Genmai Cha

Experience of going to Japantown where I got this tea can be found in my blog, here: http://sanfrantea.teatra.de/2012/05/12/on-a-quest-for-tea-in-japantown/

This genmaicha has more toasted rice than some other brands I have, but I really don’t mind. I got the loose leaf version and it was certainly reasonably priced at $5.00 a bag. I think the green tea here is a bancha. Genmaicha was one of the first Japanese teas I really got into. This has a lovely popcorn aroma and a nice nutty flavor with only a trace of bitterness. A great tea to pair with food, or for the evening time when you don’t want a lot of caffeine.

A very good, every day genmaicha!

I got this tea bag from the Travelling Tea Box which Angrboda so thoughtfully started. I wanted to try a new Genmai-cha, despite some skepticism about it being bagged. The tea bag had the lovely aroma of toasted Rice crispies and tea. I was really glad to have this little taste treat. It inspires me to consider that not all tea bags contain terrible tasteless leavings. I would look at this brand and some other quality tea bags for the future if I need to travel.

A very pleasant surprise!

Yet another new experience from the Asian market!
I had seen some reviews of this blend, the price was right and I tried it. Honestly, the aroma when it is steeping is not what I would call wonderful, this does not drive you wild like vanilla, or chai. But, the taste is something else. And like my first experiences with Per-uh and Lapsang Souchong, unlike anything I have ever tried. Toasty, grainy, savory and then the subtleness of the green tea. The color is a nice shade of green, not cloudy at all. The more I sip, the more I like this… I have the leaf version, not bagged.

This bag came from the same small Japanese grocery here in Houston where I got the last big bag of genmai cha. So far, I rank them about equal in terms of flavor. These are pre-sealed bags of tea, after all, and I don’t expect anything exceptional.

I don’t know if there is even such a thing as “serious” genmai cha?

I really dig bagged genmai cha in general for a quick, cheap tea fix when I go out. I feel like “milks” and sweeteners kind of ruin the appeal of most green teas, genmai cha the most of them. Yamamotoyama’s is just a nice middle-of-the-road genmai cha, not strong, great aroma. Just pleasant overall. Great rice fragrance, good body, not overtly bitter. Just really nice, and sooo affordable when I hit the Asian market. On my “must stock frequently” list.

I have the loose leaf version of this, and it’s great. Smells like Honey Smacks cereal when brewing, and has a distinct, savory flavor.

I’m sure some will disagree with me, but it is hard to find a high quality japanese green in the U.S. Not that there aren’t any available, but they are available through very few vendors at prices that can be, sometimes, prohibitive. All that is perfectly understandable since Japan has a very high consumption of tea and most of what we get is the little bit that “escapes.”

The Yamamotoyama teas are quite good, what you’d call an everyday. Not that they’ll replace a high grade gyokuro, for instance, but you don’t necessarily drink a high grade gyokuro by the teapot on a daily basis due to cost.

This Genmaicha, in the loose form, is quite good, actually as good or better than other more expensive versions I’ve had from Adagio. A big plus is that it is locally available at many asian grocery stores and priced as an everyday tea.

I guess what I’m trying to say is this: I will gladly indulge in a cup of top grade tea as often as my budget permits, which is not every day. For the everyday pot the Yamamotoyama products are quite good at a fraction of the price other vendors sell VERY similar offerings.

I received this from Ottawa Tea during an exchange! I finally got to opening it. I’ve taken it around the world but didn’t get to try it until now. I was excited about it since it was genmai cha, which is one of my favorite teas. It smells good. This was a tea bag, so the leaves were a little crushed with small brown rice. The smell is nutty and like rice. The taste is just average. Nothing to go wild about, but it is a good standard genmai cha. It is a very mild taste.

I always smile drinking this one, great for a cold wintery day! The aroma of the rice is so welcoming!

You can taste the brown rice!

I picked up a looseleaf version of this from the local Japanese market. I might have brewed it too weak because I’m not getting a lot of the rice flavor that I love. Still a good green tea.

I’m not always in the mood for this tea, but when I am, nothing else will do. It’s incredibly nutty and soothing, kind of like a really good bowl of oatmeal.

For the cost and quality, I would say pass on some of the more expensive brands, this tea gives you the quality without the high cost, you can save your money for another tea. Well worth it. You can find it in many Asian grocery stores, Super H Mart in Dallas (Carrolton) is my place of choice.

I drink this daily — it is the bancha of my household. While the leaf liquour is not as clear to the eye and tongue as higher quality genmaicha, the nuttiness of the rice is very good, and the cost and ease of use are excellent value. Also, while mildly stimulating, it does not keep me up at night, so I can happily consume it throughout the day.

Tasty genmai cha, one of my favourites. The best part – it’s inexpensive, but tastes as good as the more expensive ones I’ve tried.

http://twitpic.com/jdhh7 – Morning tea with @thetower (or @thestranger on steepster)! We’re having genmaicha this morning.

Genmai-cha is my second favorite type of tea. (The first being jasmine tea). I usually drink it loose leaves but I ran out. Yamamotoyama tea bags are always delicious.

drank the decaf version. it’s pretty good, particularly for a decaf tea.

Not a bad brew. This has a nice aftertaste too – presumably from the toasted Brown Rice.

This is the brand carried by the small corner shop by work. It’s okay for a fix, but is also kinda bland. One the things I like least about this tea is that the cup it produces is pretty powdery, most likely from where the smashed/cut up grains of rosted rice.