Genmaicha
玄米茶
Genmaicha is a comforting blend of green tea (sencha or bancha) and toasted brown rice, creating a uniquely Japanese flavor profile that bridges the gap between tea and grain. Originally born from frugality — rice was added to stretch expensive tea leaves — it has become beloved in its own right. The toasted rice contributes a warm, nutty, almost popcorn-like aroma (some grains actually pop during roasting, creating decorative white 'flowers' in the blend). Because roughly half the volume is rice, the caffeine content is naturally lower. Many producers also offer matcha-iri genmaicha, which adds a vibrant green color and umami boost. It is an excellent everyday tea with broad appeal, particularly welcoming to those new to Japanese tea.
Processing Steps
Standard Brewing
Temperature
90°C
Water
120ml
Leaf
4g
Teaware
Kyusu (side-handle teapot)
Steep Time
Use fairly hot water to bring out the full toasty fragrance of the rice. Steep times are short since the flavor extracts quickly. Make sure the tea leaves and rice grains are well-mixed before brewing for a balanced cup.
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