GENMAICHA

A premium loose leaf green tea from the Shizuoka Prefecture in Shimizu, Japan.

WELCOME TO TWININGS TEA TASTERS

This month we have a premium loose green tea from the Shizuoka Prefecture in Shimizu, Japan. For good quality Sencha teas like this one, choose a small teapot and small drinking bowls.

GENMAICHA

'Genmai' translates as brown rice in Japanese: roasted brown rice kernels and popped white rice are added to a good Sencha steamed green tea to create a blend that looks intriguing and tastes divine. The tea produces an easy-drinking, golden liquor with a sweet and nutty flavour that makes a great accompaniment to food.

This tea is packed with flavour and enjoyment and is an absolute delight to look at and drink. We hope you enjoy this as much as we have!

When you smell and taste your tea, why not use the Twinings flavour wheel and see what aromas and tastes you come up with. First of all, before your nostrils come close to the tea liquor, just smell the back of your hand as this helps to cleanse your palette. 

THIS TEA HAS BEEN SOURCED BY MASTER TEA BLENDER/BUYER RISHI DEB

Rishi Deb is our China tea expert within our Master Blender team here in Andover, Hampshire. UK. He loves to travel as some of the finest teas he buys for Twinings are from the worlds places of outstanding natural beauty and nothing adds more to the tea experience other than sipping your tea whilst drinking in the landscape of where they are from.

As well as a tea buyer, Rishi is a master tea blender and for him, tea blending is like creating a special recipe where different teas and natural ingredients are combined to create a taste of beauty and majesty.

TEA IN SHIZUOKA

The tea history of Japan is said to have started about 1200 years ago when Chinese monks brought tea into the country. Shizuoka tea can be traced back to a monk named Seiichi Kokushi(1201-1280) who brought seeds from China. He plated the seeds in Ashikubo close the place of his birth.

Since 1869 the Makinohara tableland has been reclaimed in a big scale. The cultivation of tea has also been actively conducted from this time. With the opening of Yokohama port in 1859, tea became one of the major exports of Japan. Many tea gardens were opened in every district in Shizuoka.

Today, Shizuoka is still the largest tea production area in Japan.

MAKING THE TEA

Tip: Pour some hot water into the pot and bowls to warm them. Leave for 30 – 40 seconds and then pour the water away. 

• Add 2 teaspoons of tea to the pot. 
• Add 200ml of freshly boiled spring water that has cooled slightly to approximately 80°C. 
• Allow to steep for 1 – 2 minutes. 
• Pour a little into each cup and then top up with more tea from the pot to make sure that each cup gets an even distribution of flavour. 
• Add more hot water to the leaves and leave them to steep for 3 - 4 minutes to make a second, slightly stronger infusion.

TEAWARE PAIRINGS

For good quality Sencha, choose a small teapot and small drinking bowls.

The five piece Emperor's Bird tea set by Alison Appleton was inspired by memories of Hans Christian Andersen's tale of the Emperor and the Nightingale.

This bestselling set comprising of four cups and a teapot with integral stainless steel filter is made from from De Hua porcelain and black clay. The clay gives the appearance of cast iron but without the weight. The teapot is finished with a beautifully decorated porcelain lid. The four cups are also made from black clay and porcelain with decorative detail on the inlay.

The timeless tea set makes a wonderful gift and is sure to delight any tea connoisseur.