Golden Genmaicha

From Kawaii433 a while back!  Thanks so much!  I recently saw a hojicha genmaicha mentioned, so I remembered that this is the closest thing I have to that flavor profile.  I’m surprised there aren’t more roasted genmaichas around!  That seems like an obvious combination rather than with fresh green tea.  The flavor here isn’t as quite as amazing as I would wish it to be, as it is mostly stems and not true hojicha.  But there ARE some flavorful stems available out there.  But these aren’t those.   I will definitely be on the lookout for a more flavor filled  genmaicha hojicha though!
Steep #1 // 1 teaspoon for full mug // 22 minutes after boiling // 2 minute steep
Steep #2 // 8 minutes after boiling // 10 min

Light-bodied, nutty and gently tangy-sweet with comforting notes of toasted rice and things sugary and caramelized with the tiniest hint of burnt bitterness. A grassy-marine midtone can pop through. Very easy to drink, though I’d like a more intense dark and roasty flavor from the hojicha. Compliments of Kawaii, it served its purpose well as a nightcap on a rainy eve. Thank you :)

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.