Organic Genmaicha

Backlogging:

So I love Genmaicha, so much, I honestly munch on it right out of the bag, well not the leaves, they don’t chew well, but the rest of it I am guilty of.

Fusion has a nice Genmaicha and its organic, which I prefer when I can get what I am looking for in organic form.

My first teas came from Fusion Teas just this week (this was weeks ago now) and I was really pleased with their packaging. Each foil like bag had a bright cheery label with full steeping instructions. Since I can’t seem to remember from one tea / steep to the next times and temps I love having them provided on the label! Thank you for this Fusion Teas.

Fusion’s Genmaicha is not the strongest flavored genmaicha I have ever had but I like it. Some days I want a genmaicha that is really strong, really “meaty” that I can sit back and savor and sip on for an extended period of time. Other days, especially with summer upon me in the midwest, I know I will prefer a lighter genmaicha and Fusion Teas’ Genmaicha will perfectly fit that bill! While I would not want to go more than a day or two without having a Genmaicha sometimes especially on the hottest of days I just can’t seem to drink a full cup due to its fullness, heaviness, and thickness of mouthfeel but with Fusion’s Genmaicha I know I will be loving this every day all summer long! Its actually one I feel I can chill and enjoy cold!

Genmaicha Light if you will, this tea is also perfect as an introductory genmaicha. Its not too overwhelming and from my own experience introducing people to genmaicha it can be something that people either love or, well, don’t love. I have a good feeling this is one that most everyone will be able to enjoy!

If you have not experienced genmaicha before, think nutty, buttery, lightly sweet, caramel like, and reminiscent of buttered popcorn, yet earthy, and green. Yes I know it sounds like a mouth full!

Fusion Tea Room’s Organic Genmaicha is brewed at 170 degrees F for 2 to 3 minutes. I brewed mine for 3 as I wanted a fuller flavor and usually go for a longer steep time. You can brew from 1 to 2 teaspoons at these settings, I used 1 and a half. I like that you can adjust your steep time and leaf amount to taste as this tea gives a bit of wiggle room for an even lighter or stronger brew!

To me, genmaicha is decadent, an indulgence, yet how can it be when it’s not bad for me? Its something I crave, think about often, I have to keep myself from drinking too much of it from fear I may run out. Did I mention I love genmaicha? The thing is yes there are some genmaicha that are better than others. I had thought I had found my one and only genmaicha, and I will always order that genmaicha from that vendor. The deal is though, now that I have had Fusion Tea Room’s genmaicha I have two I love, one that I believe will become my fall and winter genmaicha, and this one that will be my spring and summer genmaicha! I am just a lucky duck that I live in a state that has four seasons!

Thanks, Azzrian!

So I didn’t wake up until 11:30 and now I am quite pleased that this Universal HD channel is playing James Bond movies all day long. Last night was kind of terrible so I am doing nothing today. Except later painting my nails with previously mentioned James Bond nail polishes.

I used a tablespoon of leaves for 12 oz of water so this is a bit stronger, but I agree with Azzrian that it seems like Genmaicha Light. It’s just really missing the good savoriness I was after with a cup of genmaicha.

It’s by no means terrible, though, it’s just not very savory. It’s sweet, maybe think kettle corn instead of popped rice.

I’ve already got plenty of genmaicha that I like so this one would not be something I want to have around after this sample is done, but it might be a good candidate for a cold brew.

This is the second genmaicha I’ve tried, and this is the second time I’ve tried this one.

Every once in awhile, I get this strange craving for genmaicha, so I brew up a cup (in this case, a small pot), and then as I’m drinking it, I really don’t like it.

But I drink it anyway since it satisfies the craving… and it’s better than actual popcorn loaded with butter!

I’m on my second steeping of this one, and I think I prefer it to Teavana’s Gyokuro Genmaicha. The bancha green is smooth and there’s a bit of caramelly taste toward the beginning of the sip. The rice is toasty but it doesn’t overpower the tea, and it’s very earthy. Not necessarily earthy in the sense that a pu’erh is earthy, but maybe grounded or solid is the word I’m looking for.

I can’t see myself ordering this again, but I’ll get around to drinking genmaichas if people give them to me :)

This is thanks to the Fusion Teas Gang.smiles

1st smell: Truthfully when I smelled it…I didn’t care for it, it didn’t smell bad, it is just…….I didn’t expect it to smell like cereal. None the less I went thru with preparing it. The package said 170 temp, but instead of going lower, I decided to use the green tea button at 175. (The next lowest temp was 160. I felt that would be too low, but thinking next time I will try that one.)
1st taste: With my sugar taste buds being impaired, I added a handful of rock sugar to the cup before pouring, and ended up adding some apriva as well.. Anyways…1st taste: As you might of guessed, with my 1st smell thinking it smelled like cereal, as was my 1st taste. lol. But as I’ve sat down with my cup, I begun to have a growing appreciation for it. For the most part I do like herbal and fruit Tisanes, and fruity white and green teas, but lately alot of my fruit teas have been kind of tasting the same, though varied in strength. That tells me I need to change it up a notch, so hoping that I can find some greens and whites that aren’t fruity, or at least not overwhelmingly.

This is momo’s leftover sample. I downed three cups and burned my tongue. Worth it.

This is my second genmaicha experience, the first one being 52tea’s s’mores genmaicha. I think I love them. It’s like…hot liquid rice crispie treats.