Genmaicha
A harmonious blend of Japanese green tea and brown rice
Genmaicha or Brown Rice Tea is simply a blend of green tea, either bancha or sencha, and roasted brown rice. The combination of nutty sweetness from the rice and refreshing grassiness from the green tea makes for a cup that is pleasant and easy to enjoy. Genmaicha is easily found outside of Japan and can run the gamut in terms of quality. Matcha tea is often added to genmaicha (referred to as genmaimatcha or Matcha Iri Genmaicha) which adds a depth of color and more developed sweetness. (Would you like to know how to make the perfect matcha tea? Check out our step-by-step guide)
How to make delicious Genmaicha
1. Bring your water to a full boil and then into a small cup to cool slightly
2. Add roughly 5g of genmaicha tea leaf to your tea pot
3. Once the water cools to around 190°F (88°C), pour it over the genmaicha leaves
4. Allow the tea to brew for around 1 minute to 1:30 then pour into your cup. Enjoy!
Pro Tip: Water temperature on the higher end of the spectrum will accentuate the rice's natural aroma while using slightly cooler water will coax out the sweetness of the green tea.
Pure Genmai (Roasted Brown Rice)
The Origins of Genmaicha
Genmaicha has its roots in rural Japan. Genmai {玄米} means brown rice and Cha {茶} means tea - so together we have Genmaicha {玄米茶} or brown rice tea]. The lore goes that when harvests were lean and less tea was available roasted brown rice was blended with tea leaves at a roughly 50/50 ratio thus doubling the amount of tea available for the year. The harmony of flavors caught on and as genmaicha gained popularity it became a tea drank throughout Japan and is now produced in some form in almost every prefecture that produces tea.
Genmaimatcha (Genmaicha blended with Matcha)
Genmaicha and Sushi
Genmaicha can withstand higher water temperatures (due in part to the inclusion of rice as well as the fact that the later harvested leaves of bancha naturally contains less astringent compounds) and has historically beem the perfect accompaniment to sushi. The bright flavor of Japanese green tea and the toasted aroma of the brown rice create a balanced harmony with the fish and rice of sushi. Polyphenols, a unique array of antioxidants found in plants including tea, are released in hot green tea naturally which cleanse the palate and add a synergistic antimicrobial effect alongside the ginger served with sushi - killing any pathogens in the raw fish.
Genmaicha Today
Today, genmaicha occupies an important place in the cannon of Japanese tea as it is one of the most widely recognized styles outside of Japan. Genmaicha is often one of the first Japanese green teas that foreigners come in contact with. While most often seen in tea bags in the west, loose leaf genmaicha can range in quality but more often than not is an affordable tea meant to be enjoyed casually.
Generally priced lower than sencha or other Japanese green tea, Genmaicha is both affordable and an easy brewing tea. The key is finding a tea that has the ideal ratio of rice to green tea that suits your taste.
Brewed Genmaicha
At Kettl we stock high quality Genmaicha, both loose leaf and in tea bags.
All photos by Zach Mangan
All words and photos © Kettl Tea, Inc / Do not use without permission
