Recently, I had the unique opportunity to join Yunomi’s Monthly Mystery Tea Sampler’s Club, and I just received my first shipment! Yay! I received three sample sizes of three different Japanese teas, and this review will be about the first tea I sampled from the group of three: the Monoucha Genmaicha from Ishinomaki, Miyagi
Tea Description:
Sencha from the town of Monou in what is now Ishinomaki City brews into a deep forest green with a strong astringency. With a 400 year history of tea farming, the town of Monou is the northernmost tea region, and the field managed by Sasaki-san is the northernmost tea field in Japan.
Monoucha Genmaicha blends Sasaki-san’s sencha with toasted rice grains as well as rice cracker balls (plain and matcha flavored) for a uniquely toasted nutty flavor.
Where to Buy: Yunomi
Taster’s Review:
LOVELY! I’ve tasted a lot of Genmaicha tea in my “career” as a tea reviewer, and before that, as a tea purveyor. But this Monoucha Genmaicha from Ishinomaki, Miyagi as sold by Yunomi might very well be the very best that I’ve tried thus far. I can taste the freshness of the Sasaki-san Sencha in every single sip, as well as the beautiful sweetness from the toasty rice. This is SO good!
Perhaps it’s the addition of the “rice cracker balls” that are in this blend that makes it different … I don’t know for sure. What I can tell you is that I taste something different in this cup of tea. It tastes sweeter … it tastes fresher, it tastes toastier. It tastes BETTER!
When I was measuring out the tea, I noticed the aforementioned rice cracker balls and I did a double (and a triple) take, because they looked so … unusual. I mean, with a typical Genmaicha, I usually see little bits of popped rice (that look like miniature kernels of popped popcorn), but these little balls were so uniformly shaped … they looked so different from the usual popped rice that I would see in a Genmaicha … and there were a lot more of them than I would usually see in a Genmaicha too. Then I came back here and read the description and saw that there are in fact these little rice cracker balls in the tea … that explains it!
And they do make a difference in the taste. If you like Genmaicha … this is one that you really should try … taste the difference! It’s remarkable!
Japanese Organic Green Tea Powder Packets from Shi Zen
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Shi Zen
Tea Description:
Our organic green tea (sencha) is grown on family farms located in small villages in the foothills of Mount Fuji where farmers pride in their commitment to only harvest crops grown in the way Mother Nature intended. Due to its high elevation, this remote Isagawa-Izumidaira and Kawane region of Shizuoka Prefecture enjoys the perfect combination of clean air, pure water, and fertile soil only found in this area of Japan, which allows for pesticide-free farming.
In fact, to preserve this way of farming they’ve maintained for centuries, these villages have adopted a strict policy and guidelines on organic farming, and not only tea farmers but also fruit and vegetable farmer’s of this region strive to provide the safest and best quality pesticide-free produce to their customers.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
Cool “iced tea” refreshment doesn’t get any easier than these Japanese Organic Green Tea Powder Packets from Shi Zen! Seriously … all you have to do is take a smaller water bottle (500ml size) full of freshly filtered water – or if you’re on the go and you’re buying one of the bottles from the convenience store, that works too! – open the bottle, pour in the fine, powdered green tea from two of the little pixie style packets and then screw the cap on tight and give it a really good shake!
That’s it! No measuring and no special tools required for preparation. All you need is a small water bottle full of water and two of these packets. (For 8 ounces, just use 1 packet of the green tea powder!) These are great for on the go, and it’s not only tasty but it’s also much healthier than any of those sugar-laden soft drinks that you might reach for when the weather turns warm and you need re-hydration.
The powdered green tea becomes instantly incorporated (there was no sediment at the bottom, and you don’t have to keep shaking the bottle to make sure it stays mixed!) and the flavor is delightful. There’s no sugar added to this and no artificial flavors, so you’re getting pure, green, Japanese Sencha tea and all the benefits of the whole leaf!
The taste is sweet, vegetative and slightly buttery. It tastes light and crisp. This is not Matcha – although it might look like it (and I did categorize it as Matcha because it is a powdered tea leaf), and it doesn’t have that characteristic thick, creamy texture that I’d often associate with Matcha. This tastes and feels lighter … fresher! It’s really refreshing and it is very invigorating too! It’s a great way to “recharge” at mid-day when you’re starting to feel a little tuckered out … and because I prepared it in cold water … it’s really easy to chug down to quench the thirst.
This is my first experience with a tea from Shi Zen … and it’s a good one. I’m looking forward to trying some of their other teas!
Deep Steam Sencha Green Tea from Aiya
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Aiya
Tea Description:
This special green tea goes through a longer steaming process, allowing the natural flavors and colors to imbue the tea leaves. And although the steaming process decreases the tea’s aroma, it also cuts the astringency creating a richer and more full-bodied flavor compared to regular Sencha. The difference in the process leads to a unique blend of a cultural favorite.
Learn more about this tea here.
Taster’s Review:
The dry leaf aroma of this Deep Steam Sencha Green Tea from Aiya is interesting … it’s different from other Japanese Sencha teas that I’ve experienced. Usually, I experience a strong grassy note from Japanese Senchas, but here, I notice more of a roasted seaweed kind of scent, reminiscent of the roasted seaweed snacks that are gaining in popularity. Me … I’m not a huge fan of the seaweed snacks, although I seem to be part of a minority on that one. Oh well.
