★★★★★
This is one of my morning go to, you could smell and taste the toasted, popped rice.
Classic Japanese green tea, blended with toasted, popped rice. Warm, nutty with a lovely savory and hearty quality.
Customers use these reviews to describe their experience with Genmai Cha, including flavor, aroma, preparation preferences, strength, and how the tea fits into daily routines. Browse the full review history page by page to compare tasting notes, steeping tips, and favorite ways to enjoy this tea.
This is one of my morning go to, you could smell and taste the toasted, popped rice.
Great roasted nutty flavor added to the green tea.
don't really taste, it's something fruity - but not identifiable
The popped rice is prominent, but you can still taste the tea leaves. Would not buy this loose, as I would probably not get good ratios.
Don't overbrew or it gets bitter. Changes color if not consumed in a reasonable amount of time. Can brew multiple times. Delicious.
Decent green tea. The popped rice helps mellow the flavor
The popcorn makes the green tea taste somewhat nutty, which isn't bad but is definitely an acquired taste. Worth trying!
I loved genmai cha! I would describe its taste as “cute”. Popcorn flavored tea is such a great idea!
Genmai cha is comfort tea with green tea and roasted brown rice. It is my everyday tea. When I go back to Japan one a year, I buy a big bag of genmai cha to consume until next visit. So, I was very happy to open today's packet from communiTEA! I feel secure to know that I can buy gemmai cha from adagio when never I need a sip.
One of my favorite classic Japanese tea flavors. This tea is amazing for when your stomach is upset!
I have long been a lover of genmai cha tea. Something about the toasted notes with the grassy tea really works for me. I find out a really warm and comforting cup, for whatever reason. I over steeped this cup (oops), but it was still tasty. Aromas of toasted rice and popcorn! Really. And the flavor is that plus earthy green tea. It's nothing fancy, but it's a favorite of mine for whatever reason.
Not terrible for green tea with the nutty flavor.
I'm not really sure how to describe this tea. I think I'm going to call it toasty and nutty. My husband said it tastes like burnt popcorn, but that's not what I get from it. Overall I liked it!
I'll start by saying I LOVE Genmai Cha, and it always reminds me of trekking through the streets of Tokyo. This is a very good genmai cha, too. Without sweetener, it's not too bitter, but also not overwhelmed by the toasted rice. It has a lovely grassy, palate cleansing grassy flavor and a warm, lingering slight sweetness and comfort from the rice. The feel of each sip is smooth and rich. Definitely a new fave.
I remember first having genmai cha many years ago and for some reason, hating the popcorn smell and taste. Drinking it today, I didn't find it repulsive, in fact somewhat enjoyable. I was thinking that I should give it another chance, but then again, there are so many great green teas out there.
What an interesting combination! Tea and toasted rice. This is a fun one to Google the history of. This warm, friendly blend tastes mostly like toasty rice with very subtle undertones from the green tea. I enjoyed drinking it and was able to get three tasty steepings out of one portion of leaves. I didn't try for a fourth steeping. (2 min @ 175°F, +30 sec for each additional steeping)
Never would I ever have thought I’d describe a green tea as buttery, but this one was. Toasty, nutty, with a touch of butter at the end of the sips. I will be buying this one! 2.5 @ 175
This tasted like the burnt, leftover popcorn kernels at the bottom of the bag that no one wants. Or perhaps an old rice cake wrapped in seaweed. Definitely not something I could finish. However, it’s just my personal taste preference; from all of the great reviews clearly other people enjoy this!
The tea is do mild the toasted rice flavor really comes through. I added sugar, and it tastes like honey smacks cereal. This is a good thing.
Green teas are among some of my favorite, but this particular blend with the puffed rice falls drastically short for me. There was no taste of delicate green tea to be found, only the strange flavor of puffed rice, rather like stale rice krispies. Even the addition of honey couldn't salvage what I had hoped would be a delightful sip when I pulled it from the CommuniTEA box. Shame.
This is my first time ever trying the CommuniTea, and I'm so glad I got to try this because I probably would not have chosen it for myself. I usually prefer fruity teas. This tea does smell like a bag of puffed rice cereal or something. The smell isn't particularly appetizing, but it tastes better than it smells! It just makes me think of eating sushi while drinking a cup of green tea. The kids and my husband took sips and did not like it. I probably would not buy it again, but I didn't hate it! It's a very unique tea! <3
This tea was a nice surprise! Genmai Cha is mild tasting tea with a note of toasted rice. Excellent on its own with no sweetening.
This is one of my least favorite green teas. For me the rice flavor overpowered the tea to the point I felt I was drinking tea out of my rice cooker. I didn't spit it out but I certainly didn't finish my cup.
When I opened today’s CommuniTEA I was immediately hit with a toasty almost nutty but familiar aroma.
Then when I looked inside, I saw what looked like toasted rice crispy cereal and small pieces of popcorn.
I turned over the package to see what the ingredients were and all it said was Genmai Cha. So it did not help.LOL
Once brewed the aroma and taste both reminded me of a rice cake.
If you like rice cakes then you will like this tea. I have a feeling this would be good with caramel flavor or maybe some cinnamon. ( I like flavored rice cakes )
I could barely stand to sip at this tea. Definitely not one that I will purchase again. I am not a fan of green tea on a good day and this just did nothing for me and I immediately steeped up some oriental spice black after this.
This is so savory and nice! It tastes a lot like ochazuke, which is green tea and other toppings like rice crackers poured over Japanese rice. It's super nice, savory, smooth, and toasty. I bet it could be a very refreshing savory iced tea in the summer. Brewed at 175 for a scant 2 minutes
This has been my fave for years. Was so happy when it was first to review. The roasted rice flavor is remarkable and unmistakable.
