Genmaicha Tea

Genmaicha Tea

Cut & Sifted Green Bancha Blended with Roasted Rice



Type: Green
Other Names: Roasted Rice Tea, Popcorn Tea
Origin: Japan

Description: Genmaicha is green tea combined with roasted brown rice, some of which have popped.
Genmaicha is the Japanese name for green tea combined with roasted brown rice. While sometimes referred to colloquially as "popcorn tea," because of a certain amount of popped rice, Japanese varieties do not contain any actual corn.


Processing: Genmaicha is a blend of bancha green tea and Genmai (roasted rice grain). The proportioning of tea to rice is important, the more aromatic Genmaicha teas have a higher amount of rice. Other blends are known including Matcha and Genmaicha.

The tea should be infused with high temperature (boiling) water, but let it only infuse for 30 seconds. Use approximately 5 grams of tea for each deciliter of water.

Regions: Produced in almost every tea-producing region.

Popularity: A very common beverage in Japan, Genmaicha can be drunk late into the evening without disturbing sleep. The tea is said to help digestion and is often served after a meal in Japan. Genmaicha is a modest source of vitamin B1 and, like bancha and hojicha, is low in caffeine.

Flavor/Aroma: The flavor of Genmaicha is a melange of green tea and roasted rice. The roasted aroma of genmai in tea has the effect of lightening the bitterness of the lower-grade sencha. The brown rice gives the tea a nutty flavor. Like green tea, genmaicha should be prepared using hot, but not boiling, water.

Origin: Genmaicha was invented around 1920 by Horaido, a tea shop in Kyoto that has sold tea and tea utensils since 1803.

From Wikipedia