6 Tasting Notes
The Maeda-en Traditional Genmai-cha is a typical looseleaf genmai-cha.
Pricing is around $4.50/150g looseleaf bag, or around $30/kg.
The ‘Golden’ label simply states a higher ratio of roasted rice to tea, making for a flavor that somewhat reminds of barley tea.
The sencha itself is of somewhat lower quality, although due to the nature of genmai-cha the flavor is not affected and the rural-tasting essence is preserved.
The flavor is very rustic and full-bodied.
It is recommended, Maeda-en has not dissappointed.
Preparation
I had this at a local tea and coffee shop.
My first taste of this was:
Wow, this is a mild tea.
When I usually drink Darjeeling, I expect some characteristics of it. A light fruity/floral taste (without any notion of added flavorings, of course.)
However, this Darjeeling was rather tasteless, except for the musty dry taste of tea.
A bit of sugar was needed to finish what was in the end a rather dull and unentertaining tea.
Preparation
A blend of tea with other spices and flavorings, Czar Nikolas II Premium Russian Tea presents itself as very light. I agree with the previous reviewing in saying that this tea is basically good for one steeping only. A sip reveals a light tea taste, but with the presence of more than subtle mint flavoring. A true subtle taste reveals itself below the mint flavor, and that is of, in my opinion, roses. Although not a fan of flavored teas, Czar Nikolas II Premium Russian Tea replicates in affordable style the unique taste of Russian tea-making style. It should be recommended to all those who want to taste the tea of a country little-known for its tea culture.