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.
I feel like I'm usually terrible at brewing genmaicha! Overbrewed, it can have a horrible burned rubber taste...awful. But Adagio's is easy to brew - 2 minutes at 180 degrees produces a lovely light, toasty flavor. A different green tea, but really nice.
Delicious flavor. Plenty of nuttiness and toasted rice to pair with green tea taste. Nice classic example of the style.
A very strong rice scent. A rice taste is also present. It’s a light tea but not my cup of tea. Brewed at 180 for 2.5 minutes.
I like everything about this tea--the nutty taste, the smell. its just nice.
I’m not really sure what to make of this one. Out of the packet, it smells like Sugar Smacks…then like burnt popcorn. Brewed, it has a very strong burnt-rice scent. I was not looking forward to tasting it. Surprisingly, the initial taste is much more mild and not unpleasant, but then there’s a burnt aftertaste. This isn’t awful, but it’s not something I’d enjoy drinking regularly.
Not my favorite version of this tea, I had another brand once and loved it, this one was just ok to me but not bad, didn't really get enough of the rice flavor.
In the bag: About half of my packet is roughly chopped dark green leaves of tea. The other half is rice toasted to a golden brown. To top it off, three fluffy, white, popped rice kernels.
On the nose (pre-steep): Hallmarks of a green tea: fresh-cut grass, hint of salt, mild must. If I position my nose in just the right away, popcorn as well.
On the nose (post-steep): The grass and popcorn are now in balance. Salt is a little stronger, a proper secondary flavor. The must has vanished which is typical of greens post-steep.
On the tongue: Cooked grass stands out. Popcorn is right behind it. A buttery back note and mouth feel. Hint of salt. No bitterness.
Opinion: An interesting tea that I plan to enjoy once in a while but that will not be my go-to. Its savory profile and buttery popcorn make it a singular specimen. But the flavor isn't tasty enough to crave.
Preparation: First steep 3 min, second steep 6 min. Both @ 175 ℉. No sweetener.
Genmai Cha is one of my favorite green teas. I love the deep nuttiness in the flavor.It really comes through. Oddly enough, I also tried this iced, with a dash of honey, and
it was good.
I enjoyed tasting this tea, which has a nutty, popcorn overlay in a tasty green tea. I agree with others that the toasted rice flavors mask the green tea but I like it. I have some Matcha Genmaicha in my stash and drank some recently and I definitely prefer that, but this is good as well. I steeped at 175 degrees for 2 minutes and added no sweetener.
This is one of the very few teas that I actually hated. It might be because I despise the flavor and aroma of popcorn, which is quite apparent in this tea. So if you love popcorn, this is probably just right for you.
I was very hesitant over this tea. I'm not really a green tea drinker to begin with. Then you add a bizarre additive like puffed rice. I just didn't know what I was getting myself into. The first taste with no sweetner was as expected and taste like puffed rice but at least had no grassy taste. So I decided to add sweetner. Why not?! Huh! Turned it into something like kettle corn! I like kettle corn. Interesting tea but something I wouldn't really gravitate towards although I did drink all of my cup!
I love genmai cha. The roasty rice brings lovely flavor to a green tea, which can often be too light for me.
Today's CommuniTEA is Genmai Cha (3-6-23). I have had this tea before and find it to be simple and plain, not grassy or any weird flavors. It's good with a little milk thistle and a little honey. I would definitely recommend this tea!
A unique mild and delicious tea. Vibrant green tea leaves and roasted rice combine in this blend to create a delicious cup of roasty toasty and nutty flavors. The green tea is slightly sweet and has a hint of umami flavor and the roasted brown rice has a distinct nutty flavor. A nice tea to drink before bed time, very satisfying and relaxing. Yet another favorite tea to add to the ever-growing list.
I like this toasty popcorn/rice flavored green tea. It’s savory and tasty. As a part time green tea drinker, the novelty of popped nutty flavored brown and white nuggets in my green tea is fun. The green tea base isn’t grassy or vegetal but is more brothy with the toasty rice taking charge of the main flavor. I like sipping this tea plain best and tried it sweetened with green tea honey for comparison. The honey distracts from the true nutty taste and savory nature of the tea even for a sweet tooth like me.
My CT packet has 3 g/ 2 tsp of green tea leaves with brown and white crispy pieces that look like puffed kernels and popcorn bits. I brewed 12 oz. at 175*F for 2:15 min. and resteeped 6 oz. for 2:40 min. The light golden green liquor has a savory aroma which is different from the newly sprouted green grass scent of the dry tea. There is no bitterness with careful brewing. This is a unique and friendly green with a pop of toasty flavor that surprises and delights.
This is a great toasty green tea with lots of grassy and nutty notes. I prefer the Matcha Genmaicha but this is a nice change
Not for me- I didn't enjoy the 'toastyness' of it, which I know is the point. I'll chalk this up to a personal flavor preference- nothing wrong with the tea, per say
I really like this toasty tea. While my usual go to teas are fruity and sweet, this tea is better unsweetened. I like to brew it when I have sushi.
Sorry guys. Not a favorite. The aroma while steeping was off putting. I did not enjoy the toasted rice flavor. Normally I enjoy green teas. I’m glad I tried it, but I’ll not be ordering in the future. I do LOVE the amazing assortment of varieties and combinations your company offers😌
It's a classic reminds me of drinking herbally buttered popcorn. Very good for a cheap, low caffeine green tea mix.
