Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Aiya
Tea Description:
Matcha Infused Genmaicha is a traditional Japanese Sencha blended with toasted brown rice and premium Matcha green tea. The refreshing flavor of Sencha combined with the nutty flavor of toasted brown rice, plus the resilient color and mild sweetness of Matcha make this tea distinctly delightful.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Revew:
Having previously tried Aiya’s Organic Matcha Infused Genmaicha, I was happy to have this opportunity to try this: their conventionally grown Matcha Infused Genmaicha Green Tea, not only to compare my tasting notes from the two teas, but also to experience more of Aiya’s exceptionally high quality tea!
The dry leaf smells a lot more vegetative than I expected … I noticed very little of a toasted rice scent and more of a leafy/grassy green scent with notes of warm, nutty toasted rice in the background. Once brewed, however, the toasted rice notes really came forward! My kitchen was filled with the deliciously roasty-toasty scent of genmaicha, and my mouth began to water as I anticipated my first sip.
Similar to the Organic Matcha Infused Genmaicha from Aiya, I noticed that the brewed tea did not have a cloudy appearance, nor was there Matcha sediment at the bottom of the cup or the teapot. I also noticed when I measured the Genmaicha into my teapot, that there wasn’t a lot of loose powder to the dry leaf. Usually, with Genmaicha blends that have been enhanced with Matcha, there is a powdering of green dust as well as a cloudy cup of tea. This is one area where this tea from Aiya is remarkably different from other Genmaicha teas of this sort.
The flavor is so lovely! No wonder this tea won second place in the North American Tea Championship. This is deliciously sweet, nutty, and warm! Genmaicha usually evokes thoughts of autumn for me because of its warm, roasty-toasty taste, and this experience is no different. And because I am hoping for a speedy spring and summer so that I can enjoy autumn once more, my thoughts of autumn this afternoon are definitely welcome!
But there is also a freshness to the taste, courtesy of the Japanese Sencha base. The green tea tastes sweet, grassy, and has just a hint of savory bitterness that sort of perks the palate up and keeps the flavor interesting. I taste the sweet notes of the Matcha as well, and there is the slightest creamy note from the Matcha which is quite a nice complement to the warm, toasty rice flavor.
I found this experience with the conventionally grown Matcha Infused Genmaicha to be similar to that of the Organic variety, but I think that the flavors here might be a little less distinct. The tones of the rice, the savory quality of the Sencha and the sweet, creamy notes of the Matcha are less defined here, providing a more homogenized flavor that is at once sweet, savory, warm, toasty and creamy, with the toasty rice notes standing out as the strongest notes, and the savory notes lingering on the tongue in the aftertaste. And to tell the truth, I enjoyed both teas very much, and this experience was not so unlike the other that I would choose the other over this one based solely on taste alone. However, I probably would choose the organic because it is organic. Both teas are of excellent quality and superior taste!
Organic Sencha Green Tea from Aiya
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: Aiya
Tea Description:
Organic Sencha is one of the highest in quality in the Japanese internationally certfied organic Sencha category. This grade of Organic Sencha is rare even in the Japanese market. This tea is grown to meet strict organic regulations while maintaining a light refreshing flavor and aroma with a clear green appearance.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Aiya is one of those companies that I have complete confidence in – one of those companies that I know will always provide top-quality products. Like this Organic Sencha Green Tea! This tea is absolutely wonderful!
It is very much what I’d expect from a Japanese Sencha: light, vegetative, and refreshing. However, one thing that I’m not finding in this Sencha is that hint of bitterness that I find in some Japanese Sencha teas. This one is so smooth and sweet – and I detect not even a hint of bitterness and no astringency either!
The flavor is crisp with a pleasant sweetness. It has a mellow, vegetative taste that teeters the line between sweet-grass and steamed spinach. There is a vague softness to this … almost creamy, but not in a buttery creaminess kind of way. Rather, it’s what I’d describe as a smooth, round flavor. The aftertaste is pleasantly sweet.
I love this Sencha – and I appreciate that it’s certified organic! It tastes great – one of the nicer Sencha teas I’ve encountered recently. That’s what I mean when I say that Aiya is one of those companies I can trust to deliver top-notch products. This Organic Sencha is a perfect example of their quality!
Organic Gyokuro from Aiya
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Aiya
Tea Description:
Organic Gyokuro is one of the rarest teas in the world. Aiya has exclusive experience working with Japanese farmers to achieve this high-level of Gyokuro which meets international organic standards. Fresh shade grown leaves are carefully handpicked to maximize Gyokuro’s natural sweetness.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Organic Gyokuro from Aiya tea is truly a tea to experience. There is a velvety feel in the mouth when sipping this Gyokuro from Aiya. I love grassy teas, this is a true vegetal delight without being too heavy, yet its not so light that you need to search for the flavors.
