Here’s the thing. I’m conflicted about this tea as well, so it’s probably a good thing that I don’t actually do any numerical rating (that, and it’s inaccessible with my software anyway, so that’s that haha). When I inhaled the scent of this tea at the store, I was instantly drawn to it: it smelled warm and inviting, and not at all unlike comfort food in a canister. My sister was the one who actually asked for it, and purchased a tin of it write on the spot (she is also now obsessed with tea!).
This tea definitely has presence in your cup—that much is for sure. It isn’t a subtle flavour (unless you steep it for like five seconds), so it’s a tea you’ll likely be able to have an opinion on either way.
Here’s the conversation that took place in my head as I drank my first cup…and yes, I may be unstable!
“Oh wow! It almost has a popcorn taste to it.”
“Popcorn? well yes, if popcorn were a drink.”
“Well, it can be a drink now. It’s like comfort food.”
“Except it isn’t food. It’s a drink. And tea isn’t supposed to taste…salty, or soupy, or…savoury. or something.”
“You obviously don’t understand the intricacies of tea, then, because real tea drinkers know that not all tea need be laden with sugary sweetness in order to taste good. Do you know how amazing this would be paired with some food?”
..and so there you have it. I like it, but some part of me instinctively feels as though the concept of tea somehow precludes warm saltiness/popcornness/butteriness, but the more I drink it, the more I’m resisting that type of shoehorning. It tastes very comforting, not overly earthy, and has a perfectly soothing quality to it when not over-steeped. I will most certainly at least be getting myself a sample pack of this, and will likely be adding more tasting notes as I tinker around with it.
Comments
Nina’s Japon is an excellent flavored genmaicha. II am sure they would send you a sample if you email them! Through Facebook is best!
Oh, thanks for the suggestion. I hadn’t actually heard of them, but genmaicha is definitely worth exploring further.
This tasting note is funny. Love it. You said you like bold flavors, if you get a chance I would try Verdant’s Laoshan Black Chocolate Genmaicha. It’s everything that I love in a great black tea, with just a little chocolate added, and some wild rice to get that roasted toasted popcorn genmaicha taste.
Nina’s Japon is an excellent flavored genmaicha. II am sure they would send you a sample if you email them! Through Facebook is best!
Oh, thanks for the suggestion. I hadn’t actually heard of them, but genmaicha is definitely worth exploring further.
This tasting note is funny. Love it. You said you like bold flavors, if you get a chance I would try Verdant’s Laoshan Black Chocolate Genmaicha. It’s everything that I love in a great black tea, with just a little chocolate added, and some wild rice to get that roasted toasted popcorn genmaicha taste.
Oooh, thanks for the suggestion! I’m going to read reviews on it this evening. :). And I’m glad you liked my tasting note—it really does tend to be accurate in terms of reflecting the actual dialogue in my head haha.