Japanese Characters: 玄米茶
Genmaicha, Meaning – ‘Brown Rice Tea’, This tea combines Green Tea (Usually Bancha or Sencha) with toasted Brown Rice.
Nowadays in Japan, many kinds of blended tea are imported from all over the world, the most popular blended tea is Genmaicha.
What Is Genmaicha?
Genmaicha, or brown rice tea refers to the tea combined with brown rice. Sencha, bancha and kukicha are mainly used to blend, and the ratio of these teas to brown rice is roughly 1:1.
Genmaicha with matcha is also popular in Japan as the Matcha gives a much more vibrant drink.
Roasted brown rice is like popcorn, so this tea can also be called “popcorn tea.”
While Genmaicha is promoted to make good use of low quality tea leaves, the quality of brown rice is more important. Glutinous brown rice is said to be better than ordinary brown rice to make Genmaicha.
The biggest appeal of genmaicha is the nutty aroma and taste.
Using boiling water is more common with Genmaicha than other teas (which use much lower tempterature water) and can produce a heavenly, balmy scent arising from the teapot.
Because of a lower quantity of leaves being used, there is a lower caffeine content, so Genmaicha is great for use by children, the elderly and the sick.
The sales of cold and bottled genmaicha are increasing in Japan because of the recent trend for healthy drinks, rather than sugar filled juice or coke.
Appearance of Genmaicha
Genmaicha gives a yellow infusion, with hints of grassy green ranging from slight, to deep, depending on the ratio of leaf to rice.
Taste
Genmaicha has a winning combination of fresh taste, intense aroma and slight sweetness.
Nutty tones compliment the fresh taste of Sencha (or Bancha), adding depth and interest as to why these two ingredients go so well together.
Of course it goes well with confectionary, it is recommended to taste it alone to enjoy the depth of Genmaicha.
Preparation
See the page How to prepare Genmaicha.