Kuromamecha Yui

Black bean tea is said to support kidney health in traditional Chinese medicine, especially during the winter. I'm not particularly enthusiastic about it, but somehow I find myself drawn to it. I really enjoy brewing it with matcha powder and black beans together—it tastes especially good to me.

The first time I tried this tea, I thought it was too toasty. However, when I added milk and honey, it turned out to be a really delightful dessert tea. Over time I have grown accustomed to its taste and I can even drink it without honey, but I always add milk. It's also good for digestive issues, so I will consider purchasing again for that reason.

I was actually looking for genmaicha (tea with roasted rice) when I came across this kuromamecha. For background, I put my black/tan Shiba Inu to sleep in August - when I got him in 2009, I named him Kuromame because his puppy eyes were as black and shiny as the glazed kuromame that my late grandmother would put out on New Year's Day - it's a Japanese tradition for certain dishes like the kuromame to be eaten for luck, health, etc. in the coming year. Anyway, I've been missing him so much and when I came across this item, I knew I had to get it. So it just came - there's a small aluminum container with the kuromame in a foil-lined bag inside. There was a slight dent on the top of the container but given that the aluminum material, it's not a big deal for me since the seal of the cap isn't compromised.

I followed the directions (there were two nice flyers enclosed about the Senbird products) and brewed my first cup (8 oz. of boiling water to 1 T. of kuromamecha for 5 minutes). There's no bite to it since it's not tea but I found it a very comforting drink. Then I ate the kuromame - I believe there was a Japanese comedian who lost a lot of weight by going on a kuromame diet but it may have a lot to do with the beans' high fiber content. It is also high in protein, potassium, etc. so I would recommend eating the beans once you finish the tea. The second time, I put it in an insulated cup and found that made it too hot to drink for a while but then, it was nice to have it as a warm drink while reading in bed.

Anyway, from the company's flyer, I'm now considering buying another tea for my daughter who has "cat's tongue" - i.e., she doesn't tolerate hot beverages well. I saw on the flyer that there's one tea with a recommended brewing temperature of 122-140 degrees which I hope would work for her.

I'm very happy with the kuromamecha and will be researching others in the collection for purchase for family and friends.

After Soba, Kuromame is my next most brewed tea nowadays, and Senbird has the best quality I have found in the USA.

I can't drink this tea alone because it's too strong, but it tastes great with milk and local honey. This makes a great dessert alternative and is very good for digestion.