★★★★★
We had to find a new go-to green after the Green Pekoe was discontinued. If you're looking for a straightforward, no-nonsense, affordable green, this is your tea.
A playful steamed green tea from Japan. Kukicha is a blend of leaves and leaf stems. The lightness of the stems becomes a sweet sesame seed or chestnut note. Tender like soft white rice. Balanced and, for a Japanese tea, very low in astringency.
Customers use these reviews to describe their experience with Kukicha, 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.
We had to find a new go-to green after the Green Pekoe was discontinued. If you're looking for a straightforward, no-nonsense, affordable green, this is your tea.
Had to try this one a few times before I really knew how I felt, and ultimately, I decided I really like it! The grassy taste may not appeal to everyone, but I thought it was a nice variation on other, more generic-tasting green teas.
The aroma is of fresh vegetable with notes of sesame seed, and chestnut. It smells like a spring garden, or a crisp salad. The flavor of Kukicha is tender, balanced, low in astringency, and sweet. It has a soft and smooth taste, with a hint of creaminess and a touch of grassiness.
A unique green tea in appearance and flavor. It has a vegetal grassy flavor but isn’t horrible and to me reminds me of a cheaper Japanese variety green. Can be bitter. Good mixed with lemongrass.
This is just a lovely, grassy green tea, perfect for everyday drinking. I also found that it did quite well on the second steep. It's very much going to be one of my go-tos.
A very pleasant green tea, I prefer dried/roasted kukicha but it’s still yummy!
My go to, I need tea tea! So good. Grassy and light. Caffeine level seems just right.
If I need a green to cold brew, I grab kukicha. It brews out so smoothly with no bitterness. It's equally wonderful hot and mixed with fruit-based herbals.
This is lovely! Fresh and green and sweet. Oversteeping leads to heavy grassiness and some sourness- so 2 mins steep max.
This was a complex tea with natural sweetness. Flavors were toasty and grassy with a buttery mouthfeel. Over-steeping can make this one a bit bitter.
Nice fragrance and has an almost apricot, fruity taste to it. Very little to no bitterness if you follow the brewing instructions.
Incredibly buttery and hints at sesame seed. A new favorite. I'm sure I'll have to buy a full bag when I'm finished with the sample.
Initially brewed for 3 minutes and disliked the bitterness of it. Tried next time for only 2 minutes and was surprised at how good it became. Toasty and grassy, a nice complex Japanese green flavor.
I really enjoyed this one! I’m definitely putting it on my summer list!
Liked this one enough go through a pound in just a couple months. Good both hot and cold brewed. I don't add any sweetner.
Lightly grassy and refreshingly clean when enjoyed cold. This will always be in my pantry along with gyokuro
This tea is the most robust flavorful green I have ever had. I love the energy boost you get from it.
Intense green flavor. If that is what you are looking for, this tea is 100% for you. If you like a very plantlike cup that tastes like a wet garden, this is your cup. I like it only now and again as a change.
Green teas are not a favorite of mine and particularly when they are on the grassy side. This is just personal preference and my rating is meant to say that it’s just not for me. However, plenty of people who like green teas have liked it so I would say it’s very worth a try.
Not a big green tea fan - but this tea was decent. It had an earthy flavor but not too grassy. Not one I’ll order but I would drink again. I had 3 g @ 175 for 2:22 CT 2/24/23.
A nice green! Toasty without being too swampy! Probably wont order more since it wasn't my favorite green I've tried though.
pleasantly vegetal and grassy, without being offputting
Tried as a CommuniTEA sample. I disliked this when it was hot because it tasted like spinach water to me. Once it cooled it wasn't as vegetable tasting so it was fairly tolerable. People who enjoy stronger green teas will probably like this one.
CommuniTEA portion: 2-1/2 minutes at 180. Love this tea. Vegetal, grassy, fantastic. Just a nice simple green. Lovely with multiple steeps.
Not the green tea for me; the grassier and more vegetal it tastes, the less I enjoy it. It's akin to drinking boiled lawn clippings, which was a shame as I really searched for the mentioned notes of chestnut or sesame seed. For those who like those notes, this is as grassy as it gets [as far as I've tried greens].
Good, savory vegetal tasting tea. I imagine this is what brewed seaweed would taste like. 🪸
I'm not here to yuck anyone's yum. But I took a few sips and I may as well have put the old, dead grass in my lawn in some hot water. Wonderful if you like grassy green teas. I typically LOVE green tea. But not this. Not for me.
I struggle with grassy teas, and this one definitely falls into that territory. Earthy, vegetal notes when tasting.
This is a very vegetal green tea that has a sweet grass flavor that's very prominent. There's some earthy flavors that come through that really give you a strong, smooth green tea flavor that's unlike other green teas that I've had. I think this is slightly too vegetal for my personal preference, but this tea was a fun experience to try as I've never had a tea carry such a strong, sweet grass flavor.
A very green green tea with subtle nutty sweet rice flavors. I enjoy this staple green tea often alongside a sweet snack.
When I opened my CommuniTEA packet, I noticed the vegetal aromas of green tea, but with a hint of sweetness. It reminded me a bit of matcha. I steeped the tea for 2 minutes. I really enjoyed this tea! It has a much sweeter taste than other green tea varieties and it was not bitter at all. If you like green tea, you will enjoy this!
