Laoshan Black Chocolate Genmaicha

I enjoyed the green/white/floral blend, but I really want something more robust, so I’m trying again, this time with a favorite. Although I’m still getting bitterness, particularly in the aftertaste, I’m noticing that it is predominantly right in the center of my tongue, so I’m trying to slurp around the sides, if that makes sense.

I am thoroughly enjoying this cup. It’s more acidic & bitter than usual, like everything else I’m drinking, but it’s also sweet, chocolate, yum.

My other morning tea, thankful that i brought two with me today since i haven’t had 5 mins to get food or anything. What a day! first day back with all the people who have been off for a week or two. I am really loving this today. It seems so much roastier and chocolatey. I may have to think about restocking this once i’m finished with my stash :)

Holy crap. So I brewed this one up tonight, and was instantly in love. Chocolate, intensifying the natural notes of the Laoshan Black, plus toasty rice flavour. Seriously guys, I’m sure the second cup won’t be quite as amazing, but I was completely floored when I tried this (and I wasn’t expecting to be). I had a second infusion as well, and the flavour definitely changed… almost a caramelly/toffee flavour was what I was picking up. Divine. And the leaves still smell quite chocolatey, so round 3 will be tomorrow. I may re-stock this tea instead of the straight Laoshan Black, yes, that’s how delicious it was.

ETA: Round three was steeped for quite a while (probably more than 5 minutes) and is mostly kind of burny-toasty. Hint of caramel flavour, which grows in the aftertaste. Leaves didn’t have much aroma after this infusion, so I stopped. I’m pretty sure I’ll have some more of this tonight… just to see if I can repeat the deliciousness :)

Another sipdown – but this one is bittersweet. I’m now at 72 teas (yay for meeting my own self imposed limits) but this one is SO. DARN. GOOD. I don’t know that I won’t be restocking as soon as I finish this note.

Prep notes: 2.5 tsp. leaf to 10 oz. water with some milk at the below parameters.

I remember how this one tasted before with just milk so I replicated it today. I don’t get as much chocolate, more of the rice/starchy notes, but the texture still wins all the points. Thick and creamy and decadent. My favorite.

A really nice way to start my early morning.

Sipdown, 128. I had a little more than I would normally use left in the pouch, so of course this is overleafed. I reduced the steep time to compensate but it is still a tad stronger than I would prefer.

A tasty tea, but I’m glad I only picked up an ounce of it. For me, I don’t need any wuyi oolong in my Laoshan Black. :)

Does it count as a sipdown if I only finished off one bag because my other arrived in the mail today? If so, then SIPDOWN! If not, well, then this will never be sipped down. I love this tea. I think even more than the Laoshan Black. Yum.

ETA drinking this while eating a peanut butter cookie Lara bar. Match made in heaven. Tastes like a gourmet peanut butter cup. I gotta go buy more Lara bars. Holy snikes.

Well, I couldn’t wait until I got home to try this one. The beau is not one for chocolate teas either so I doubt he’ll be bothered. The aroma of the dry leaves makes me think of a Crunch or Krackle bar – chocolate with some puffed rice. The beany malty laoshan black sits underneath all that, holding it together.

I went a bit light on the leaf but gave it extra time to balance out. I remember Laoshan Black as being strong on flavour under most circumstances so I am confident it can handle it. The liquor is a warm sunflower sort of yellow, with strong malt aroma that is tinged with cocoa at the end. I’ve always loved the idea of a genmaicha, but being a hater of green tea I have never really enjoyed it. This could be the way for me!!

First sips yield a fairly typical laoshan flavour. Heavy on malt with some cocoa and honeyed sweetness on the end of the sip. The nibs are working with the natural cocoa flavours of the tea and bringing it out even more. I love that. So far there is nothing here that screams toasted rice for me though. I will report back in a bit to see if that changes but for now this is mostly laoshan with chocolate, and I ain’t complainin’. :)

EDIT: I have had the new batch of Laoshan Black and I must say that I prefer the unadulterated Laoshan Black to this blend. I get much more cocoa from the Laoshan Black than from this one and I prefer the intensity of flavour. I think the addition of the oolong here (while nice) detracts from what I love about the Laoshan. Still yummy though!

Once again, I do not taste chocolate at all in this, although I’m finding that a lot with just cacao nibs in a great many ‘chocolate’ teas.

On the other hand laoshan black genmaicha (without any chocolate) just hits the spot. I love the toasty rice and I love laoshan black and it’s just good. It just is. I added way more tea than normal because I couldn’t remember if this was 1 tsp per ‘cup’ or 2. 6 tsp to about 850ml water. Really strong and roasty toasty. Lovely. Now to scarf it down before I have to run out the door.

Kitten wants some love, he’s trying to type for me.

I like laoshan black. I like chocolate. And I like genmaicha. Put them all together and you get something that I would probably like. When you add oolong to that, you get something that is not for me. I wish I had looked more carefully at this tea and what it was made of because I was not expecting any oolong until I got a taste of it in my first sip. I am getting a nuttiness and chocolate and a whole lot of oolong. I had such high hopes but the oolong is really ruining this for me. Thank you for sharing Dexter3657 alas I feel as though I have wasted this by not being more aware of what I was asking for. I am sorry.

Another part of my Verdant birthday order. Y’know, I’d forgotten what genmaicha was when I placed this order, but I was so lured in by the promise of comforting flavors that I didn’t even give it a second thought. Had my first sip in a thermos on the way to an early doctor’s appointment, and then made some more for the morning mug at home.

Mmmm.

Mmmmmmmm.

I’m glad I’ve had the chance to try and get used to the regular Laoshan black before this, because that flavor had a bit of an adjustment period to me. Now that I crave LB, this is tasty. Normally I don’t do roasty, but I don’t mind it in this context. It’s quite a forgiving tea, too; I accidentally left a bit in the bottom of the teapot for a couple of hours and it was still great.

Really, I just wanna sip on this all day. And you know what, it’s my day off and I’mma do what I want.