Genmai Cha, with bancha green tea and toasted and hulled rice kernels, is a Japanese tea with buttery, nutty tones. Sometimes called "popcorn tea" because the popped rice kernels. Sipping this tea conjures images of fragrant Japanese tea houses. With a toasty, velvety aroma and balance.
Because it's blended with rice, Genmai Cha has less caffeine. This tea and rice combination arose from a period in Japan when many couldn't afford green tea. Rather, they drank roasted rice, or the "people's tea", a blend of green tea and roasted rice. This practice evolved into what we now know as the nutty tasting green blend, Genmai Cha (or Genmaicha).
Roasted rice and green tea are good to drink with a meal or after dinner to cleanse the palate. It has a grassy, vegetal taste, along with the toasty rice note that complements the tea flavor. Green tea and roasted rice is popular with the younger generation in Japan tea culture.
As with all Japanese teas, the first part of the name describes the tea, while the second part means tea. You might have guessed that "genmai" means brown rice and of course "cha" means tea. Enjoy the layers of flavor while drinking this delightful popped rice tea!
