Genmaicha – Green Tea with Roasted Rice

Genmaicha is a traditional Japanese green tea composed with roasted brown rice. It’s also known as a “popcorn tean”, because some of the rice grains break during roasting and look like roasted corn (popcorn). In the past it was common among the poor (the addition of rice lowered the price), but now it’s considered a high quality tea among many tea lovers. 

The name “Genmaicha” translates as “rice tea” (jap. “genmai” – rice, “cha” – tea). Genmaicha is consists of green Sancha (50%) and roasted rice (50%), that’s why it’s a low theine tea. However it has a high amount of minerals e.g. magnesium, calcium and potassium. It supports digestive system, so it is commonly served with or after a meal.

Genmaicha is a tea, which you either love or hate. It has a slightly sweet taste and characteristic rice aroma – some people love it because of that and some people hate it.