Bamboo Shoots from Tea Frog

Tea Information:

Leaf Type:  Green

Where to Buy:  Tea Frog

Company Description:

Ingredients: Genmaicha, Green Tea, Ginger, Cardamom, Bamboo Shoots, Red Peppercorns, Papaya Pieces, Shredded Coconut, Pineapple Pieces

Taster’s Review:

Tea Frog has a great deal when it comes to samples:  $2.00 per sample.   You can order just a few or a whole bunch!  The samples are generously sized too – enough to brew a couple of pots of tea!

With this deal, I decided to order several different samples that I was anxious to try.  This one was very intriguing!  I love Genmaicha, so I felt fairly confident that I would also love this blend.

The smell of toasty rice wafts out from the teapot as it brews… YUM!

This tea is an interesting balance of sweet rice and tea, warm spices and tropical flair!  The Genmaicha flavor is the strongest component of this blend – it is rich, toasty and sweet.  One big difference between an “ordinary” Genmaicha and this blend is that the grassy tone from the green tea seems to be absent in this cup.  I suspect the other flavors help to conceal the sometimes undesirable vegetative notes of the green tea… I personally enjoy that vegetative flavor in green tea, but sometimes it IS too grassy.  I like this because I can still enjoy the light, sweet flavor of the Genmaicha without the sometimes overwhelming vegetal tone.

The warmth of the spices is also subtle.  There isn’t a strong peppery note from the ginger or peppercorns – it is a gentle warmth.  The same is true of the tropical fruit – sweet, juicy, and yet subtle.  There is a slight tartness to the blend that hits the palate in the aftertaste.  This is also quite delicate and very enjoyable.

Overall, I’m finding this to be an outstanding tea.  It is delicious, refreshing, and works well as both a hot tea and an iced tea.  I like it a lot!