Genmaicha (玄米茶)

Genmaicha (玄米茶) is a Japanese green tea blended with roasted rice. Producers mix bancha or sencha with roasted rice, usually in close to equal parts. The rice is soaked, steamed, and roasted until golden brown. Some of it pops open during roasting, much like popcorn. That’s why English speakers sometimes call genmaicha “popcorn tea.” The rice does more than add crunch and color to the dry leaf. It brings a warm, toasty, nutty flavor that softens green tea’s grassy edge. It also dilutes the tea itself, so genmaicha ends up noticeably lower in caffeine than a plain sencha or bancha. That combination has made it one of Japan’s most popular everyday teas. It’s easy to drink in large amounts without much bitterness or jitters. This guide covers what genmaicha is, the story behind it, and how producers make it. It also covers flavor, caffeine, brewing, and buying, plus how it compares with the base teas that go into it. For those base teas, see the complete Sencha and the complete Bancha guide. TOCWhat Is Genmaicha? Two Ingredients, One Tea Genmaicha starts with an ordinary green tea base. Traditionally, producers used bancha, Japan’s inexpensive everyday tea made from mature, later-pick...