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Additional notes. I brewed it in a Banko-yaki Kyusu, and it mellowed it out and astringency is gone. I would rate it much higher using this particular teaware but I know some may not have it so I will leave the rating at 83.

Banko-yaki Kyusu 150ml, 4-5g, three steeps: 180°F for 1.5min, 203° F for 30 sec, 212° F for 1.5min.

I hope you are all well!

Quick note because I know a couple of you asked the difference between their regular and the duck rice genmaicha. This is pretty similar to their regular genmaicha. I like it slightly better. It has similar vegetal notes (albeit more grassy), there is a stronger roasted flavor, more rice flavor, and slightly nutty. If I make it any hotter than 160 Fº, it becomes too astringent for me.

Busy day but writing to say heya and posting this quick note. ^^

First time trying H&S Genmaicha (rice with bancha in this one). It’s better than my first impression of it. The first time I tried it, I had sampled it with the Matcha Iri Genmaicha, Duck Rick Genmaicha, and their Golden Genmaicha.

I prepped it a few ways, I think the recommended preparation was the best, I steeped it longer, for 3 minutes as directed. Nice toasted rice flavor, slightly vegetal, light-bodied. It is slightly too astringent for my taste, dry tongue from it, which is probably why I preferred the Duck Rice Genmaicha more. The Golden Genmaicha was nice because it had a toasted nut flavor, and not as brisk as well.

Having said that, it’s a decent Genmaicha at a decent price. I’ve read some of the reviews on the net and a lot of people like it a lot and don’t like the others so much, so there’s that. Taste is subjective. ^^

I already wrote a review on it. So some quick thoughts. ^^

This is so comforting today. It makes me want to start drinking pu’er again lol. I don’t know why but I just haven’t felt like it at all the past few months.

It’s such a cute and tiny little mandarin that fits perfectly in my 110ml gaiwan. Last time I wrote about it I had it grandpa style. I prefer it this way better. I didn’t poke holes in it or anything. I just put the whole thing in there and hit it with a quick rinse of boiling water. Then I continued with quick 5 to 10-second infusions. Casual-like so not really timing it.

The smell is so nice. A tart citrus aroma. I really like it. The taste is really mellow for a ripe pu’er. No strong taste but very flavorful. Mainly of mandarin, citrus, citrus zest. There is a little sweetness to it, a very soft and good throat feeling because it’s so smooth. I really think these did get much better with time. That’s one thing I love about Pu’er tea. It can sit around for years and tastes better later on.

I guess because of the skin of the mandarin, it gives almost a menthol feeling in your throat after you finish sipping it. I am not a fan of menthol at all but this one doesn’t bother me at all. It actually adds to it. Gives it a medicinal quality to it.

There’s a break in the impeachment trial. Such disturbing, horrifying, sad unseen footage shown. Thought I’d write a quick review during the break.

It’s been two years and these improve with age so thought I’d try another today. I put the dried tangerine stuffed with Pu-er in my little gaiwan and rinsed it with boiling water. It barely fit lol. The liquor is a really dark reddish/brown color, tangerine scent. Afterward, I did like 5 to 10-second infusions. So many times that I lost count. It’s fallen completely apart now lol. I can not emphasize enough just how mellow this pu-erh is compared to many. I am reluctant to even put “earth” in the taste profile because it’s that mellow. I haven’t been in the mood for any pu-erh tea for months but this was just wonderful and warm.

It’s a really nice, mellow pu-erh with no leather, fishiness, or strong overbearing notes. Tangerine, citrusy notes and aroma, filling the room.

So time did, in fact, make this even better. I have a couple more. I just ordered from TeaVivre and I am looking forward to trying Quanzi green mandarin pu’er. I added that as a sample. If it is as good as this, I’ll be a happy camper.

I have Genmaicha blends from Harney & Sons. Golden Genmaicha, Matcha Iri Genmaicha, Duck Rice Genmaicha and Genmaicha.

Of the four, I like this one best. Having said that the Hojicha overpowers the popped rice taste but it’s still tasty. I prefer writing positive reviews and just rate bad teas. I think that darn message my parents beat into my head is still there… If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say it. lol Not that any of these were bad. This was just my favorite of the four.

I brewed it in a gaiwan 4g, 140ml, at 1 min, 30 sec and then 1min 30 secs. I poured boiling water into a warmed cha hai then quickly transfered the water into the gaiwan so I’m guessing it’s about 203F.

The aroma of the dry tea is roasted, nutty, sunflowery, pleasant. Some coffee notes in the aroma, the roasted smell. The brew is very nice, not bitter (two of the three I mentioned above were bitter so I’ll have to drop the temperature way lower for H&S genmaicha >.<). The liquid was medium brown and had a very mellow taste, smooth, not bitter, nutty. Nice and naturally sweet notes of molasses, burnt sugar, caramel notes.

Earthy, medium-bodied to full-bodied, slightly astringent, maple sweetness is the core aroma/notes. The dry leaves are dark & twisted leaves mixed with a few golden tips. The liquor is a dark amber to dark brown. The aroma was earthy, spicy with some maple sweetness. The flavor profile matched it with an added vanilla and peppery spice notes. On the last steep, it was very astringent.

Silver gaiwan 6g, 140 ml: no-rinse, 15s, 30s, 45s, 60s at 212° F

Thanks, Tea sipper, for the sample! I finally finished the end of it today.

Got this as a sample and am drinking it now… And it’s a lot better than I remembered. I definitely taste the Rhubarb, and there is a little bit of vanilla going on in the background. Very creamy, not tart, and not too sweet. The aroma gives a strong custard and that’s really good too while I’m sipping it. If I do taste the custard, that’s probably why :P.

Because I wasn’t able to log on for so long… I have so many reviews to catch up with so I’ll probably just start from today if I drink something new. I’m actually still drinking the tons of tea I bought last year and the year before so here’s to the inner fight to continue to get more sip downs before purchasing more.

I hope you are all well and safe <3. I’m same ol’ same ol’.

Been back to matcha crazy lately. That’s practically all I drank for years. One of the reasons is our USPS in our area has been very poor and I can’t order tea unless I have time to go track it down at the post office. This one had to be shipped twice, the first was shipped back without any notification… Etc. I understand that the USPS is under a lot of stress right now. Without going political, I’ll leave it at that. :P

So, long story longer… I still have a lot of matcha from over the years that I’ve been drinking and can always get more from Amazon which uses it’s own delivery people. I hope things get worked out soon.

I have not had this ceremonial style aka straight. I have only had it as a latte and with oat milk, this is now, one of my faves now. Creamy, tastes like ice cream but not sweet (thank goodness), vegetal, it’s just really really good to me. I saw there were mixed reviews so sometime soon, I’ll try it straight. So keep that in mind, when you read this review.

I used 2 tsp of it, add 240ml oat milk, 100 ml water, lots of ice. Even as it melts, it just tastes so rich and creamy.

If I disappear for a week or two, it’s because I can not log into Steepster. I was just able to get back in today (again).

Quick review. Busy day hehe.
Yum. Cinnamon, banana, toasted rice. Nice balance too.

Steepster was down for a week for me, now it loads but it’s sloooow for some reason. As long as it doesn’t hang, I’m good. Glad it’s back.