Laoshan Black Chocolate Genmaicha

Tea type
Black Oolong Blend
Ingredients
Not available
Flavors
Chocolate, Cocoa, Nutty, Pastries, Roasted, Toasted Rice, Nuts, Malt, Earth, Rice, Toasted, Bread, Dark Chocolate, Roasted Nuts, Raisins, Toast, Grain, Caramel, Dirt, Roasted Barley
Sold in
Not available
Caffeine
Not available
Certification
Not available
Edit tea info Last updated by Kaylee
Average preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec 4 g 12 oz / 366 ml

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206 Tasting Notes View all

  • “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...” Read full tasting note
  • “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...” Read full tasting note
    74
  • “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...” Read full tasting note
    100
  • “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...” Read full tasting note
    100

From Verdant Tea

A warm and comforting take on classic Genmaicha with the addition of Wuyi oolong and cacao nibs. . . .

Genmaicha has humble origins- originally toasted rice was mixed into a pot to make expensive tea leaves go further in a time of less plenty than today. Toasted rice was combined with green tea or even broken twigs and stems to make a hearty and warming brew. At the time, green tea was for more widely available than black tea, but given the warming qualities of genmaicha, we thought that a humble hand-picked black tea from Laoshan Village would be the perfect companion for toasted rice.

This batch of Laoshan black is particularly malty and sweet, qualities drawn out by hand-crafted Minnesota wild rice and organic fair trade jasmine rice toasted in small batches. We add organic cacao nibs to give a darker and more comforting aftertaste, and a touch of Shui Jin Gui Wuyi oolong for its nutty caramel notes and savory aftertaste. All together, we think this new take on Genmaicha very much embraces the tea’s humble origins and stays true to the warm and satisfying nature of toasted rice tea.

Western Style
Use 4g of tea (about 1T) in 6-8oz of fresh-boiled (205°F) filtered or spring water. Steep for 30 seconds in a brew basket or equivalent. Enjoy many infusions. Add 10-15 seconds with each steeping, or to taste.
This tea is very forgiving, so feel free to use more leaf and slightly shorter steep times for more potent tea. It brews up equally well in small quantities as it does in big pots. This tea can also be enjoyed with a meal since it is so hearty and rich.

Iced Tea (Cold Brewing)
Use about 4 grams of tea for every 12oz of water. Combine with room temperature water in a covered vessel and refrigerate for 8-12 hours. Enjoy!

Iced Tea (Flash Chilled)
Use 1TB (5 grams) of tea in a 6-8oz vessel. Steep for 1 minute with filtered boiled water. Fill a martini shaker (or equivalent) with ice, then add brewed tea and shake until well-chilled (usually 10-30 seconds). Pour out through martini-shaker top over fresh ice in a new glass and serve.

About Verdant Tea View company

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206 Tasting Notes

30 tasting notes

I decided I’d give this tea a trial by fire. So I steeped 100 ml for 6 minutes at 95 C. The taste? Wonderful. The negative, the tea states that it is a genmaicha but I do not get any of the traditional genmaicha notes, other than a generic’roasted’ taste. But that is not a bad thing at all. There is a beer like maltiness to this tea, almost like a strong ale. The dark chocolate notes dominate and meld beautifully with the roasty malty flavours. This is a triumph of a tea. I really enjoy it steeped for this amount of time, even though Verdant tea recommends 4 oz for 30 seconds …

So in closing. Roasted beer flavoured chocolate tea … when steeped for 6 minutes with 100 ml of water.

Flavors: Bread, Chocolate, Malt, Roasted

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 6 min, 0 sec 5 g 100 OZ / 2957 ML

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83
894 tasting notes

Delicious. Toasty, chocolate and nuts. I keep forgetting that this has oolong in it as well as black tea.

This is a sipdown. I’m really glad I got to try it, and I could see buying it in the future, though it’s not one that I will rush to get back into my cupboard.

Flavors: Chocolate, Nutty, Toasted

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 45 sec 1 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML

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86
333 tasting notes

Getting to the bottom of this one, so a lot more rice ends up being scooped out. It makes for a much creamier, starchy-sweet cup. The rice-to-tea ratio being higher means the brew is not as strong caffeine-wise, but very comforting. Still highly enjoyable, and I’ll miss this one when it’s gone.

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226 tasting notes

Not really sure about what I think of this tea…I had actually wanted to try Laoshan Black 1st and then this, but I had completely forgot about that when I decided that I wanted tea when I got home tonight, along with also forgetting that it has a black tea base instead of green…so I’ll likely be for a long while…or not, I didn’t get much sleep last night and had to get up early this morning. I think I am going to wait till I have the 2nd half of this before giving a rating.

