Tag: Green Tea

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Murchie’s Genmaicha

Genmaicha by Murchie’s
Green Tea / Straight
$11.50 for 56g (2oz)

First Impressions

Genmaicha was a purchase from a Murchie’s retail location, being packaged in a white pouch that’s resealable. Genmaicha is a Japanese green tea, with puffed rice mixed in. The tea itself was originally stored in a large tin on their shelf, and I got the opportunity to see the leaves before deciding to purchase. The buying experience was fun, the workers were able to make some recommendations on teas to try after I said I wanted to try green teas.

Genmaicha consists of green tea and puffed rice. It smells like rice krispies cereal or popcorn, with hints of grassy notes throughout. And just look at the pretty puffed rice! It’s a pretty tea, and a nice one to inhale the aroma of. Genmaicha usually has a pretty bright aroma, so this one is in line with other genmaicha that I’ve had the opportunity to try before.

Preparation

Murchie’s recommends steeping green teas with 175-180°F (79-82°C) water for 2 to 3 minutes. I opted to do an initial steep of Genmaicha with 175°F (79°C) water for 2 minutes.

First Taste

Genmaicha steeps to a bright yellow, with a toasted popcorn aroma to it. The flavour is a mix of popcorn and the umami from the green tea base. It plays well on the tongue, with hints of saltiness that balances well with the puffed rice flavour that reminds me so much of popcorn. It definitely has a bit of savoury flavour profile to it, which I find pleasant.

A Second Cup?

I resteeped Genmaicha six times (seven steeps total), adding an additional 30 seconds for each subsequent steep. Genmaicha holds up quite well to being resteeped and the flavour profile remains consistent for each steep, just waning in intensity of flavour by the last steep that I did.

My Overall Impression

I loved Murchie’s Genmaicha. I enjoy a Japanese green tea from time to time, and found that this one from Murchie’s held up well to being steeped and resteeped over and over again. The flavour is exactly what I expect to find in a Genmaicha – with the puffed rice flavour, and the umami notes of the green tea base. I would highly recommend having Genamaicha with a meal, as the umami quality would balance well with something savoury.

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Dessert by Deb’s Hojicha Chocolate Mint Truffles

Hojicha Chocolate Mint Truffles by Dessert by Deb
Green Tea / Flavoured
$6.50 for 25g

First Impressions

Hojicha Chocolate Mint Truffles came as part of my bimonthly subscription box from Dessert by Deb. This particular sample came in a metallic purple pouch that’s resealable with a black and white label across the front and a clear window to see the dry leaf. It appears to be cocoa covered, and I do like a nice chocolate themed tea from time to time – provided it doesn’t result in an oily slick across from melted chocolate or sprinkles.

Hojicha Chocolate Mint Truffles consists of certified organic: roasted green tea, cacao nibs, peppermint, spearmint and cocoa powder. It definitely smells like both chocolate and mint, which is delightful. It reminds me of one of my favourite holiday time chocolates (After Eight), and ice cream (mint chocolate chip).

Preparation

Dessert by Deb recommends steeping Hojicha Chocolate Mint Truffles in 205°F (96°C) water for 5 to 6 minutes. I opted to follow the steeping instructions for the initial steep and allowed the leaves to steep for 5 minutes.

First Taste

Hojicha Chocolate Mint Truffles steeps to a cloudy brown, with just a hint of oils across the surface. It has a strong chocolate and mint aroma. I did take a sip, and found that the mint chocolate flavour is strong. I did add frothed, heated milk into my mug and found that it adds a lovely layer of creaminess to the flavour profile. It reminds me strongly of a mint hot chocolate, as if I had stirred in a candy cane – all it needed was a handful of miniature marshmallows.

A Second Cup?

I attempted to resteep Hojicha Chocolate Mint Truffles, but found that the flavour was lacking in the chocolate department (likely because the cocoa powder was gone).

My Overall Impression

I loved Dessert by Deb’s Hojicha Chocolate Mint Truffles. From start to finish, this hojicha blend reminds me of mint chocolate candy (or ice cream). It has a strong aroma in the dry leaf, followed by a strong flavour. Drinking this as a hot tea latte made it more and more like a cup of hot chocolate with some candy cane mixed in. It’s definitely one that I would recommend to have during the holiday season to get into the holiday mood.

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Glico’s Pocky Green Tea vs. Pocky Dark Rich Matcha

Pocky Green Tea & Pocky Dark Rich Matcha by Glico
$2.49 for 70g / $2.99 for 65g

First Impressions

I’m a fan of green tea treats, so when I spotted two different green tea Pocky flavours I wanted to try them both – and also do a taste comparison! Dark Rich Matcha (right) and Green Tea (left) came at different price points. The Dark Rich Matcha was $2.99 for 65g, whilst Green Tea was $2.49 for 70g.

Dark Rich Matcha comes in a two pack, with a dark green packaging while the Green Tea is white. Truth be told, the mild difference in price doesn’t make too much of an impact for me with only a 50¢ difference. The Dark Rich Matcha comes in a matte box while the Green Tea comes in a glossy box, which makes the Dark Rich Matcha appear more luxurious because of the matte feel.

Pocky Green Tea consists of: wheat flour, sugars, vegetable oil, whole milk powder, vegetable oil shortening, green tea powder, artificial flavours, salt, yeast, soy lecithin, sodium bicarbonate, mono- and di-glycerides, carotene, brilliant blue FCF.

Pocky Dark Rich Matcha consists of: wheat flour, sugars, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, palm oil, shortening, tea powder, wheat gluten, salt, yeast, soy lecithin, artificial flavour, potassium chloride, baking powder, and sucralose.

First Taste

Both Pocky green tea varieties are very similar – same length, same thickness in the green coating. The lighter one was Green Tea while the darker one is the Dark Rich Matcha. Both are sweet – Green Tea has a mild grassy taste while the Dark Rich Matcha has a grassy umami flavour to it combined with hints of chocolate.

The biscuit portion has a very mild flavour to it, a fairly plain cookie in itself. The Pocky Green Tea actually has a nicer looking biscuit stick to it – being more golden in colour in comparison to the Pocky Dark Rich Matcha which has a greenish hue to it. Other than colour though, the plain parts of the biscuit sticks taste basically identical.

My Overall Impression

I loved both Glico’s Pocky Green Tea and Dark Rich Matcha. The flavours of both are good, with a nice flavour of matcha. I find that I enjoy the Dark Rich Matcha more due to the chocolate undertones. The small difference in price points doesn’t influence me either way, although I do like the idea of having two packages in one box, for freshness if for whatever reason I don’t finish it in one sitting (although, really, who am I kidding?). I think they both make for a good snack, and would want to have both again (but definitely the Dark Rich Matcha if given the choice of only one).

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