Kagoshima Genmaicha - 50g Loose Leaf Green Tea

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Tea Origin - Kagoshima, Japan.

Food Paring - Sushi, tempura vegetables, fish'n'chips, breakfast.

Taste Profile - Ripe melon, buttery popcorn, pistachios and minerals.

A subtle green tea with notes of popcorn. Although there are numerous varieties of roasted rice tea, we were particularly taken aback by this organic sample from southwest Japan. We adore how well the aromas of buttered popcorn and toasted nuts blend with the fruity, minerally green tea.

In contrast to China, where fragrant teas have a lengthy history, things are typically simpler in Japan. Genmaicha, a 50/50 mixture of toasted rice and green tea, is one exception. Even though it's considered a delicacy now, genmaicha wasn't always this way. Since tea was costly in ancient Japan, those with less money would add more rice to their supply to extend its shelf life. Even though we tested a lot of samples, this organic mix from Kyūshū really impressed us. The green tea is from Kirishima and has overtones of mineral and melon. This is combined with toasted rice from nearby Fujieda, which has a nutty, popcorn-like flavour, to create a tea that has a really pleasing flavour balance.

The most southwesterly of Japan's main islands is Kyūshū. It's a beautiful area, distinguished by its clean Pacific shoreline, verdant plains, and southern volcanic peaks. Kagoshima prefecture is located south of Kyūshū and is centred around the active volcano Sakurajima and a deep bay. And inside Kagoshima is Kirishima, where some of the best green teas in the area are grown on the mist-covered mountainside. Rich in minerals, the ground is blessed with subtropical warmth, and cool nighttime temperatures. Kirishima teas are well known for their complex flavours and smells.