Genmaicha (Brown Rice Tea)
玄米茶 · げんまいちゃ · Genmaicha
Genmaicha — literally "brown rice tea" — is Japanese green tea blended with roasted popped brown rice. The base green is usually sencha or bancha. Per Wikipedia, the rice contributes a "warm, full, nutty flavour" from its sugar and starch content; the tea is also nicknamed "popcorn tea" because some rice grains pop during roasting and resemble popcorn. Originally called "people's tea" — the rice served as a filler that reduced the price, making green tea more accessible to poorer Japanese households, and the tea was also consumed during religious fasting periods. A matcha-iri variant adds powdered green tea for a stronger, greener cup.
Brewing
- Leaf
- 3.0 g / 100 ml
- Water
- 85°C
- Rinse
- no
- Gongfu steeps (s)
- 45, 60, 90
- Western (min)
- 2.0
Tolerates hotter water than straight sencha because the rice doesn't bitter at higher temps. Steeps 2–3 times. Some lots add powdered matcha (matcha-iri genmaicha) for stronger flavour and greener colour.
Tasting notes
- Aroma
- toasted rice, popcorn, fresh grass
- Flavor
- nutty, warming, sweet, light vegetal
- Mouthfeel
- smooth, full
- Finish
- warming, sweet
Related teas
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Hōjicha (Roasted Green Tea)
ほうじ茶 · ほうじちゃ · Hōjicha
Kyoto Japan
green · hojicha
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Bancha (Common-Grade Sencha)
番茶 · ばんちゃ · Bancha
Shizuoka Japan
green · bancha
-
Shizuoka Sencha
静岡煎茶 · しずおかせんちゃ · Shizuoka Sencha
Shizuoka Japan
green · sencha
-
Boseong Daejak ("Big Sparrow")
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Boseong Sejak ("Thin Sparrow")
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Jeju Ujeon (Volcanic-Soil First Flush)
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Jeju Island South Korea
green · pan-fired
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