GENMAICHA - POPCORN TEA (Japanese Green tea). COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Japan. GRADE: Genmiacha. MANUFACTURE TYPE: Steamed green tea. CUP CHARACTERISTICS: Light brownish yellow liquor with toasty flavour, a natural sweetness and almost chewy character. INFUSION: Tending bright with toasted rice kernels. TEA INFORMATION: This is a speciality Japanese green tea that is blended with fire-roasted rice, during firing it is not uncommon for to rice to ‘pop’. Legend has it that during the 1400’s an important samurai warlord was having tea in the morning discussing a battle strategy with hi patrol leaders. A servant by the name Genamai was serving hot tea to the group. Leaning over to give tea to the warlord, rice that he had stolen for a morning snack fell out of his pocket into the steaming hot tea. Some popped upon hitting the hot tea. The warlord was incensed, jumped up and promptly cut of Genamai’s head in one fell swoop. He then sat down to continue the meeting and drink his ‘ruined’ tea. The flavour was very unique and he enjoyed it tremendously. In honour of poor Genamai he pronounced that this rice and tea be served mornings.