A really different and unique tea with the aromatics of roasted brown rice. Genmaicha tea is a fantastic choice for people looking for an alternative to black or green tea.
What is Genmaicha tea?
Genmaicha is a type of Japanese green tea that is made by mixing green tea with roasted brown rice. Genmaicha basically translates to “brown rice tea.”
Rice may be popped or simply roasted. Because of the tiny popped brown rice kernels in it, it’s frequently referred to as “popcorn” tea.
The roasted brown rice gives the tea a delicate and mild taste, as well as a nearly nutty flavor and a rich scent, making it a healthy and enjoyable drink.
How is Genmaicha made? (manufacturing method)
Traditionally, it is made with Bancha, a low-grade Japanese green tea that is inexpensive.
Today, there are many additional variations, such as Sencha Genmaicha (made with Sencha), Gyokuro Genmaicha (made with Gyokuro), and Houji Genmaicha (made with Hojicha).
If you’re not familiar with these terms, they refer to several types of Japanese green tea. We have a detailed article on the most popular types of Japanese green tea if you want to learn more about them.
Matcha can also be added and is known as “Matcha iri Genmaicha.” Genmaicha with matcha is simple to identify since the toasted rice is green!
Genmaicha is traditionally made using mochigome, Japanese glutinous rice, or sweet rice. It can also be produced using uruchimai (Japanese short-grain rice) or ordinary rice.
How is Genmaicha’s roasted rice prepared?
In the roasting process of producing Genmaicha green tea, the rice passes through five phases, which include:
- Soaking in water so that it may be steamed easily.
- Steaming the rice.
- Drying is often accomplished with the use of hot air.
- Roasting.
- Cooling
The roasted rice is blended with green tea in a 1:1 ratio, although this ratio might vary depending on the producer.
What does Genmaicha tea taste like?
This tea has a gentle, grassy taste and a nutty aroma from brown rice. Because of the starch in brown rice, it is substantially less acidic than other teas.
The flavor of this tea is halfway between the savory, caramel notes of oolong tea and the delicate floral notes of traditional sencha.
If you like the nutty aroma of the brown rice in this unique tea, you may also like the taste of the one and only roasted Japanese green tea called Hojicha-more about it here.
Have you ever wondered what kind of food you should pair Genmaicha with?
Green tea is known for its mild bitterness, so mixing it with sweet foods makes a lot of sense. However, because Genmaicha is more nutty and savory than bitter, the flavor is not as powerful and rather pleasant on its own.
Genmaicha pairs well with somewhat savory snacks like toast, Chinese sesame balls, salty biscuits, and rice-based snacks like senbei (Japanese rice crackers).
How to make your own Genmaicha tea at home
Here’s the quickest way to make your own Genmaicha at home:
To prepare puffed roasted rice, wash the rice first, then bring water to a boil, add the rice, and cook for 30-40 minutes.
Once boiled, spread it thinly on a baking sheet and allow it to dry naturally or in the oven.
When the grains are totally dry, gently separate them and roast them in a heated saucepan over low-medium heat.
Allow the rice to cool.
Mix the toasted and cooled rice with leaves of Sencha or Bancha green tea.
Brew your tea and enjoy!
Note: Mixing heated rice with delicate green tea leaves is not a good idea. You may use any rice/tea ratio you choose, but the most frequent is 50:50. Increasing the amount of rice reduces the caffeine level while intensifying the nutty brown rice flavor.
Roasted rice can be kept in a separate container and blended before brewing, or it can be mixed all together and stored in an airtight container. It will taste better if you blend it right away.
Genmaicha tea brewing guide
To make hot tea you’ll need
- Tea: 1.5 teaspoons of loose genmaicha
- Water: 8 fl oz. ( 1 cup)
- Teapot with strainer
- Electric kettle
- Time to steep: 2-3 minutes
Instructions for making hot Genmaicha tea properly
STEP 1: Boil water.
It is preferable to use filtered water rather than tap water. It is best to use an electric kettle with temperature settings for boiling.
Set the water temperature to 170 °F (77 °C). If you don’t have an electric kettle, boil some water and set it aside to cool (for a minute or two).
STEP 2: Fill a teapot with hot water and add the genmaicha. Steep for 2-3 minutes.
To properly steep tea, keep the teapot covered so the water stays hot. The steeping time varies depending on the type of tea used, but it is normally only 2-3 minutes.
Always check the label to determine the correct steeping time for your tea.
Depending on the quality of your tea, genmaicha is normally suitable for 2-3 infusions. For the second infusion, use hotter water and a shorter steeping time (for example, 180°F), then use a longer steeping time and hotter water (for example, 190°F) for the third infusion.
STEP 3: Strain the genmaicha leaves and pour the hot tea into a teacup.
Your perfect cup of tea is now ready. If you’re making it for the first time, leave off the sweeteners. If you don’t like it, you can add sugar or honey to sweeten it.
Use the amounts in these instructions as a suggestion only. If the tea is too weak, add more tea leaves; if it is too strong, reduce the amount of tea leaves used.
Similarly, experiment with increasing and lowering the steeping times. Brewing genmaicha is easier than brewing many other green teas, making it an excellent choice for tea beginners.
The caffeine content in Genmaicha tea
The caffeine content of this tea varies depending on the amount of tea used and the duration of steeping time and is often lower than in other green teas.
The Caffeine Informer states that an 8 oz (236 ml) cup of Genmaicha tea has just 4 mg of caffeine.
The ratio of toasted rice to green tea leaves might vary, and the caffeine concentration will vary as well. The more brown rice there is, the less caffeine there will be.
Choose genmaicha mixed with bancha tea to minimize the caffeine content. Genmaicha with the highest caffeine content is often brewed with sencha or gyokuro tea and boosted with matcha green tea powder.
Finally, you now have a better understanding of Genmaicha tea. Sencha Genmaicha is our favorite, but other types of this tea include Bancha, Gyokuro, and Matcha Iri Genmaicha.
We highly recommend trying this one-of-a-kind green tea mixed with roasted brown rice, especially if you prefer a nutty flavor and tea with lower caffeine content.
Genmaicha Tea
How to make genmaicha tea properly.
- 1.5 teaspoons genmaicha loose tea
- 1 cup water
Boil water: Set an electric kettle at 170°F. For the best flavor, use filtered water.
Pour hot water into a teapot and add the genmaicha.
Steep for 2-3 minutes. Always check the label for the proper steeping time for your tea.
Strain the genmaicha leaves and pour the hot tea into a teacup.
Genmaicha is typically good for 2-3 infusions. For the second infusion, use hotter water and a shorter steeping time (180°F), then for the third infusion, use a longer steeping time and hotter water (190°F). If the tea is too weak, add more tea leaves; if it is too strong, reduce the amount of tea leaves used.
