Laoshan Black Chocolate Genmaicha

Tea type
Black Oolong Blend
Ingredients
Not available
Flavors
Chocolate, Cocoa, Nutty, Pastries, Roasted, Toasted Rice, Nuts, Malt, Earth, Rice, Toasted, Bread, Dark Chocolate, Roasted Nuts, Raisins, Toast, Grain, Caramel, Dirt, Roasted Barley
Sold in
Not available
Caffeine
Not available
Certification
Not available
Edit tea info Last updated by Kaylee
Average preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec 4 g 12 oz / 366 ml

Currently unavailable

We don't know when or if this item will be available.

From Our Community

1 Image

101 Want it Want it

  • +86

56 Own it Own it

  • +41

207 Tasting Notes View all

  • “I enjoyed the green/white/floral blend, but I really want something more robust, so I’m trying again, this time with a favorite. Although I’m still getting bitterness, particularly in the...” Read full tasting note
  • “My other morning tea, thankful that i brought two with me today since i haven’t had 5 mins to get food or anything. What a day! first day back with all the people who have been off for a week or...” Read full tasting note
    74
  • “Holy crap. So I brewed this one up tonight, and was instantly in love. Chocolate, intensifying the natural notes of the Laoshan Black, plus toasty rice flavour. Seriously guys, I’m sure the second...” Read full tasting note
    100
  • “Another sipdown – but this one is bittersweet. I’m now at 72 teas (yay for meeting my own self imposed limits) but this one is SO. DARN. GOOD. I don’t know that I won’t be restocking as soon as I...” Read full tasting note
    100

From Verdant Tea

A warm and comforting take on classic Genmaicha with the addition of Wuyi oolong and cacao nibs. . . .

Genmaicha has humble origins- originally toasted rice was mixed into a pot to make expensive tea leaves go further in a time of less plenty than today. Toasted rice was combined with green tea or even broken twigs and stems to make a hearty and warming brew. At the time, green tea was for more widely available than black tea, but given the warming qualities of genmaicha, we thought that a humble hand-picked black tea from Laoshan Village would be the perfect companion for toasted rice.

This batch of Laoshan black is particularly malty and sweet, qualities drawn out by hand-crafted Minnesota wild rice and organic fair trade jasmine rice toasted in small batches. We add organic cacao nibs to give a darker and more comforting aftertaste, and a touch of Shui Jin Gui Wuyi oolong for its nutty caramel notes and savory aftertaste. All together, we think this new take on Genmaicha very much embraces the tea’s humble origins and stays true to the warm and satisfying nature of toasted rice tea.

Western Style
Use 4g of tea (about 1T) in 6-8oz of fresh-boiled (205°F) filtered or spring water. Steep for 30 seconds in a brew basket or equivalent. Enjoy many infusions. Add 10-15 seconds with each steeping, or to taste.
This tea is very forgiving, so feel free to use more leaf and slightly shorter steep times for more potent tea. It brews up equally well in small quantities as it does in big pots. This tea can also be enjoyed with a meal since it is so hearty and rich.

Iced Tea (Cold Brewing)
Use about 4 grams of tea for every 12oz of water. Combine with room temperature water in a covered vessel and refrigerate for 8-12 hours. Enjoy!

Iced Tea (Flash Chilled)
Use 1TB (5 grams) of tea in a 6-8oz vessel. Steep for 1 minute with filtered boiled water. Fill a martini shaker (or equivalent) with ice, then add brewed tea and shake until well-chilled (usually 10-30 seconds). Pour out through martini-shaker top over fresh ice in a new glass and serve.

About Verdant Tea View company

Company description not available.

207 Tasting Notes

100
155 tasting notes

I think this pretty much says it all:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQa0nqI2Hco

Flavors: Chocolate

TheTeaFairy

Haha! Love iggy, he’s the major twitch and shakin’ master!!!!

MzPriss

I <3 him so much, bless his crooked little heart

SarsyPie

Video review. Niiiiice! I’m beyond excited to try this tea! I hope mine arrives quicky!

MzPriss

I hope so too!

TheTeaFairy

(Sarsonator and mzpriss, if ever it doesn’t arrive, you know where to find some..)

SarsyPie

Correct, TTF! I’ll just drive to Canada and pick some up from you. I love Canada!!! :)

MzPriss

I wish mine would come NOW. I’ve only had one cup of it but I still think about that cup!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

76
661 tasting notes

I had this tea yesterday afternoon when I got my swap box from Dexter 3657. Thank-you Dexter3657! First of all I got the brew mixed up. I put some hot water in my cup to warm it up and then had the infuser in the cup warming up too. Then after it had sat there I went and added the tea leaves. Woops! So I dumped it out and added the boiling water to the tea leaves. I may have washed away some of the chocolate flavour but it was still very good. Not what I was expecting but good. I had this taste in my mind of nutty rice and chocolate. I got more of a smooth oolong/black mix with some chocolate notes and a bit of the roasted rice. The rice was in the background and I thought it would be a much stronger flavour. Overall, I still enjoyed it and sipped to the last drop and had a 2nd infusion. That’s a pretty good black tea since I don’t usually enjoy the blacks too often!