Absolutely, without a doubt my favorite CommuniTEA I've had so far! I'vs always enjoyed the flavor of rice cakes (and this tea certainly represents such flavors) but the puffed rice gives a more hearty, nutty flavor that often isn't present in such fare. This tea is delightfully savory and substantial, and though the green tea definitely takes a back seat in this blend, it helps reign the rice back in with the slightest hint of delicacy and subtlety. The green definitely accentuates the umami of the rice and provides a lovely duality to this altogether interesting tea.
I like the history behind this tea and enjoyed the novelty of seeing toasted rice in the mix, with a couple popped grains even! Unfortunately the taste just wasn't for me. It was very seaweed-y, with a little bit of popcorn-like toastiness. If you like savory teas this one is worth a try, and I'm sure it'd complement a meal very well.
(160°F for 2 minutes) Aromatic blend of toasted rice and a savory vegetal flavor. The scent of the popped rice reminded me of the Golden Crisps or Honey Smacks cereal.
I love this tea. I like nutty green teas to start with and adding popped rice just brings it to a new level of awesomeness. I am definitely putting this on my wish list. It's like taking a peaceful walk in nature while eating popcorn. Tasted as part of The CommuniTea.
The taste is definitely toasted rice. It reminds me of drinking green tea while eating a rice cracker - in a good way! This is an interesting flavor and I really enjoyed it.
This is not my favorite green tea but it's good for what it is.
This definitely tastes like puffed rice. Something different to try in the communiTEA, but probably not something I’d buy as it’s a green tea (I prefer white & black).
Glad this was in my CommuniTea because I wouldn’t buy this. Th smell and taste just was not for me.
The nutty flavors within the green tea was a bit too grassy for my liking after I steeped it for 3 minutes.
I got this in the December CommuniTEA and really enjoyed this one. It's smoky, toasty and savory. I don't know that I've ever had another tea quite like it!
One of my favorites growing up, and a delight for the first time tasting this from Adagio.
It was fun to see the contents of the communiTEA pack this morning. An unusual looking and smelling tea that had me excited to taste. The flavor didn’t disappoint and I enjoyed more with each sip. Popcorn like flavor that reminded me of eating popcorn, in that you can’t eat just one. I’ll be making a second steep of this one.
I liked this tea. An unexpected surprise for a green tea. It tastes like a green tea but the puffed rice ceareal notes are interesting. I found myself going back to my cup, liking it more & more. I sweetened with a little honey. Curious how it would be with milk. I sampled this Tea as part of the CommuniTEA December box.
The toasted rice flavor was far too overpowering for the tea, and left a very unpleasant aftertaste.
Drinking this makes me wish that my favorite local sushi place was open on Sundays. This tea would pair perfectly with such a delightful meal. The description is very apt, it is a wonderfully savory tea perfect for meals. The tea brews to a lovely golden color. There is a light grassiness that I enjoy in green teas with a very slight astringency to the mouthfeel. But the toasted puffed rice mellows things beautifully and adds a toasty, almost nutty, flavor that is reminiscent of toasted sesame seeds. (3 mins @ 185)
I'll never enjoy grassy green teas, but the rice in this one helps balance that a little so I definitely don't hate it. I'll finish the CommuniTEA packet but I wouldn't ever buy it.
I like this tea.I like the subtle saltiness. It’s very mild. Recognizable flavor of the popcorn rice, and a very well done version of this style of tea. Not something I would normally purchase, but a nice change of pace from time to time. And it brings back great memories of visiting friends who regularly stocked green popcorn tea
This was in my CommuniTea package today. Now, I don't like green tea. I make no secret of that. But the popped rice? That adds a really interesting flavor! Kind of like puffed rice cereal, or yes, like others are saying, rice cakes! I wouldn't buy this tea, myself (because it's green tea), but I'm not gonna dump it out, either. It's far too interesting for that.
When I opened my communiTEA packet I was a little surprised at how little tea there was in there, it seemed about half of what I usually see. The leaves were very thin and a lovely nutty, aroma was noted. I brewed this up in a smaller sized mug than usual, but was amazed that the tiny, needlelike leaves expanded beautifully. The tea is a very nice pale yellow/greenish colour. The taste is quite nice, a roasty, toasty kind of nuttiness overlying the sip. I like that it overpowers the grassiness of the green tea, and leaves you with an overall nice flavour. I have tasted other versions of genmai cha tea, this one is a nice balance of green to nuttiness, and a very lovely cup.
I had high hopes for this one because I've heard such good things. I can't do it. I don't usually like green teas, but I can usually at least drink it. I dumped this out because every sip hit me wrong.
I'm surprised by how much I enjoy this tea! The toasted corn flavor really comes through, some may find it overwhelming if they are looking for a strong green tea flavor. Luckily, this is just what I was looking for this morning and paired well with my bowl of cereal.
I'm not sure how to rate this - first steep bad, second steep drinkable. I'm not normally a green tea lover, and while this didn't have the normal grassy flavor, it did taste like licking a piece of nori. Very heavy seaweed flavor, and I couldn't drink it. I didn't get any toasty notes, but the wet leaves/rice combo in the steeper smelled very toasty. So I steeped it again. The second steep mellowed out the seaweed flavor and the toasted rice came through nicely. Not my favorite, but I am finishing this cup. Now I'm wondering if a 3rd steep would be even better. (reviewed through CommuniTEA; 2 min @ 180F for both steeps)
Tastes like those popcorn kernels that got a bit burnt when you microwaved your popcorn a tad bit too long. Nutty, buttery, yummy!