Ryokucha Green Tea

Samovar Tea Lounge

Green tea is currently one of the biggest trends in food today, loaded with antioxidants and other essential health benefits. Unlike coffee, it's "gently stimulating," allowing you to feel energized without feeling jittery. Ryokucha Green Tea from San Francisco's Samovar Tea Lounge raises the bar for how a green tea should taste. One of their featured teas, it includes toasted brown rice imported from Japan. When infused with wok-fired green tea leaves, the result is a rich, earthy flavor that is irresistible when paired with sushi, other Japanese cuisine, or even a morning bagel. It's made in-house at the Samovar Tea Lounge, which also sells and serves organic, fair trade tea and tea service. In addition, they also offer breakfast, brunch, lunch, high tea and dinner.

According to Samovar, Ryokucha is a converter, meant to convert non-tea drinkers into devoted followers, and it definitely delivers. As opposed to the overwhelming grass flavor of many green teas, the roasted brown rice provides a nutty flavor, making it a cut above the rest.

Price: $16 for a 4.5 oz tin.

To order and for more information, visit www.samovarlife.com or stop by the
Samovar Tea Lounge, 730 Howard St., San Francisco, CA 94103.

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