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

85
15575 tasting notes

Finally trying this famous and tasty Genmaicha!

I swear I got a sample from Courtney but I apparently lost it, and Dexter3657 was super kind and sent me more so I could try it. Steepster people are amazing!

I’m really iffy on if I steeped this correctly; the package instructions were pretty weird. I don’t know – in the end I compromised and met them in the middle. Next cup maybe I’ll do things my way. Regardless, this tastes really good though. It’s not quite as flavourful as I expected, meaning that the nuances are more subtle than I was anticipating (Genmaicha is usually pretty straight forward – though I guess this is no normal Genmaicha).

I get the toastyness of the rice, but in a lesser concentration than I’ve grown to expect from a Genmaicha – but that’s ok because the other flavour components are made up of a really great black base and a nice, light chocolate component which makes this sort of taste like a light kind of chocolate puffed wheat cake. There’s also a buttery quality coming from somewhere which adds to the puffed wheat cake feel of it.

I’m happy I have more to go through! Mmm!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

90
359 tasting notes

If you never had this tea before, I apologize for what you are about to read…

A bowl of toasted cereals with chocolate and malt. And raisin cinnamon bread toasts…with Nutella spread on top. In a cup. That’s what this is.

And I just drank the last of it… Verdant order, wherever you are, you better show up at my door. I ordered a shitload of this tea and I’d like to have it now please. Thank you.

Dexter

LOL My order is still in Chicago – so several days away yet, but soon you will have MOUNTAINS of this soon!!!

Mandy

I’ve never even tried this and I kind of want mountains.

Ost

Ah! My order came in today! Probably won’t have a chance to try it till next week though xD oh well. This note makes me even more excited though!!!

Roughage

Your tasting notes are great. You had me right up until you mentioned Nutella. Not a fan of Nutella. :)

Nightshifter

I love this one very much, too. :)

TheTeaFairy

(Noooooo!!! That was not helpful Dexter….considering we did order at the same time.)

Mandy, it’s really, really, really good!

Ost, not try it until next week while it’s sitting in your house? you are a master of self control, I admire you :-)

Roughage, lol, it’s just a tiny little note of hazelnut and chocolate I get, hence the nutella reference, don’t let it scare you ;-)

Nightshifter, hard not to like this one, right?

MzPriss

I got my shitload yesterday and right after I finish this cup (my last cup until the mail gets here) of COCOA AMORE, I’m going to make some of my very own LBCG!! Very happy!

TheTeaFairy

MzPriss, Did you open the pouch and sniff it yet????

MzPriss

Of course! I got this awesome ceramic canister at TJMaxx on Sunday (big enough to hold it all) and I’ve already put it into the canister an I lifted the lid and smelled repeatedly and I’ve just had it since yesterday evening. It’s gonna be a chocolate morning

TeaTiff

Haha, this cracks me up! So I have to ask. What amount quantifies as a “shitload”? I am so glad this finally arrived. Can’t wait for the rest of you to get your orders!

TeaTiff

Haha, this cracks me up! So I have to ask. What amount quantifies as a “shitload”? I am so glad this finally arrived. Can’t wait for the rest of you to get your orders!

TheTeaFairy

hardly a shitload…8oz?

And MzPriss might have gotten slightly more…

MzPriss

Slightly more…not a lot more. LTF – you don’t think 8 oz is a shitload?

TheTeaFairy

Well, since I use 1 big tbsp per cup, it’s almost as if it was just 4oz really…

MzPriss

Well that’s true – I like the way you think LTF

Nxtdoor

Yay, mine is coming soon! And if I do love it as much as I remember (I needed a refresher), I am buying mountains of this too.

Terri HarpLady

I have a shitload of this…I always buy the 8oz option, & I think I have 2 backups in the attic.
Maybe I should drink a cup now?

MzPriss

I say yes! And I will as well :)

Terri HarpLady

ok, then it’s next in my Q

TheTeaFairy

Meeeee tooooo!!!!

MzPriss

My kettle is on

MzPriss

YAY! LTF – Sars is a huge enabler…..

TheTeaFairy

Are you not at work?

MzPriss

Nope. I’m home. I was too tired and I’m doing some work here

Terri HarpLady

maybe we should try that Google + tea party I’ve been talking about

TheTeaFairy

Terri, I’m almost “tech illiterate” for these things…would have to learn how it works first and that could take a looong time :-O
It’s the kind of chat we hear each other talk?

MzPriss

I don’t know much about it either. I want to try it. I do need to try and see if I really can’t get even a 30 minute nap so I can try to go in

TeaterTotter

I feel like that should be in the commandments of tea or something : When you fall in love with a particular tea, thou shalt order shitloads of it.

TheTeaFairy

TeaterTotter….I fully endorse that commandment.

