Genmaicha

Genmaicha is a Japanese tea made by blending green tea with roasted rice, usually brown rice.

Genmaicha is a Japanese blended green tea that combines green tea leaves with roasted rice, typically brown rice. The name translates to 'brown rice tea,' and it is known for its toasty, nutty flavour and lower perceived bitterness compared to other green teas. In Canada, genmaicha is widely available in tea shops and Asian grocery stores, serving as a common entry point for Canadians exploring Japanese tea culture.

Definition and composition

Genmaicha is a blended Japanese green tea that combines green tea leaves with roasted rice. The rice is often brown rice, and some kernels may pop during roasting, giving the blend a distinctive cereal-like aroma and nutty taste. The green tea base is commonly sencha or bancha.

Name and terminology

The word genmaicha is usually explained as meaning 'brown rice tea.' It is also called 'popcorn tea' because some rice kernels pop during roasting, and it has been referred to as 'people’s tea' in some historical accounts.

History

Sources commonly place the origins of genmaicha in Japan’s Edo period, when merchants or tea drinkers added roasted brown rice to tea to make supplies last longer and reduce cost.

Taste and preparation

Genmaicha is known for a toasted, nutty, and slightly savoury flavour that comes from the rice, balanced by the vegetal character of the green tea base. It is often brewed like other Japanese green teas, with variations in tea-to-rice ratio among producers.