Gen Mai Cha

I wanted to get a different genmai cha to compare to the stuff that I’ve gotten in the past from Maeda-en. I know that the Silk Road Teas have a good reputation and I got a bit of this at the local Whole Foods this afternoon in the bulk section.

I believe this blend has slightly more green tea than what I am used to. And I’m not sure I’m a huge fan of whatever green tea this is here as the base. I am getting a bit of astringency/bitterness which is one thing I am not fond of about senchas. It does have a nice nutty quality and I like the brown rice but in my opinion it’s just ok. If I was on a desert island with no other Japanese green tea I would be happy with it, I’m sure. Of course now I am spoiled after drinking gyokuro this morning!

The first loosed leaf tea I ever bought. Recommended to me by the fact that if I like the green tea they serve as complimentary drinks at Japanese restaurants then I’ll probably like this. I do c: Sweet and nutty, I like to drink this when I’m eating something like sushi or okonomiyaki.

yum yum yum
Gen Mai Cha is definitely my favorite green so far… well maybe it’s a tie with Jasmine green.

Either way, the Silk Road gen mai cha is as good or better than some I’ve had in Japanese restaurants.
The dry tea is almost equal parts roasted rice and green tea leaves, with a few popped pieces of rice.
The liqueur is quite dark, and the taste is distinctly nutty but still green.

I am one of those people who in general doesn’t really like green tea. I love white tea, red tea, yellow tea, oolong tea, and pu-erh tea, but I rarely encounter a green tea that I enjoy. This particular tea, with the toasted rice and popcorn flavor, is one of only two or three green teas that I really enjoy, even though I feel as though I’m “cheating”, because in a way it’s like drinking liquid popcorn. But that’s not really fair to it, because it does have a hearty, complex flavor. I wouldn’t drink it daily, but it is a treat.