I really like carrot cake and I really like carrots in tea. I think they lend a natural sweetness and a bit of a vegetal flair that compliments a lot of blends very nicely. I have had a lot of luck with A Quarter to Tea’s blends lately. I am really in love with this company. They ship fast and they just do a fantastic job with the teas. You can tell a lot of care has been given to the blends and it really shows in the bright and rich flavors.
I only recently found out about genmaicha green tea. It is (usually) sencha green tea along with rice/popped rice. It gives the green tea a starchy and toasted taste. On its own its plain, in my opinion. However, flavored genmaicha is where it’s at. The toasted flavor of the popped rice accents a lot of different flavor combinations really, really well.
I was excited for the frosted carrot cake genmaicha. A little hesitant, though. Some companies tend to over-spice carrot cake blends. Sometimes its just too spicy for me. If you’ve read my other reviews you will know that I really don’t like stuff that’s spicy. Anyways, back to frosted carrot cake. Um, YUM! Yes, yes, I am in love with yet another tea from A Quarter to Tea. I swear I am drinking liquid carrot cake with a vanilla buttercream. The spices are not too strong and do not overpower that sweet and vegetal taste of the carrots, but they actually accent it well along with a subtle cake flavor. Then the flavor of a yummy vanilla frosting comes in at the end. Another win, people.
A Quarter to Tea is rocking this whole “tea blending” thing.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
A cup of well-spiced carrot cake accented with raisins and pineapple for sweetness and a sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Peeps Genmaicha from A Quarter To Tea. . . Take That Tea Name In. . .
That is right. Someone has combined Peeps with tea-or at least the flavor of Peeps with tea.
Peeps seem to split people into two groups, those that love them and those that despise them. I belong to the group that love them. I’ve yet to met a marshmallow product that I don’t adore.
Peeps Genmaicha consists of sprinkles, sencha green tea, popped rice, marshmallow root and a few other natural flavorings. You just have to love the sight of this tea. All of the lovely sprinkles adding a wonderful touch of spring to the blend.
As I steeped (170F water and used my Boreal Wildcraft-the WALL tea infuser) this tea, I sat in awe and enjoyed the delicious aromas that were coming from my cuppa. There was such a wonderful sweetness with a toasted note that I couldn’t get enough of. When the tea was ready, I allowed the tea to cool for a few minutes and greedily gulped the brew down.
Think fluffy toasted marshmallows with a buttery rich finish. That is exactly what this tea tastes like. There is a subtle Peep noticeable flavor but I would honestly compare this tea more to a toasted marshmallow that you would roast over an open flame without any of the campfire smell. You can literally taste the ooey-gooey roasted marshmallow sweetness.
Right along with the marshmallow flavor, there is also this wonderfully addictive vanilla pudding note that is apparent in about every other sip. I find myself craving that flavor and wanting more of it.
Genmaicha has always been on of my favorites and to have that lovely flavor paired with vanilla and marshmallow flavors is just brilliant. I took down 2 oz of this tea in just a few days and will be ordering 4oz of this tea as soon as I can. This is one of those teas that I literally infuse the leaves until they can not give anymore and promptly set myself up with fresh leaves to start all over again. And since I’m using my WALL tea infuser, I just keep adding water so I have a continuous brew waiting for me.
Highly recommend this blend and this will be a repeat buy for me. Here’s to hoping Lauren @A Quarter To Tea will keep this blend in permanent lineup and not just in her spring collection . Peeps Genmaicha is that good.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
A toasted marshmallow delight with roasty genmaicha, marshmallow, and brightly colored sprinkles
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Honey Mead from A Quarter to Tea. . . . .
I have had one other flavored genmaicha blend from A Quarter to Tea and I was not a fan. Now that I think about it, my dislike was probably due to improper steeping on my end but nonetheless, the memory had me wary of buying another flavored genmaicha offering. However, when I see flavored genmaichas I feel compelled to buy them anyways, plus the honey in the title was just calling to me. Consequently I bought a mere sample size and now I am kicking myself for not getting more because this is ah.may.zing!
