Why is there rice in my tea? Genmaicha explained
The first time you open a pouch of Genmaicha you will think there has been a mistake. Half of it is rice. Some of the grains have puffed and look like tiny popcorn. It is meant to be that way, and once you have tasted it, it is hard to go back to plain green tea on a cold day. Here is why the rice is there.
Where it came from
Genmaicha means brown rice tea. In Japan a century or so ago tea was dear and rice was not, so people stretched their tea leaf by mixing in toasted rice. The rice added body and a toasty, nutty taste, and what began as thrift turned into a tea that people chose on purpose. It is now one of the most popular everyday teas in Japan and is often served in restaurants with a meal.
What it tastes like
Warm, nutty, toasty, with the fresh green tea running through it. Some of the rice pops during toasting, which gives the popcorn note. It is softer and more comforting than a plain green tea and has less caffeine, because a good part of the weight is rice rather than leaf. If green tea usually tastes too grassy to you, this is the one to try.
Popcorn and Reserve, the two we sell
Genmaicha Popcorn is the classic style with a bright green tea and plenty of puffed rice, light and lively. Genmaicha Reserve is a deeper version, a darker, richer leaf with whole toasted grains rather than popped, fuller and rounder with a strong toasted character. Popcorn is the everyday cup. Reserve is the one for anyone who already loves genmaicha and wants the best version of it.
How to brew it
Genmaicha is more forgiving than most green teas. Water at about 85°C, so boiled and left for two minutes. One heaped teaspoon per 200ml mug, two to three minutes. It can take slightly hotter water than Sencha because the rice balances the leaf. A second steep is good. No milk, though it is lovely with a biscuit.
With food
This is the green tea for eating with. It suits rice dishes, noodles, grilled fish, anything savoury, and it is a good one after a heavy meal. Cold brewed it is nutty and refreshing and goes well with a picnic.