S’mores Genmaicha Green Tea from 52Teas

52teas3_1430856114__73092Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy: 52Teas

Tea Description:

I reblended this tea to fulfill part of our start-up Kickstarter campaign’s add-on offers! This was part of the Genmaicha 3-Tier collection – a yummy blend of Matcha infused Genmaicha green tea and chocolate and marshmallow flavors. I added cacao shells & nibs, mini vegan chocolate chips and marshmallow root to the blend. This is yummy!

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

This gemaicha is a perfect tea for the weather out there today! I’ve battened down the hatches and hunkered down, because the outside world has turned completely white. I’m living in a surreal ghost town of powder. It certainly doesn’t help that the wind keeps whipping up the 3 feet of snow that has already fallen. I can’t even open my front door! And to think it was almost 70 degrees yesterday. That’s Denver spring for ya.

I can’t believe I have already finished this package! I received the 3-tier genmaicha tin set from 52Teas’ initial kickstarter not too long ago. At first I didn’t care for the flavor, especially with the chocolate pieces. It’s a personal pet peeve of mine to have chocolate chips in tea. But I love the flavors of marshmallows and graham crackers, and I did not want to allow these chocolate abominations to keep me from enjoying this tea. So I just picked out and straight up ate the chocolate chips. May I just say that they are a great compliment to the tea – better than if they were in the blend, fusing to the sides of my teapot and creating an odd sludge.

I quickly became addicted to this blend. I think I drank nothing but this tea for about a week straight. It’s so on point – each flavor is well developed and distinct, from the smooth and mellow marshmallow to the crisp and sweet graham cracker right up to the vegetal grassiness and toasty rice flavor of the genmaicha. I love flavored genmaicha, and this blend is a great combination of a funky flavor idea and the classic Japanese green tea.

 

Genmai Cha with Matcha from Sugimoto America

G500L-300Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green Tea (with Matcha)

Where to Buy: Sugimoto America

Tea Description:

Ingredients: Tea Leaves, Roasted Rice, Matcha

Special blend of Genmai Cha and stone-milled Matcha, the powdered green tea for traditional tea ceremony. The added Matcha gives Genmai Cha a smooth body and vivid emerald-green color. Genmai Cha is a toasty, nutty tea and is one of Japan’s most popular varieties.

Use 1 tablespoon (5g) for 12 oz of water. We recommend steeping with 175F water or above for 30 – 60 seconds. Yields approximately 100 servings/package.

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

Genmai Cha with Matcha from Sugimoto America is one of those green teas that I have tried a few times but place in a special section of my cupboard because I don’t want to drink it all at once and run out.

The green tea leaves start very flat and plump up a bit when you add the hot water.  The roasted brown rice looks just like popcorn as it stereo-typically would in a tea such as this.  The matcha looks and smells fresh and crisp and coat every spec of the tea/popped-rice combo.

After you infuse about a tablespoon of the mixture worth in hot water for about 30 to 60 seconds – the aroma is reminiscent of a nice warm spring day in Florida with nearby neighbors mowing their already well kept lawns.  I don’t know if this wicked weather we’ve been having has made me think this way – or if the aroma really DOES take me back to my childhood while visiting my grandparents.  Either way…the aroma is pleasant and warming with a bit of sweetness and fresh grass or greens!

Because of the matcha – you will notice the tea water is a cloudy green/gray – but – this just adds to the overall experience of it all!  The match flavor is great!  The taste and texture of the sip on the tongue is more like a brothy-soup than a tea and it’s more filling that just a regular tea or tisane…it’s more like a meal than a beverage.  It’s completely fulfilling and delicious!

This is a tea to savor, a tea to save for when you really NEED it, a tea to have on hand when you need an escape, and a tea to appreciate.  This is a pure delight!

 

Genmaicha Green Tea from Capital Teas

genmaicha

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Capital Teas

Tea Description:

Known as the ‘People’s tea of Japan’ or ‘Popcorn Tea’, Genmaicha is an all day tea. Roasted rice kernels add a slightly toasty and nutty flavor to the tea, resulting in a refreshing and clear liquor tinged with a slightly olive tint. This tea’s aroma has spicy warm hues of roasted rice. Pairs well with sushi and other Japanese food. Wonderful!

Learn more about this tea here.

Taster’s Review:

What a lovely Genmaicha from Capital Teas!

I love Genmaicha – I love that toasty rice flavor.  It reminds me of the taste of the rice that gets slightly overcooked and caramelized at the bottom of the pan in my rice steamer … its sweet, a little crispy, and just delicious.  It’s my favorite part of when I steam rice … getting to enjoy that little bit of caramelized rice.

This tea captures that flavor perfectly, and combines it with the sweet, vegetal taste of Japanese green tea.  The result is a flavor that is toasty and warm, cozy and delicious.  Something you want to curl up with on a cold day and just sip … but also something that is tasty and uplifting on a warm afternoon.  (I love Genmaicha iced too!)

This is a very straightforward Genmaicha from Capital Teas … it’s exactly what I’d expect from a high quality Genmaicha – lots of sweet, toasted rice flavor, a hint of grassy taste but no bitterness.  Just smooth, pleasing flavor.  Really a wonderful tea.