I should mention I have never actually had mead so I can’t speak to whether this tastes reminiscent of its namesake or not but I can say there is a whole lot of honey here and I am loving it. It is sweet and flavorful without being cloying or over-the-top. A lot of that is probably due to the roastiness of the rice toning down the sweetness of the flavoring. Add to that an almost citrusy brightness that is coming from what I imagine is supposed to be the mead element that creates yet another layer of flavor in the mix. I also like that the base is present enough to be detected but neither grassy nor vegetal. It is more like a mellow hay note that meshes seamlessly with the other components.
There’s a lot to keep me interested but nothing that is so powerful that I could grow tired of it after a few cups. So ultimately I was expecting the worst and was instead pleasantly surprised by a tea I could see myself enjoying again and again without getting bored. And that to me is the sign of a pretty great tea!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: A Quarter To Tea
Description
Sencha and toasted rice make a toasty and sweet base for apple, buttered rum and honey flavors (which are accented further with honeysuckle). Comforting and revitalizing.
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Pop Goes Life! from TeaTaxi. . . . .
I am always excited for a flavored genmaicha. Now 52 Teas is normally where I find them but every so often they pop up at other companies too. This is Tea Taxi’s take on one and it is quite nice.
With this blend the genmaicha seems to be the focus. The main flavor is the roastiness of the popped rice. There is also an underlying note of cereal that I would attribute to the rice as well. The green tea base is really quite mellow but is contributing a slight vegetalness that compliments the roastiness. However, it conflicts slightly with the strawberry flavor – one that is true to the fruit and thus not too sweet but still. It is not as prominent as you would expect but instead provides just enough of its flavor to keep things interesting and unique.
Tea Taxi suggests having this blend while watching your favorite flick. Instead I am sipping on it while watching A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix. The two are actually pairing well together as the show is in very muted colors and this tea reflects that with its more subdued taste.
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type :Flavored Green Tea
Where to Buy: Tea Taxi
Description
Sip this green tea while watching your favorite flick
Learn even more about this tea and tea company here!
Pumpkin Spice Latte Genmaicha from 52Teas
I’ve been on a Smallville Kick lately…binge watching the series on Netflix. I wouldn’t call myself a SUPER FAN of SUPER MAN but after watching this series it occurred to me just how much I remember of the Superman Storyline and Comics from childhood thru adulthood. The classic line “It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s SUPERMAN!!!” comes to mind with this tea and here’s why…
It’s a Green Tea…It’s a Genmaicha…it’s Pumpkin Flavored…it’s a Spiced Latte…it’s all of the above, really! Pumpkin Spice Latte Genmaicha from 52 Teas is another iconically flavored Genmaicha offering from 52 Teas!
Upon opening the packet I could easily identify the pumpkin, the pumpkin spice, the pumpkin spice latte, the genmaicha, the mallow root, the spices individually and as a group, the creamy vanilla, and the toasty and roasty popped rice! There is so much going on here but it all ties together and makes COMPLETE sense and makes for an incredible cuppa!
I’m not sure why most of us only enjoy spiced pumpkin flavored things as a seasonal treat. Of course I know that is all based on it being harvest time and have pumpkin available but I think the flavors are tasty all year round.
Regardless when ever I am able to get my hands on this flavored green tea I gladly will! It’s a real beauty!
Here’s the scoop!
Leaf Type: Green Tea
Where to Buy: 52Teas
Description
This time of year, it seems impossible to avoid the Pumpkin Spice trappings – there are pumpkin spice goodies every where you turn! Well, rather than fight ’em, I decided to join ’em and create a Pumpkin Spice treat of my own! And why not? I love the flavor! The pumpkin is sweet yet savory and the spices add a lovely, deep warmth to the pumpkin notes.
I started with organic Matcha infused Genmaicha and added chunks of real, dehydrated pumpkin, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla bean and marshmallow root to create a tea that’ll make you happy this time of year has finally arrived! This tea is terrific served straight up, but a drizzle of honey in this is oh-so-nice!
ingredients: green teas*, popped brown rice*, dried pumpkin chunks, marshmallow root*, crushed and whole allspice*, cinnamon*, nutmeg*, vanilla bean* and natural flavors*
*denotes organic