But, even though I don’t particularly enjoy seaweed snacks, I didn’t let the aroma of this Deep Steam Sencha deter me for two reasons: 1) it isn’t the aroma that I dislike about seaweed snacks; and 2) I trust Aiya. They’ve not let me down before, and I trust that I’ll really enjoy this Sencha based on past experiences with them.
The brewed tea maintains that toasty scent … it isn’t that warm, roasty-toasty scent that you might experience with a genmaicha, it’s more like the aroma that I’d notice if I were to roast fresh asparagus. It has that fresh vegetative note with warm, toasted nut tones.
The flavor is much like that too … it is less vegetative than the typical Sencha … the steam process has mellowed that strong vegetative tone. Oh, I still taste a grassy note here, but, it’s lighter. There is a fair amount of astringency to this. Warm, freshly roasted nut flavors. There is a hint of savoriness to this too, almost like someone added a few flakes of Kosher salt to the brewed tea (I didn’t, I promise!) Not salty, exactly, but it does have a certain broth-y quality with a whisper of brine to it.
I find this tea to be very energizing. It would make a great alternative to the usual morning tea, it’s very refreshing, crisp, and yet invigorating. I like this unique Japanese Sencha … different from the usual cup of Sencha. Different, but just as enjoyable!
Watermelon Kiwi Flavored Green Tea from Culinary Teas
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Culinary Teas
Tea Description:
Our Watermelon Kiwi Green tea has a Sencha tea base, which adds sweetness to wonderful flavor of watermelon and kiwi.
Made with all natural flavorings.
Taster’s Review:
Well, the name of this tea captured my attention immediately: Watermelon Kiwi Flavored Green Tea from Culinary Teas … um … yeah that sounds yummy!
And it tastes yummy too. The watermelon flavor is sweet … almost candy-like. On Steepster, this tea is compared to watermelon Jolly Ranchers which is one of my favorite candies from my childhood. Admittedly, one of the main reasons why I loved it is that my step-mother disliked the smell of it, but, my desire to irritate that woman aside, I also quite enjoyed the flavor of Watermelon Sticks from Jolly Rancher (do they even sell the sticks anymore? I only find them in the small “tootsie roll” size now.)
And this tea brings back those tasty memories for me. I also taste the notes of kiwi and I like the way the two flavors meld together. This is a sweet, juicy, fruity tasting tea … but I like that the flavor of the green tea is also present. It keeps it from tasting too much like a fruit juice drink. The green tea has a lightly vegetal taste with just a hint of earthiness, and this is a nice contrast to the sweeter fruit notes.
I couldn’t find this tea on the Culinary Teas website … I hope that means that the tea is temporarily sold out and not that it’s been discontinued, because this tea would make a delightful summertime tea – it is fabulous iced! In fact, after taking my first few sips of the hot cup of tea, I decided to allow the rest to cool. It was alright hot, but iced, it is a stunner!
Island Coconut Green Tea Blend from Spire Tea
Tea Information:
Leaf Type: Green
Where to Buy: Amoda Tea
Tea Description:
The tropical taste of coconut and the ocean-like flavour of sencha meet in this tea. The body is enhanced by the coconut, which makes it deliciously creamy. It has a balanced acidity that makes your mouth water. The chinese sencha brings hints of seaweed and mineral notes. With such a lengthy coconut finish, you can really savour this one.
Learn more about this tea here.
Learn how to subscribe to Amoda’s Monthly Tea Tasting Box here.
Taster’s Review:
YES! Now that’s the way a coconut tea should taste!
This Island Coconut Green Tea Blend from Spire Tea – part of my Amoda tea tasting box for the month of May – ROCKS! It has all the qualities that I want from a coconut tea: delicious coconut flavor that stands out? Check! Rich, authentic coconut flavor? Check! The flavor is strong, but the tea is not overwhelmed? Check!
The green tea base is a Chinese Sencha tea – and it is sweet and buttery, and this accentuates the coconut’s natural creamy notes. There are lovely, lush “green” notes to the tea that are vegetative. The above description calls them “seaweed notes” and I’d agree with that assessment – especially if I slurp the sip to aerate it. I also pick up on some subtle grassy tones. It is sweet, but there is a hint of savoriness to the tea as well, and this offers a palate-pleasing contrast for the sweet coconut notes.
The coconut is the real star of this tea though. It is so sweet and creamy and yes … decadent! It tastes like real coconut to me, not an artificial or overtly, sugary sweet coconut, but when combined with the naturally sweet Chinese Sencha, the flavor becomes sweeter. The coconut is very smooth and luscious!
I’ve become quite a fan of the consumer shift towards things that are coconut, and I love the great number of products that are now easily accessible for the consumer like coconut oil, coconut chips, and coconut water. Coconut water is something that I really like, but I find the cost to be rather prohibitive, and really, I think I’d be just as happy with a cup of this Island Coconut green tea from Spire Tea as I would with a glass of chilled coconut water. This has fantastic coconut flavor.
I’ve tried a few teas from Spire Tea – and I’m usually quite pleased with what I try from them. This tea might just be one of the best I’ve tried from them though – it is a coconut tea for those who truly love coconut!