当店の玄米茶は、宮崎県産・鹿児島県産の上質な煎茶に、香ばしく炒った米をブレンドした、ほっとする味わいの一品です。緑茶に米を加えるこの伝統は、何世紀も前にまで遡ります。寒い季節が訪れ始めると、秋の最後の茶摘みに米を加え、冬の間ずっと楽しめるようにしたのが始まりとされています。炒った米の温かみのある風味が、ほのかなナッツのような甘みをカップにもたらし、煎茶のみずみずしい青々とした味わいと絶妙に調和します。この業務用サイズの袋には、リーフ茶250gが入っています。
I wasn't expecting the toasted rice to come through so clearly, it gives the sencha a warm nutty flavor that makes it feel like a treat without any sweetness. Steeping it for about two minutes was plenty. Cozy is honestly the right word for this one.
The popped rice actually floats up through the sencha, so every sip feels a little different depending on how much you catch. I've been drinking this every afternoon instead of coffee and it's oddly calming without being heavy.
The toasted rice gives it this nutty, almost popcorn-like smell the second you open the bag. I've been drinking it every afternoon instead of coffee and the sencha base stays smooth, never bitter, even when I forget and let it steep too long. Genuinely the coziest cup I've had in a while.