Last thing: I didn’t taste chocolate in this, well maybe a bit of bitterness that may have been the chocolate.

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 1 tsp 6 OZ / 177 ML

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88
467 tasting notes

It seems that the Steepster Monster ate my wonderful, detailed tasting note. Now I don’t want to spend as much time on the note. Let’s just hit the high points:

Never had a genmaicha before. They always sounded good when I read tasting notes

It is good.

Enjoyed the roasted rice taste and the dark chocolate.

Will drink more! :D

Done!

Flavors: Dark Chocolate, Roasted Nuts, Toasted Rice

Mandy

This is on the top of my wish list, everyone seems to love it

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98
1758 tasting notes

This is a very tasty tea. I taste the chocolate notes and the nutty flavor of the rice is nice. This is an extremely enjoyable afternoon tea, that’s why I steeped it twice despite the size of the teapot. I think its the cacao nibs that make this tea, without them it would just be genmaicha. This tea is so smooth however, its easy to forget just what is in it. The chocolate flavor is subtle. The rice nutty flavor is subtle. The malt flavor is subtle. None of these flavors punch you in the face like in a lower quality tea. I think this is a tea made for adding sugar even though in the strictest sense it doesn’t need it. The sugar really brings out the flavor of the chocolate. Didn’t I see another reviewer describe this tea as chocolaty goodness. That is this tea in a nutshell. It tastes even better to me than it did the first time.

I steeped this tea twice in a 12oz teapot with 200 degree water and 6g leaf. I steeped it for 30 sec, and 45 sec.

Flavors: Chocolate, Malt, Nutty

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 0 min, 30 sec 6 g 12 OZ / 354 ML
Kittenna

Ah, so delicious.

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96
84 tasting notes

It really isn’t fair is it? if I had had this before I tried Cocoa Amore this would have ranked higher but I just can’t give everything 100 now can I?

It is quite lovely though. A brillent idea. It is a wonderful before bed tea for those of us not sensitive to caffiene. I always think I’m done with tea for the night, I get all comfy under the covers and then I think, just one more cup. Then I’ll be done. Just one more cup.

Roasty and smooth. Warm and round. Curled up by the fireplace or snug in bed.

The Laoshan Black is already so chocolaty it’s amazing what the addition of more does to it. Man it’s intense!

Excuse me but I think I hear my water boiling for another infusion(my last I promise!).

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75
737 tasting notes

When I opened this bag a wave of pure dark chocolate hit me. Holy Shanghai it smells amazing!
As for flavor it is pretty nutty. The chocolate is more subtle compared to the nuttiness.
This tea is basically genmaicha with hints of dark chocolate. Not as amazing as I thought and hoped it would be. But nutty and roasty flavors overpower everything else. Well not horrible, just not what I expected, and I probably won’t buy this again.

Flavors: Dark Chocolate, Nutty, Roasted

Mandy

Ugh, I just need to try this so bad. The overpowering nutty sounds a bit dissapointing though.

Ost

If you like genmaicha you’ll probably like it.

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89
278 tasting notes

I have had a very productive day, and I think I may just take a little nappy soon. I had some delicious Elderwood and Autumn Song for breakfast, then the mail came and brought my Verdant order! So I packed up all the samples I owe to Cameron B and started on my first seasoning!!! Because THIS arrived today, and it will be my straight black tea teapot.

http://www.shizentea.com/collections/japanese-tea-pot-kyusu/products/banko-yaki-tea-pot-takumi

Obviously you can’t season a teapot without something to drink, so I brewed this yummy offering from Verdant, the LBCG. After I boiled the new houhin, I used the Verdant Zhu Rong to season it. It’s still in there, just soaking up all the goodness!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/124304184@N02/14689863484/

So for the LBCG-
Method: 1 tbsp, 8 oz, 205 degrees, 30 sec, strainer & mug

Aroma: Dark chocolate, rice, toasted things

Flavor: Wow, this is stronger than I expected! It’s really good, but it’s not meek at all! This has a strong black tea flavor along with the roasty goodness you’d expect from a genmaicha. The chocolate is the only quiet thing about this. It’s there, but its more like a hint that you get once in awhile. I seem to be feeling very Terri-style today, so I added a little maple. Om nom nom. :)

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 0 min, 30 sec 3 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
SarsyPie

Oh, and I’ve read that some people season banko clay and some don’t, and maybe it’s not really necessary, but I don’t care and I did it anyway. :)

TheTeaFairy

Looking good Sars!!! And hell ya, you season if you want girl!

And this tea is full if yums…

Cameron B.

That pot is gorgeous! I love the texturing. And hooray, I’m excited for Lady Gaga! :P You’ll have to try it today and tell me how it is.

