Jimmy Tian

The Maeda-en Traditional Genmai-cha is a typical looseleaf genmai-cha.
Pricing is around $4.50/150g looseleaf bag, or around $30/kg.
The ‘Golden’ label simply states a higher ratio of roasted rice to tea, making for a flavor that somewhat reminds of barley tea.
The sencha itself is of somewhat lower quality, although due to the nature of genmai-cha the flavor is not affected and the rural-tasting essence is preserved.
The flavor is very rustic and full-bodied.
It is recommended, Maeda-en has not dissappointed.

I had this at a local tea and coffee shop.
My first taste of this was:
Wow, this is a mild tea.
When I usually drink Darjeeling, I expect some characteristics of it. A light fruity/floral taste (without any notion of added flavorings, of course.)
However, this Darjeeling was rather tasteless, except for the musty dry taste of tea.
A bit of sugar was needed to finish what was in the end a rather dull and unentertaining tea.

A blend of tea with other spices and flavorings, Czar Nikolas II Premium Russian Tea presents itself as very light. I agree with the previous reviewing in saying that this tea is basically good for one steeping only. A sip reveals a light tea taste, but with the presence of more than subtle mint flavoring. A true subtle taste reveals itself below the mint flavor, and that is of, in my opinion, roses. Although not a fan of flavored teas, Czar Nikolas II Premium Russian Tea replicates in affordable style the unique taste of Russian tea-making style. It should be recommended to all those who want to taste the tea of a country little-known for its tea culture.

I’d rather shoot myself than drink this again.

Weak, too minty, and lacks tea flavor.
Rather disgraceful for it to be called Green Tea.

Not too strong, nor overpowering.