Genmaicha

First genmaicha I’d ever tasted, to be honest, in Orpington’s tearoom Mystic Brew. Since then I’ve tried other brands, like the Neal’s Yard Tea Emporium brand, but the bancha they used always seemed a bit lacking, a bit too sharp. This one comes out a beautiful green colour rather then the typical gold of green teas, the bancha is light and the rice really adds a kind of fullness to the flavour. Also, it seems to be a bit more hardy against boiling water and less easy to scald than most green tea blends! Always amazing.

There was a nice roasted brown rice scent. When looking at the leaves you could see the brown rice as well as little bits of popped popcorn. I used 4 tsps for 3 cups of water. Next time I will add one more tsp of tea.

When brewed the liquid was light yellow and there was a light brown rice scent. I taste the brown rice and little bit of the popcorn. When taking a drink there is a light after taste with kind of an astringent lingering flavor.

Overall I like this tea. When I go to a sushi bar I always have the tea and this tea just brings me there.

Rice should be in a bowl and not in my tea.

I enjoy this tea mainly because I can let it steep all day and it doesn’t become bitter. It’s a pretty simple tea and I didn’t notice any difference between this brand and the cheap bag brand off the super-store shelf. Not taking anything away from it, of course; it’s a nice tea throughout the day.