Otsuka Green Tea Co. Japanese Genmaicha Green Tea100g

I remember the first time I tried a tea with toasted rice in it and I can honestly say that I was thrown way off and didn’t like it. I think part of it was the fact that I had no idea what I was to expect or was getting into, combined with the fact that I don’t think it was the best representation of the style. I’ve now tried many different teas with toasted rice and have found quite a few of them that are enjoyable and pleasant. This is a more traditional genmaicha tea with a mix of sencha green tea and toasted rice.The tea comes in a foil lined back that is not resealable. I had an extra chip clip lying around and is the same that some other tea suppliers provide to help pinch the bag shut and keep some level of freshness. Inside the bag is an oxygen absorber packet. The tea itself looks like a good quality sencha tea combined with a darkly roasted rice (I was worried from the photos that it would be overly roasted and have a burnt flavor). This tea is made in Japan and is about what I have come to expect from a lot of Japanese tea (good quality and wonderful taste).Some of the rice has popped during the roasting process and looks like little popcorn. The rice, while dark, is actually roasted well and not overdone (does not taste too strong or burnt). The sencha tea is nice and light providing a layer of vegetal sweetness and smooth mouth feel. The toasted rice adds another layer of smooth mouth feel, but with a nice roasted edge and more body. The aroma is almost completely from the toasted rice, but the flavor is well balanced and delicious. I think this is a well done genmaicha tea and one that I would recommend if you are looking for one with a slightly stronger roasted flavor profile, but not overdone and still well balanced.

The puffed rice was something that I'd never seen added to tea before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. But, it was a really nice surprise! It doesn't overpower the standard green tea flavor, but it certainly changes it... or maybe enhances it, depending upon your particular tastes!I don't think it will replace my standard tea, but it is really nice to share with others who have never tasted it before. The nutty flavor is actually really nice, and again, a pleasant surprise.

Disclosure: This was sent to me for free via the Vine program. I did not receive monetary compensation to write this review, just the product itself.Managed to pick this up on Vine awhile ago and decided to treat myself to some tea today, along with another cup of the Otsuka line. This stuff is a delight, very roasty toasty but with a firm "green" edge to the tea that makes the balance fantastic. Unfortunately, it's kind of spendy. 3.5~ish oz. for $30 of genmaicha is pretty expensive considering how many other options are out there. But this is definitely one I'd buy again, if I had my druthers. It's very "clean" tasting; not a whole lot of complexity but its not a boring tea by any means. Little sticker shocked by the price but sometimes it's nice to buy yourself something quality. Would recommend.

I have to admit I'm not a regular tea drinker but I do enjoy green tea occasionally (usually made from a teabag!). As a novice in the tea world without bags, I had to Google and Youtube how to make this green tea since the bag didn't come with instructions. After I was able to figure out a way to steep it, I found I did enjoy the flavor and experience. The rice adds another dimension to the green tea ... and it made me *feel* slightly healthier drinking it. It's a pretty good quality product.

I didn’t pay attention. It’s not tea bags so I won’t be using it.

Green tea mixed with roasted brown rice is my favorite way to enjoy green tea, and this one is no exception! I absolutely adore the savory, toasty aroma that arises when the tea is brewing, as well as the rich flavor imparted by the brown rice. It's difficult to put into words just how delightful the taste is, but if you haven't experienced the roasted brown rice version of green tea, I highly recommend giving it a try. Similar to how roasted dandelion root tea surpasses the regular version with its toasty aroma, brown rice adds another layer of flavor that is less bitter than traditional green tea, if that's your preference. While I thoroughly enjoy this tea, I personally prefer the convenience of tea bags, so I'll be returning to my regular brand.

I'm not a big tea drinker, and definitely not experienced with Japanese rice tea - so this review is not a comparison to other Japanese tea. This was a pleasant surprise, and a great memorable flavor. It's loose leaf - so you need to be set up for that. The biggest flavor here is the roasted rice, the other flavors are a bit more subtle. Very pleasing and relaxing, and much different than a standard generic "green tea" flavor. Much more roasty flavor, body, and texture. The ingredients seemed fresh and packed with care. Try some!

Visually, Otsuka Genmaicha green tea presents nicely with dark green leaves blended with a large measure of brown rice granules and a few puffed corn bits.To prepare it, I placed approximately a tablespoon of the tea into a mesh steeper ball and let it soak in a glass of hot water for about 3 minutes. The characteristic pale green solution was produced. I observed considerable cloudiness due to a suspension of tea leaf particulates. The dry tea leaves are delicate and consequently the dry product contains a fair amount of tea dust and fragments. Perhaps this is due to rough handling of the package. Consequently, one can't help but deliver a quantity of fine material along with the larger leaves and rice to the tea steeper.I would recommend that users use one that has a very fine mesh to cut down the number of particulates making their way into the final drink. The mesh in my steeper was obviously too big. The tea had the expected flavor one expects from a Japanese green tea. The product description says that the rice confers a subtle sweetness but I did not find that to be the case. Instead, I detected a certain earthiness that lingered on my tongue. Personally, I prefer a green tea that leaves a cleaner, fresher aftertaste.Bottom line, this version of green tea is not my favorite but I would drink it again.