I was surprised when I saw that you only did 30 seconds. I wonder if I should try it that way and see how it is! I think I did 2 or 3 minutes last time…

SarsyPie

Foxy: I figured it couldn’t hurt, ya know? Plus now I have pot seasoning training for when my yixings arrive. :p

Cam: thanks!!!! I will try Lady Gaga next! I did a 30 second, a 45 second, and a 1.25 minute with this one. All were good!

MzPriss

I think it’s good that you seasoned and with Zhu Rong – one of my favorites! And yeah the LBCG sigh – so so good

Dexter

I find if you steep this western style lower water temp, longer steep – the chocolate really comes forward. Something like 3tsp/16oz 90C for 5 minutes…. tastes like chocolate puffed wheat cake (at least the version I had did – I haven’t gotten my new supply yet – Canada Post has decided that I don’t need it)

MzPriss

I always do this western

SarsyPie

I figured that MzHoneyBelle would approve of seasoning a pot with ZR. So there ya go. :)

Dex: chocolate puffed wheat cake?!?!?! What is THAT?

I’ll try this one low and slow next time. 190 for 5 min sounds good!!!!

Cameron B.

I also would like to hear about this chocolate puffed wheat cake! :o

MzPriss

I’m making some lemon elderflower thingie in preparation to have before I try my GO in my newly GO-seasoned pot

SarsyPie

Lemon elderflower!!!!???!!! Do tell!!!!

Dexter

You guy don’t know about puffed wheat cake…. !!??!!!
http://www.mennonitegirlscancook.ca/2009/10/ooey-gooey-choclatey-puff-wheat-squares.html
I thought it was one of those childhood things that everyone does.

SarsyPie

Never heard of it. Looks wonderful though!!!!! I’m saving the recipe :)

Cameron B.

Looks sort of like a crispy rice marshmallow treat, but chocolatey! :D

Dexter

Yes Cameron, it’s sort of like that – you use puffed wheat rather than rice crisy – and corn syrup rather than marshmallows, but it’s the same idea (you can add cocoa powder to crispy rice marshmallow treats – it’s really good..)

Cameron B.

Dexter, I like them with peanut butter. My grandma calls them “hooker pookers”, lol!

SarsyPie

Whoa!!!! LOL

Dexter

LOL See I like peanut butter with cornflakes in a similar application. Oooy gooy crunchy cornflakes with peanut butter…mmmmmmm

MzPriss

Sars – my local grocery has a really decent tea section (including Harney) and I saw this brightly colored box by someone named Dr Stuart. It is teabags and I chose the Elderflower and Lemon and it is surprisingly good. Especially for nighttime. Not lifechanging, but I liked it fine. I REALLY like Tea Embassy’s Lemon Lavendar tisane a lot, though I know there are those who do not love the lavendar – I do in that tea. I can send you a couple bags of the Elder-Lemon if you want to try it.

SarsyPie

Sure, thanks MzP! I love elderberries/elderflower!

MzPriss

I am totally making those puffed wheat thingies Dex!

MzPriss

I think I will try barley malt syrup in them.

Dexter

Boiling the corn syrup with the sugar etc makes like a “candy” it’s the glue that gives it the sticky and hold it together. As long as you syrup as the same properties, I think it will be awesome. I still a little in shock that you guys haven’t had this.

SarsyPie

Where did it originate, Dex?

Dexter

Shrug – Mom made it for us as kids, and so did all the other Mom’s in the area – all the kids had it in their lunches at school. I think it’s one of those things that because you grew up with it you assume everyone is doing it.
It’s like honey dill sauce – in my world if you order chicken fingers in a restaurant they will ask – do you want plum or honey dill sauce? Apparently honey dill is a Manitoba thing, one of our little secrets that the rest of the world is missing out on. Is puffed wheat the same thing? Am I the only one who grew up with it?

SarsyPie

Plum sauce? Honey dill sauce?

I should have been Canadian.

Dexter

Plum sauce is the stuff you get with egg rolls and dive Chinese restaurants (in my world we use it on chicken fingers/nuggets too).
http://www.vhsauces.ca/product-detail/Plum-Dipping-Sauce-18.aspx?lang=en
Honey Dill is more of a home made thing – I can only think of one brand of it that you can buy, but most people don’t. It’s quick and easy to make and most people/restaurants just make their own.
http://www.celebrationgeneration.com/blog/2011/11/14/honey-dill-dipping-sauce-recipe/comment-page-1/

Cameron B.

That sounds awesome! And I do like plum sauce too. I’m suddenly sad that the only options we get here are barbecue, honey mustard, and sweet & sour. I want plum sauce and honey dill! No fair! :P

Dexter

I think you guys should start a revolution – honey dill for all!!!
(I can’t even imagine putting barbecue or sweet & sour on chicken fingers – it just seems wrong to me…)

SarsyPie

Thanks for the great ideas, Dex! I gotta try that sauce!

