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Cameron B. drank Dobashien No. 11: Genmaicha with Matcha - Nishiki by Yunomi

3986 tasting notes

Time to continue on with my Yunomi subscription teas! This month, the theme is matcha-infused teas. They sent two versions of each of three different teas – one with matcha and one without. It’s quite cool! I tried the non-matcha version of this tea yesterday, so I figured I’d taste this version now so I could somewhat compare the two. I plan on trying the other four teas tomorrow, and actually tasting them one after the other so the flavors are fresh in my mind. The sencha leaves in this blend are extremely broken up, just like the non-matcha version. The leaves and rice are coated with a fairly thick layer of matcha powder. I can definitely smell the matcha, it’s sweet and intensely grassy.

Mm, the toasty rice smell is so lovely, and I can also smell the sweetness of the matcha and the grassiness of the tea. Again, I can taste the toasted rice strongly at the beginning, and then the tea (and matcha) take over. I can absolutely tell that the matcha is there, as this tea is far more grassy and intense-tasting than the plain version. There’s a very slight bitter edge, especially if I hold the tea in my mouth. Whether it’s coming from the matcha or the pulverized leaves, I don’t know. Just like in the plain genmaicha, the roasted flavor of the rice comes back to the forefront in the aftertaste and is nicely balanced with the grassiness. Overall, I think I prefer the plain version, as the matcha included in this one kind of covers up the lovely vegetal flavors of the sencha.

Link for the subscription program: https://yunomi.us/shop/9337/tea-discoveries-subscription/?ref=12

Yunomi is currently offering a free 3-month subscription with $50 purchase, until December 15th with code 3teadisc.

Flavors: Broth, Grass, Toasted Rice, Umami, Vegetal

Preparation

175 °F / 79 °C 0 min, 45 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron! I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, KBeauty, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- January Sipdowns: 6
- Total 2024 Sipdowns: 6

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season. Occasionally I’ll brew Gongfu style when I’m in the mood. I’ll also often use a kyusu for Japanese teas.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however. I also enjoy maté, rooibos, and honeybush. I love matcha and drink it often! Fruit tisanes are not a favorite, but I’m always willing to try them.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia.

Fruit: All of them! My ‘go-to’s tend to be in the red fruits, stonefruit, or citrus spectra. I also really love apple, banana, berry, fig, lychee, melon, pear, and rhubarb flavors. Tropical fruits aren’t among my favorites, but I still enjoy them once in a while – especially passionfruit, mango, and pineapple. I am not generally a fan of coconut in tea, though there are some exceptions.

Dessert: I love creamy vanilla and marshmallow flavors, along with anything in the caramel family such as butterscotch, toffee, or maple. Chocolate is also a favorite, though I’m often disappointed by it in tea. And don’t forget anything buttery, cakey, or cookie-y!

Floral: I’m a little bit more particular in this category. I very much enjoy jasmine, even strong jasmine, along with sakura, chamomile, and elderflower. Osmanthus is also a favorite of mine. But I’m not crazy about rose or lavender flavors, and I prefer hibiscus in moderation only.

Spices: I don’t generally find myself drawn to masala chai, but I do enjoy spices combined with other flavors. My favorite spices are the warm ones, especially cinnamon, nutmeg, anise, and cardamom. A bit of heat from black pepper or chili is okay too, as long as it’s not overwhelming! Ginger can be a lovely accent, but I find it difficult to drink as a starring flavor.

Aromatics: I’m obsessed with Earl Grey! I also love cooling flavors such as mint (especially spearmint), pine, juniper, and eucalyptus. I am not a fan of strong rosemary or sage in tea.

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing