93
drank Genmai Cha by Adagio Teas
392 tasting notes

Never had this kind of tea before. Thanks Rachel for letting me try this!

This tea smells and tastes like liquid rice cakes. I am really enjoying the savory flavors of this tea. I need to save the rest of this and let my boyfriend try it, because I am trying to get him into more tea and currently he only like lapsang souchong. He likes salty things better then sweet and considers most tea sweet so I think this would be right up his alley. I might need to buy more of it. Its very different then anything I currently have and its yummy!

Show 16 previous comments...
Cofftea 15 years ago

One of only 2 greens I don’t like. I don’t mind the popped corn in it, but I can do w/o the rice.

Caitlin 15 years ago

I really like ricecakes and popcorn so this tea is good with me – haha. What’s the other kind out of curiosity?

Cofftea 15 years ago

Hojicha. I don’t like anything roasty toasty. Don’t like roasted oolongs either.

Caitlin 15 years ago

I haven’t tried either of those so I can’t really comment – haha

Tea-Guy 15 years ago

I love Genmaicha. There’s no real popcorn in this tea. When you roast rice kernels they can sometimes pop like popcorn and provide a similar smell and tasty flavor.

Caitlin 15 years ago

Actually this one does have popcorn but this pariticular pot of tea had like 2 pieces of popcorn and like 40 pieces of rice.

Tea-Guy 15 years ago

Even though Adagio calls it Popcorn Green I don’t really think it has popcorn in it. The rice kernels are popped as happens with all Genmaicha regardless of source.

It’s often called popcorn tea because the popped rice looks like little popcorn kernels. I’ve never come across a Genmaicha with actual popcorn in it and would be very surprised if it did.

Cofftea 15 years ago

Tea-Guy, if Caitlin says there is then I believe her. She has no reason to be dishonest about ingredients in tea. I didn’t realize rice could pop. The rice I’ve seen in Gen Mai Cha hasn’t. You are correct that Not all Gen Mai Cha has popped corn, but yes some do.

Caitlin 15 years ago

I am going off adagio’s description which says there is both rice and popcorn and these little white pieces in the tea… I must admit I am not sure I would be able to tell the difference between popcorn and rice, but I don’t think adagio would lie about ingredients.

Tea-Guy 15 years ago

Please understand I’m not calling anyone a liar. Adagio’s site does indicate they include popcorn with this tea, though I’ve never seen this done.

As noted, I’m surprised they would include popcorn in this tea since the rice kernels will pop anyway, the inclusion of corn is a little odd for this wonderful tea.

I’ll contact Ilya over at Adagio to learn more.

Cofftea 15 years ago

You have a point… this is Adagio. I have seen popped corn in Gen Mai Cha, but there may not be any in this even though they say there is. I know there was nothing that even looked like popped corn in my sample about 6 months ago.

Tea-Guy 15 years ago

I have a tin of their Genmaicha here and I know I see the popped kernels but they’re not from corn kernels.

My Genmaicha from Harney & Sons, Obubu, MotoYamaMoto and Ujinotsuyu all appear very similar. Some with differing quality of tea, but all with the kernels. I’m just waiting to hear back from Ilya. I’m curious.

Tea-Guy 15 years ago

Make that YamaMotoYama (I’m a little off with this migraine).

Caitlin 15 years ago

Let me know what you find out – I am curious too

Tea-Guy 15 years ago

Here’s the response I got:

Chris,

The genmai cha does in fact have popped rice, but since most people have never heard of the phenomenon of popping rice, we simply call it popcorn.

Hope that helps,
Ilya

Caitlin 15 years ago

Thats interesting and weird, I mean I know popped rice isn’t common, but I think people would understand the concept – haha

RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas 15 years ago

LOL, this is so funny and it is true that it is popped rice as stated, I think they call it popcorn to just be cute and interesting. Nevertheless, I am psyched you enjoyed this tea. It was a last minute inclusion to your package. Based on your cupboard and as I recall you are still fairly new to tea I thought you would enjoy trying something a little different and I am glad you did. Hope you BF does too. Keep us posted.

Caitlin 15 years ago

@Rachel: Yeah I have been drinking tea for years but only bagged unflavored blacks, I started getting into loose leaf only about 6 months ago. It has been an awesome experience. And I have really been enjoying trying all the different teas you sent me!!! Thanks again! I will be sure to keep putting out tasting notes on mine and ocassionally the bf’s opinion on the teas!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

People who liked this

Comments

Cofftea 15 years ago

One of only 2 greens I don’t like. I don’t mind the popped corn in it, but I can do w/o the rice.