Cameron B.

Nah, I’ll just go live in Montreal. It’s not a very long drive. :P

Dexter

LOL there’s no honey dill in Montreal….Poutine you will get in Montreal, but no honey dill…

Cameron B.

Ooh that’s the fries with cheese and gravy and stuff all over it, right?

Dexter

That would be correct – med thick cut fries, fresh cheese curd, light brown gravy = traditional poutine.

Cameron B.

That sounds fantastic… I’ll come over to Manitoba once I’m done stuffing my face. ;)

Dexter

LOL if you came Golobki, Pierogi, and Kielbasa would also be high on the list of must haves…
Mmmmmm food….

Dexter

(I really want to go to NYC to do the real Jewish deli experience. We just don’t have that here – sure you can get a corned beef sandwich but I don’t think it’s the same…)

apt

italian delis are where it’s at though

Cameron B.

apt, my boyfriend is Italian and there’s an import store near us that has a deli. So good! And they have desserts too. Really good cannoli. :D

SarsyPie

I miss my Nana and her amazing pierogis. So. Good!!!!

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90
4173 tasting notes

Yay, I got this in the mail today! It certainly has gotten a lot of hype recently (I blame TheTeaFairy…) so I knew it had to be good. And I love genmaicha and most straight black teas so I figured how could it possibly be wrong? So I ordered an ounce when it came back in stock just to try it out. Dry, this tea is quite beautiful. The black tea leaves are long, jet black, and twisty. There is quite the melange of rice – long grains, short grains, toasted, puffed, popped. And there are dark little cocoa nibs along with a few oxidized oolong leaves. It smells quite lovely with very strong cocoa and a bit of toastiness. I used the average preparation here on Steepster (and I got to use my new scale and filtered water!).

Mm, the brewed aroma is pure toasty roastiness! There’s a bit of chocolate in there too, but I mostly smell that lovely toasted rice goodness. Mm, definitely a genmaicha. The toasted rice flavor in this tea reminds me of lovely crisp toast. There’s also a nice strong cocoa flavor from the nibs, and some nuttiness from the rice. These combine to remind me a bit of chocolate hazelnut spread, which goes perfectly with the toast! ;) I think I also get a little bit of raisin fruitiness, especially in the aftertaste. Overall, this is very lovely and I can see why it’s so popular. If it’s still in stock when I allow myself to order more tea, I may get some more. And I really want to try that Minnesota Blend…

Flavors: Cocoa, Raisins, Roasted Nuts, Toast, Toasted Rice

Preparation
200 °F / 93 °C 3 min, 0 sec 4 g 8 OZ / 236 ML
TheTeaFairy

Yay, glad you like it!! Oh noooo…. I get the blame again!!! It’s ok, I love to enable people to drink pure awesomeness :-)
(I have a shitload if you ever need more, lol)

Cameron B.

Honestly it’s not even listed as low stock on their website, so I’m not too worried. I am worried about the Minnesota Blend! D:

TheTeaFairy

Never had that one…I’m afraid to look at it, too much tea!!!!!

Cameron B.

They just added it as a limited time thing… Apparently it was originally made for Lady Gaga, which is weird. Laoshan green with wild rice and jasmine rice, juniper berry, vanilla bean, and saffron. Yummmmm.

SarsyPie

I just got both… and Cameron: I BLAME YOU!!! LOL. I did put this on my wishlist a little while ago because of TTF, BUT I didn’t know it was back in stock until I saw your note. I also got some of that Lady Gaga blend. Since it is a limited edition, I figured it would be nice to try!

Cameron B.

I want to buy some so badly, but I’m kind of on hiatus… I’m worried it’ll be gone by the time I can buy it. But the Laoshan Black Chocolate Genmaicha is so good. ;)

MzPriss

I blame TheTeaFairy too – that Fairy is a total enabler

TheTeaFairy

Pfffft! Looks who’s takin’!!!!

MzPriss

What? * innocent face *

MzPriss

Yeah actually I seem to remember a note saying Laoshan Black Chocolate Genmaicha is available Go GO GO

so for once we can be virtuous Fairy – we didn’t do it this time – we just responded to the stimuli

SarsyPie

I’m looking at this list of comments and I see quite a few members of the Tea Enablers Club. Just sayin’ :p

MzPriss

Come over to the the discussion for the moonrise tea thingie

Everybody should come

TheTeaFairy

Oh, now I remember, I posted only the discussion about LB being back in stock, cameron did LBCG , it’s all cameron’s faulf!!!!

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