This tea really looked like pretty grass. I have no idea if it tasted grassy as the look influenced my perception.
This green tea is earthy with a grassy note. Yellowish green Color. I enjoyed without sweetener.
Steeped this tea at 175 F for about 2 minutes. The blend came out with a light green color and slightly sweet, grassy taste. A great morning tea!
This tea has a deeper flavor than most green teas, but it also has a richness and smoothness. I take mine straight up to get all the benefits. I tasted no bitterness, and just a hint of sesame seed. This tea is a healthy way to start the day.
I love green tea and I definitely love this green tea! I didn't have time to steep so I threw 1-1/2 teaspoons in a large tea bag (I know I'm bad). I threw the tea bag into my 32oz to-go tumbler then filled it with ice and water and went to work for the day. I thoroughly enjoyed kukicha! Refilling my tumbler with water and ice all day. The flavor held up all day. I was so impressed! No bitterness at all. I didn't add a sweetener and I'm so glad I didn't. This was a refreshing pure tasting green tea that can stand alone. Strongly grassy in a wonderful way and smoothingly nutty to wrap up the flavor! Wonderful tea with an energy that cleared my mind!
This is not a shy, smooth green tea - definitely for those who like a rougher, vegetal quality. I once added this to a custom blend sight unseen (noob alert! 😆) , and quickly discovered it was fairly undrinkable. I replaced the green tea in the blend with a more suitable option, but I’m glad I got to try this on its own and appreciate its unique character. Steeped 2.5 mins @180°
Though it will never be a favorite, I could get used to this green tea. The aroma from the CommunITEA pouch is bright and fresh, not overly grassy. A careful brew yields a liquor that is clean and fresh, and yes, vegetal and grassy. That said, there are nutty notes, though I wouldn't have identified them as sesame. Those subtle nutty notes probably saved this tea for me; it's reminiscent of genmaicha but not nearly as toasty. A second steep is less grassy, but still smooth and savory, and as someone else noted, broth-like. I'm glad to have the opportunity to try this, and though it will never be a go to for me, it's refreshing on a day like today...when I'm dealing with a cold. (1.5 minutes @ 175F)
I’m drinking it. It has a strong earthy flavor and a definite lingering bitter taste. Brewed it at 176• for 3 minutes.
CommuniTEA 2/24/23 I want to like Green tea and this one was better than most I've tried. Opened the bag and smelled hay but the stems intrigued me. Nope - I just do not enjoy teas with a grassy taste but am sure the green tea lovers will!
I'm starting to think that the grassy vegetal green teas are my favorite! This one definitely hit the mark for me. 180 degrees for 2 min.
UPDATE from 8/21/23: The smell is like a fresh spring rain in a grassy meadow. It steeps into a beautiful lemony green. A very light, green tea with delicious grassiness. It leaves the mouth feeling clean. I not only drink it hot, but brew it a second time to make ice tea out of it. I add 1/4 teaspoon of stevia to 10 oz of the ice tea, and enjoy sipping on it on a very hot day. Just a good tea. (3 mins @ 180º)
Kukicha is my all-time favorite tea and Adagio has a very good one here. It is fresh tasting and pleasantly grassy. I steeped it for only 2 minutes to avoid any bitterness (I haven’t tried it at 3 minutes yet). It also makes a refreshing cold brew. I love this tea and I will be buying more!
I wasn’t expecting much from this, but it’s DELICIOUS! Light and floral/fruity. I’m not getting any of the vegetal/mushroom flavor others are. (I despise mushrooms, so that would be a big no for me.)
Grassy and nutty, green teas are not my favorite but this has a rather unique flavor for me.
Excellent buttery, leafy green tea. Nice and light with plenty of vegetal taste. Yum.
A slightly sweet, mostly savory green tea with a light body and a lingering soft mouthfeel. I love the grassy notes and the trace tastes of seaweed. Someone mentioned a mushroom flavor in a review and I can confirm there is a hint of umami flavor. I would enjoy this in warm summer evenings or with a light lunch.
Yep, tastes like grass. Japanese green teas are just really my nemesis. I could pick up some faint chestnutty flavour as mentioned in the description, but the seaweedy, grassy profile was far more prominent and off-putting for me. But I can tell it's a quality example of this style. I just hate the style.
In the bag: Plenty of light green stems to go along with the dark green leaves. The stems remind me of lemongrass. Some breakdown occurred during shipping.
On the nose (pre-steep): A mild hazelnut note accompanies the classic grassy, vegetal flavor. As with most greens at pre-steep, I also get a hint of salt.
On the nose (post-steep): A combination of seaweed and cooked grass. Perhaps a touch of mushroom? Hardier and more savory than most greens.
On the tongue: Reminds me of a grassy stew. Perhaps one with kale. No sweetness or astringency.
Opinion: I try to look past my personal preferences when rating teas to instead focus on objective qualities. It's hard to do so here. I'm sure others love these deeply savory, grassy flavors but I don't.
Preparation: First steep 3 min, second steep 6 min. Both @ 175 ℉. No sweetener.
This green tea steeps up a cloudy yellow-green and it tastes wonderful without adding any sweetness. I wouldn’t call it grassy or like seaweed. It was just a clean and vegetal green tea. I have a card that I will redeem soon! I steeped at 175 degrees for 2 minutes each time. I have iced my resteeps for later.