Caitlin 15 years ago

I really like ricecakes and popcorn so this tea is good with me – haha. What’s the other kind out of curiosity?

Cofftea 15 years ago

Hojicha. I don’t like anything roasty toasty. Don’t like roasted oolongs either.

Caitlin 15 years ago

I haven’t tried either of those so I can’t really comment – haha

Tea-Guy 15 years ago

I love Genmaicha. There’s no real popcorn in this tea. When you roast rice kernels they can sometimes pop like popcorn and provide a similar smell and tasty flavor.

Caitlin 15 years ago

Actually this one does have popcorn but this pariticular pot of tea had like 2 pieces of popcorn and like 40 pieces of rice.

Tea-Guy 15 years ago

Even though Adagio calls it Popcorn Green I don’t really think it has popcorn in it. The rice kernels are popped as happens with all Genmaicha regardless of source.

It’s often called popcorn tea because the popped rice looks like little popcorn kernels. I’ve never come across a Genmaicha with actual popcorn in it and would be very surprised if it did.

Cofftea 15 years ago

Tea-Guy, if Caitlin says there is then I believe her. She has no reason to be dishonest about ingredients in tea. I didn’t realize rice could pop. The rice I’ve seen in Gen Mai Cha hasn’t. You are correct that Not all Gen Mai Cha has popped corn, but yes some do.

Caitlin 15 years ago

I am going off adagio’s description which says there is both rice and popcorn and these little white pieces in the tea… I must admit I am not sure I would be able to tell the difference between popcorn and rice, but I don’t think adagio would lie about ingredients.

Tea-Guy 15 years ago

Please understand I’m not calling anyone a liar. Adagio’s site does indicate they include popcorn with this tea, though I’ve never seen this done.

As noted, I’m surprised they would include popcorn in this tea since the rice kernels will pop anyway, the inclusion of corn is a little odd for this wonderful tea.

I’ll contact Ilya over at Adagio to learn more.

Cofftea 15 years ago

You have a point… this is Adagio. I have seen popped corn in Gen Mai Cha, but there may not be any in this even though they say there is. I know there was nothing that even looked like popped corn in my sample about 6 months ago.

Tea-Guy 15 years ago

I have a tin of their Genmaicha here and I know I see the popped kernels but they’re not from corn kernels.

My Genmaicha from Harney & Sons, Obubu, MotoYamaMoto and Ujinotsuyu all appear very similar. Some with differing quality of tea, but all with the kernels. I’m just waiting to hear back from Ilya. I’m curious.

Tea-Guy 15 years ago

Make that YamaMotoYama (I’m a little off with this migraine).

Caitlin 15 years ago

Let me know what you find out – I am curious too

Tea-Guy 15 years ago

Here’s the response I got:

Chris,

The genmai cha does in fact have popped rice, but since most people have never heard of the phenomenon of popping rice, we simply call it popcorn.

Hope that helps,
Ilya

Caitlin 15 years ago

Thats interesting and weird, I mean I know popped rice isn’t common, but I think people would understand the concept – haha

RachanaC (Rachel)-iHeartTeas 15 years ago

LOL, this is so funny and it is true that it is popped rice as stated, I think they call it popcorn to just be cute and interesting. Nevertheless, I am psyched you enjoyed this tea. It was a last minute inclusion to your package. Based on your cupboard and as I recall you are still fairly new to tea I thought you would enjoy trying something a little different and I am glad you did. Hope you BF does too. Keep us posted.

Caitlin 15 years ago

@Rachel: Yeah I have been drinking tea for years but only bagged unflavored blacks, I started getting into loose leaf only about 6 months ago. It has been an awesome experience. And I have really been enjoying trying all the different teas you sent me!!! Thanks again! I will be sure to keep putting out tasting notes on mine and ocassionally the bf’s opinion on the teas!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

Tea has always been a part of my life. A cup of tea was always the solution to middle school tears and high school early mornings.

When I was in college I started quite the little tea collection in my tiny kitchen cabinets.

I have definitely scaled back my tea ordering and tasting the past 2 years or so, but I am getting back into it.

Outside of tea my interests include reading, photography, too much tv, visiting new places, trying new restaurants and playing video games with my husband.

Location

PA

Website

http://society6.com/cbvb

Following These People