Terri HarpLady

I second that motion!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

83
193 tasting notes

MMMMM. This tea is much better fresh! It is very similar to the plain Loashan black but it has the chocolate I’m looking for! Toasted barley chocolate goodness! I will have to reorder this and Vanilla citrus spice when they are back in stock.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

95
2 tasting notes

it was raining this morning, and that cats wanted to cuddle, so I came home after errands and made this tea. The cats rate it 5 stars, it was so savory that I sat at the table and drank the pot (thereby allowing for extended lap time, an unusual event in our house indeed!) I love dark chocolate but I usually don’t like chocolate flavored things, nevertheless the idea of a black genmaicha was so intriguing that I bought a small amount. Verdant certainly hit the mark on this one; despite the unusual blend of elements the flavors were harmonious. The scent was almost chocolate hazelnut-not in an over the top eat a jar of nutella with a spoon way but like a roasted hazelnut truffle smells (or ought to).

not 100 because my favorite teas are big bad blacks, basically builders, robust enough to brew very hot and take a glug of milk. Preferably consumed at dawn of a clear, crisp day while on the way to the barn.

Flavors: Caramel, Chocolate, Malt, Nuts

Terri HarpLady

I just ordered some more of this one, which is without a doubt my favorite chocolate tea :)

__Morgana__

I’m so glad this one turned out well. I shall have to try it sometime.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

91
694 tasting notes

Oolong, and nutty goodness. This is really hitting the spot tonight. I had been on the fence about this tea, but I think it was due to the word chocolate. In my head I had envisioned a more sweet flavor instead of the roasty toasty goodness. Yum!

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 30 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

94
1598 tasting notes

This finally came in! I ordered it Feb 27th and it just sorta sat at the border while the border agents sniffed it or something but now it’s here.

And this tea is worth the wait! I accidentally oversteeped it the first time, but the second time is perfect. It’s very similar to laoshan black but the genmaicha adds to it so that it is very similar to a Crunch Chocolate bar. OMG. That’s exactly what I was hoping for.

THIS was the tea that made me place my order and it was well worth it.

Sil

Hahahaha silly cavo.

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

76
127 tasting notes

I am a sucker for that laoshan black flavor profile as much as I complain about the value ($8/oz) and the questionable air quality of the region(https://www.chinadialogue.net/article/4775-Seeing-China-s-pollution-from-space). I think this blend is the best way to go value wise and with the addition of the rice it reminds me of kashi cereal which i have fond memories of growing up so this blend almost always puts a smile on my face. A great no fuss tea that travels well(tumbler western brew) and is always pleasant.

Flavors: Bread, Chocolate, Malt

Preparation
Boiling 3 min, 0 sec 4 g 6 OZ / 177 ML
Terri HarpLady

I love Laoshan Black, AND this variation, with the rice & the Oolong is OH SO GOOD! :)

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

98
921 tasting notes

I am so happy, I went to check the mail and discovered that I had no mail…wait, that is really sad…the reason I am happy is because it was beautifully warm today! No sunlight (always a plus) and spring-like warmth, for the first time in a while I was able to toss open the windows and enjoy some fresh air. Today was also a day for a new Minecraft Texture Pack, the City Texture Pack which has mobs in suits and some really gorgeous texturing. Playing around with my mom on the Xbox today, we both decided it would be our new ‘everyday’ texture pack, replacing the Natural Pack. Also, for anyone who is keeping track of these things, I almost have my huge star jar filled with 2,000 lucky stars filled up, yay!

Today’s tea is an innovative spin on a traditional Japanese tea, Verdant Tea’s Laoshan Black Genmaicha! This blend is created from Laoshan Black Tea, Minnesota Wild Rice, Organic Fair Trade Jasmine Rice, Organic Cacao Nibs, and Shui Jin Gui Wuyi Oolong. This was the tea that convinced me to first order from Verdant Tea over a year ago, I saw it and fell in love with the idea, but did I fall in love with the tea? The aroma is decadent, very rich chocolate and nutty notes. There is also a rich malt aroma from the black tea and an extremely delicate floral and caramel notes. The key words to take away from the aroma is rich and decadent, it is nothing short of mouthwatering.

The brewed tea leaves are as expected, very rich with earthy tones, rich chocolate notes, and a touch of rice. After the initial chocolaty good aroma you can detect a slightly mineral like roasted oolong aroma. The liquid without the soaking leaves has the aroma of chocolate cookies and chocolate liqueur, it is very rich and has distinctly malty and creamy notes.

Tasting the tea is a real treat, it is very rich and quite creamy. The chocolate taste is slightly bitter like a really high percentage dark chocolate (think the 80% cocoa variety) but with an extra earthiness and burst of malt. The aftertaste is a mix of oak wood and toasted rice, as the tea cools it gets sweeter and richer. Even though this tea is not overwhelmingly sweet, adding cream or sugar I think detracts from the richness of the tea. It is very much so like dark chocolate and meant to be savored as such. As you can tell I enjoy this tea immensely, it has a permanent place in my tea collection and certainly cemented my love of Verdant Tea!

For blog and photos (and a creeper): http://ramblingbutterflythoughts.blogspot.com/2014/03/verdant-tea-laoshan-black-chocolate.html

Flavors: Chocolate, Earth, Malt

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 2 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

Login or sign up to leave a comment.