Genmaicha - Japanese Green Tea with Roasted Brown Rice (玄米茶)
Genmaicha (玄米茶) is Japanese green tea blended with roasted brown rice. The rice was originally added to stretch expensive tea further — but the result turned out to be something people wanted for its own sake. Toasty, nutty, and far gentler than a straight sencha.
Ours starts with the same Arahataen-farm leaf as the rest of our range, grown in soil enriched with sugarcane. That growing method gives the tea a natural sweetness, and it is what makes the pairing with roasted rice work so well — sweet leaf against toasted grain, rather than grassy leaf fighting it.
Which genmaicha should you buy?
Genmaicha — our classic blend of green tea and roasted brown rice. Low in caffeine, forgiving to brew, and the one to reach for in the afternoon or with food. If you have found green tea too bitter or too grassy, start here.
Genmai Matcha — the same blend with matcha stirred through it. Fuller bodied, a deeper green in the cup, and noticeably richer. Choose this one if you like genmaicha but want more depth.
How to brew it
Genmaicha is one of the hardest Japanese teas to get wrong. Use water around 80–90°C, steep for 30–60 seconds, and do not worry too much about precision — the roasted rice keeps it from turning bitter the way a delicate sencha would. It also takes a second and third infusion well.
Common questions
Does genmaicha have caffeine? Yes, but less than sencha or matcha. The rice replaces part of the leaf, so there is simply less tea in the cup.
Is genmaicha the same as brown rice tea? It is the same thing. Some rice grains pop during roasting, which is why it is sometimes called popcorn tea.
Can I drink it in the evening? Many people do, precisely because the caffeine is lower.