Really enjoyed this one, the rice crisps give this tea interesting umami flavor that makes it stand out in comparison to your standard green tea. If you like seaweed crisps then you'll likely enjoy this tea as well.
A very interesting looking tea with pieces of popped and roasted rice mixed in with the green tea. A warm nutty, and somewhat buttery, flavor to me.
Nice nutty flavor. This is a mild tea. So if you like strong, don't go there! If you like relaxing, warm, nutty, this is a good choice.
One of my all-time favorite teas. Classic “green” taste with a fantastic nutty quality. Easy to oversteep so be careful with the time.
This was a surprise. Loved to toasted rice along with the tea. This made a great latte with almond milk and just a touch of sweetness. Definitely purchasing again
My daughter turned me onto this tea. I love the nutty flavor along with that green tea 'feel'. I had a cold recently and it became my 'go to' as I was working on cleansing and keeping hydrated. I still love to have a cup in the afternoon while I am working as it warms my insides and puts a smile on my face remembering the time with my daughter when I had my first sip.
This is truly a scrumptious tea. While I am not a green tea lover, this tea is uniquely savory and delicious. No earthiness to it. It's like you get a taste of popcorn in every sip with strong notes of nuttiness. Great tea!
Easily the biggest staple of my collection. This is my go to for people that have yet to build an appreciation for green teas! The nuttiness makes it quite approachable!
Love this blend of this classic tea. Careful not to over steep or it can be quite bitter, and I prefer just below 180 for temp.
This tea is absolutely delicious. Will definitely purchase again.
A light and delicate flavor. One of my favorite teas especially when I feel like snacking. This was used in china to curb hunger. Works and taste great!
I love genmai-cha. It is one of my favorite teas of all time. I love the toasty quality of the rice. The price is affordable and it's something I make whenever I need a pick me up.
Genmai Cha was a last minute choice on my last order. The toasted bits are really nutty which is what I was looking for.
I initially tried a sample and had to come back for a larger size! This is the first genmai cha that I've tried. I normally brew at 180 for 1 minute, then 10 seconds on the second steep, and 30 seconds on the 3rd steep.
I'm normally a sencha drinker and love the seaweedy, grassy, hay-like flavors, but sometimes I just want something a little more cozy for the warmer months. This is where genmai comes in - the rice adds a toasted sesame flavor (I assume they're roasted in, or tossed with sesame oil?) that makes the whole cup heavier, 'cozier' and more full-bodied. I love anything sesame flavor, so sencha + sesame is a perfect combo for me.
I find I'm choosing this tea often lately. It's become one of my favorites. It's easy for me to drink in the evening without keeping me up at night and it has a nice mellow but different flavor.
Very nice, mellow green tea. Reminds me very much of the teas you get at a lot of sushi restaurants.
This is my favorite tea! It has a gentle, but very unique flavor. I love the roasted/toasted flavor combination of the popcorn and rice, with the green tea.
I tried giving this one a second chance by decreasing the steeping time and temperature. Still just tastes like soggy cardboard. Glad I only ordered a sample, I'd actually choose Lipton over trying this again 😔
A good example of this tea style, and I don't tend to like most green teas. The rice adds a nice nutty character
Very yummy - very toasty. Perfect for a cold day. This is one of my favorite teas, and I love the adagio version
I have been waiting YEARS to try this tea, but for one reason or another, I was unable to. Now, I am convinced this is going to be one of my long term favorites. Green tea isn’t always one of my first choices for tea, but this doesn’t have the overly grassy or bitter notes one normally finds in green tea. The smell of the popped rice is prominent and the flavor reminds me strongly of the Japanese rice cracker snacks my parents used to get me at World Market as a treat. An absolutely perfect blend.
One of my top 5 favorite teas. My go-to with nearly any meal
Love the popped rice smell that comes off of this. Amazingly delicious tea that does the job every morning
I love a green tea, so this fit in my collection perfectly
This is one of my go-to teas now. So so so tasty. The toasted rice helps to balance the grassiness of the green and it looks so pretty too.
This tea gives me strong popcorn vibes, and I am here for it. Easily becoming a new favorite. The puffed/popped rice compliments the green tea flavor very nicely, making for a smooth and savory tea. I could easily drink this daily.
What a unique blend! Bold nut flavors mix with the mild astringency of green tea, topped off with the flavor and aroma of toasted popcorn. Actually, there are small kernels of popped rice in this tea. I’ve never experienced another tea like it. I drink it hot or iced, but I note stronger flavors when the tea is cold. Gemma Cha helps me enjoy the health benefits of a green tea and an added afternoon caffeine boost.
For something nicknamed 'popcorn tea,' the puffed rice is awfully small. Don't expect a green tea with something resembling Honey Smacks on top. That puffed rice is the first thing I smelled when opening the packet. And it adds to the green tea taste giving it its nutty and toasty flavor. Anyone who has a dislike to green teas may want to consider this one if they have not fully given up on green tea.
Very pleasant! I was surprised just how much toasted rice there was compared to tea, the picture isn't lying! Which does make me surprised that the toasted, nutty taste of this blend isn't as pronounced as I expected. If you like the green tea and toasted tastes to be more in equal balance in your genmai cha, then this is going to be a five star for your, I just prefer that toasted taste to be a little stronger.
Excellent flavor but be cautious not to overstep or use overly hot water as it will turn bitter. Otherwise, a very nostalgic taste of home.