Coffee of the Month
Coffee of the Month:
Cinnamon Viennese
Learn More

09.03.2008 : Tea of the Month for September - Genmaicha

Genmaicha Tea: Green Tea
Aroma: Delicate Nutty and Toasty Sweetness
Flavor: Medium
Origin: Japan

In The Cup

This tea possesses a delicious toasty flavor, contributed by the fired rice.

Genmaicha is one of Japan's most fabled and delicious green teas. This beautiful and distinctive blend of green tea is mixed and pan-fired with brown rice – making it one of our most unusual green teas.

  • Genmaicha is a 50/50 blend of sencha green tea and brown rice, or genmai.
  • During the last firing the master Japanese tea maker blends in a small amount of brown rice. Most of the genmai rice remains as kernels, turning a golden brown color. Some rice, though, "pops" during the firing. The white hana – or "flowers" as the Japanese call them - resemble popcorn to Western eyes, thus the popular name of "popcorn tea" for Genmaicha in North America and Europe.
  • The genmai blend was created centuries ago in Japan as a commoner's tea, in response to the poor taste of inexpensive green teas. By mixing in the far tastier pan-fired rice, cheap and inferior tea was made drinkable. Today, of course, even inexpensive Japanese green teas are of an exceptionally good quality, but the tradition of mixing brown rice with green tea remains.
  • Many people who are primarily coffee drinkers find genmaicha to be their favorite tea because of the subtle roasted flavor.
  • Genmaicha is also popular with people who wish to avoid caffeine. Sencha green teas – already somewhat low in caffeine – are considerably diluted in strength by the blending with rice, therefore the caffeine content of the final genmaicha brew is quite low.