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This is a limited edition tea by Ippodo that I purchased at their store in NYC. I was looking for something cheap and tasty to drink and found this to be a great affordable tea that was a cut above grocery store genmaicha. Unlike other genmaicha, the toasty roasty “popcorn” taste of the toasted brown rice is much less apparent. Instead, there is smooth and bright, juicy, lemongrass-like note that erupts in your mouth while the savory brown rice translates into a creamy avocado flavor that is sweeter in nature than the fishy, savory, umami I normally find in Japanese green teas. The tea itself is quite pretty as well. The dry bancha consists of very shiny, smooth, uniformly cut pieces that are such a rich vibrant green. I really can’t stop looking at it! Consequently, the liquor produced is a bright “spring-y” green.

I HIGHLY suggest steeping it only briefly. In my opinion, the grassier taste and additional dryness and slight bitterness that accompanies a long steeping don’t really add anything great to this tea. Brewing instructions from ippodo also suggest a short 30 second steep time and to pour out the tea completely rather than leave it continually stewing in the pot with the leaves.