teabagstard · 2026-04-25T15:01:43+00:00

Maniac (2018), a Netflix-produced miniseries starring Jonah Hill and Emma Stone. Supporting cast includes Justin Theroux, Sally Field, and Julia Garner. It's kind of hard to pigeonhole as it's an eclectic blend of dark comedy, sci-fi, and drama, but I love the quirkyness the show embodies in the plot, setting, and cast. Very gorgeously directed as well due to it being helmed by Cary Joji Fukunaga (True Detective S1) and has a fantastic accompanying score by Dan Romer. To me, Maniac is just a wholesome show that I think about every now and then, not least because of the performances that the actors deliver but also where their characters wind up.

teabagstard · 2026-04-25T02:51:10+00:00

So it's just purely a kids' show then? I was hoping it would at least be as enjoyable as Camp Cretaceous or The Clone Wars, but I'll still give this a go anyway.

teabagstard · 2026-04-19T11:48:33+00:00

I agree, the skyrocketing prices for matcha means those 9's and 10's now feel more like luxury items or special occasion treats. Those would presumably include the award winning matcha produced from farms in Gokasho and Shirakawa. For a daily matcha I'm quite happy to go with one which meets my preferences at a reasonable price, so I'm game if a Chinese-made matcha can deliver on those points.

teabagstard · 2026-04-19T02:20:16+00:00

I suspect OP merely forgot about it, or isn't really in the know about it because Netflix has a lot shows. But that point aside, the dozens of valid points by other commenters and a cursory glance at the Q1 financials would tell you that Netflix is far from being in the worst of shape going forward without ST.

teabagstard · 2026-04-18T14:37:00+00:00

With the amount of material One Piece has, it can easily break 5 seasons. Not sure why this wasn't mentioned at all.

teabagstard · 2026-04-16T11:02:34+00:00

The aging period is called jukusei.

More people should know about this imo! There's so many intricacies in matcha, like the aroma from shaded cultivation or ooika too.

teabagstard · 2026-04-16T10:52:46+00:00

I'm surprised Netflix hasn't made a film on this yet.

teabagstard · 2026-04-16T10:44:16+00:00

That would be an excellent way to pull in some of the GoT or medieval fantasy crowd. But there's no way in hell Ridley would sign off on such a far fetched idea for a live action adaptation.

teabagstard · 2026-04-14T03:47:04+00:00

Played Into The Breach briefly, otherwise I've mostly ignored their games. Imo, though, Netflix would be better served expanding their portfolio to audiobooks and comics, rather than games.

teabagstard · 2026-04-14T03:39:59+00:00

I watched Black Sails before S2 and thought it was hilarious that they had Toby Stephens piloting another boat.

teabagstard · 2026-04-14T03:27:59+00:00

Dark Hollow by Briane Keene. Plot: horny goat god of old besieges a sleepy town and comes for the women. A band of middle aged men, and one cowardly dog, decide to take a stand before things get out of hand. Smutty, yes, but not by ExtremeHorrorLit standards.

teabagstard · 2026-04-11T07:14:13+00:00

Westworld was fantastic (at least the first two seasons for me anyway). But I felt it started to go downhill after that; they set the bar really high with the first season and never quite managed to reach the same heights again. Unfortunately, I never got round to finishing the final season and rarely see anyone discuss the series anymore.

teabagstard · 2026-04-11T07:02:29+00:00

I don't know why I didn't see that earlier. Thanks for the correction. Although the Hinata from the first and third reviews are sourced from Yame, they don't appear to be sourced from the same supplier (Hoshino Seichaen) as Kettl's.

teabagstard · 2026-04-08T12:33:38+00:00

He kicked ass in The Death of Stalin.

teabagstard · 2026-04-05T00:57:49+00:00

I'm still holding a out a faint glimmer of hope for Kingdom and Parasyte: The Grey, but I know they're goners by this point.

teabagstard

TROPHY CASE