The vegetal notes are similar to steamed spinach, a little on the sea-weed side, I get kelp in that aspect. It is lightly buttery, but more creamy than buttery. It has a soothing quality that reminds me of the feeling I get when I eat oatmeal, but it tastes nothing like oatmeal. It just has that warm feeling, like a comfort food, this is a comfort tea.
I feel very centered and balanced when I sip this tea, and it makes me feel like I am doing something really wonderful for my body, and mind. Gyokuro is known for its balance of sweet and bitter, even when steeped properly there is a slight astringency in the sip. Yet, it is sweet as well, which brings this perfect harmony to the cup. Its the perfect balance indeed.
Interestingly there is a long lingering flavor left on the palate that is reminiscent of roses. Overall it is very green tasting, but I do love this lasting floral note.
There is just something special about Japanese Green Tea, something that only high quality companies that have high standards can bring us as tea lovers. Aiya brings us some of the best examples of excellent Japanese Green Tea.
Organic Sencha from Aiya
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Aiya
Tea Description:
Organic Sencha is one of the highest in quality in the Japanese internationally certfied organic Sencha category. This grade of Organic Sencha is rare even in the Japanese market. This tea is grown to meet strict organic regulations while maintaining a light refreshing flavor and aroma with a clear green appearance.
Preparation:
Bring the water to a boil and allow it to cool to 80°C/176°F. Steep 1 heaping teaspoon (3g) of Organic Sencha for 1.5 minutes in 1 cup (240 ml/8 oz) of hot water. With this tea, one can pour more hot water over the tea leaves and enjoy another cup.
Ingredients:
Organic Japanese Green Tea – Organic Sencha
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Organic Sencha from Aiya provides a clear, clean, flavorful cup. Aiya’s sencha is organic, which is always a plus in my book.
Steeped correctly, (175 degrees, or 80c, for 1.5 minutes), you will find no astringency or bitterness in Aiya’s Sencha.
I found this cup to have a nutty appeal, grassy of course, and just a slight seaweed flavor. While also vegetal, I find the vegetal notes to be somewhat tame.
Sencha is the most popular tea in Japan from what I have learned, and I can see why. It is light, clear, refreshing, flavorful, and thirst quenching.
Sencha can be enjoyed both hot and cold.
This sencha also leaves a lovely floral essence on the palate. It is a surprising and delicious experience.
Aiya’s website is truly a sight to behold. The flash site has a cool viewing and user experience, although it takes a little time to learn proper navigation, I did enjoy it and I am not one who is usually partial to flash sites.
Aiya sells their Organic Sencha for 25.80 USD excluding any applicable taxes in an 80 gram size and I do believe that it comes in its own tin, which is always a plus.
I have also found some useful and fun information on their blog, which is mostly dedicated to matcha. You can find Aiya’s blog here.
Organic Gyokuro from Aiya
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Aiya America
Tea Description:
Organic Gyokuro is one of the rarest teas in the world. Aiya has exclusive experience working with Japanese farmers to achieve this high-level of Gyokuro which meets international organic standards. Fresh shade grown leaves are carefully handpicked to maximize Gyokuro’s natural sweetness.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Having previously tried their Premium Gyokuro and loving that experience, I thoroughly looked forward to trying the Organic Gyokuro offering from Aiya. The teas from Aiya have become synonymous with the absolute highest quality Japanese teas for me … and this Organic Gyokuro is no exception. This is amazing!
The dry leaf has a delicate vegetative smell that is reminiscent of the air in the morning in early spring … just after a full night’s rainfall. Imagine waking up, the sun is shining after a rainy night, and the air smells so fresh and clean and the smell of new spring grass surrounds you. This aroma is amplified after I brewed the tea and poured it into my teacup. It smells so sweet, so crisp, so GREEN!
And it tastes amazing. Seriously, if you like Gyokuro, you’ve GOT to try this. It has such a pure, sweet taste that is unrivaled in any other green tea. It is delicate … but not so delicate that the flavor is lost. Instead, the delicateness of this tea just enhances the overall experience … the flavors seem to float across the palate. The vegetative notes are prominent, and it tastes like something between steamed spinach and a mild kelp-y taste … but without the brine-y overtones. It has a smooth, brothy mouthfeel … this tea feels and tastes as though it is nourishing and nurturing me from the inside out.
And don’t overlook the multiple infusion possibilities with this tea … the initial price of this tea may seem high but when you account for the fact that you can get several infusions out of one measurement of leaves, this tea becomes a good value and merits that investment … especially if you’re one who values good taste!