The warm aroma of an everyday Japanese tea
Before taking the first sip, genmaicha announces itself through its aroma.
Roasted rice gives the tea a warm, nutty fragrance, while green tea brings freshness and a light bitterness. The combination is smooth, familiar, and easy to drink.
Genmaicha is made by blending sencha or bancha with roasted rice. Some grains open during roasting, creating the small white pieces often mistaken for popcorn.
It is not a tea reserved for ceremony. In Japan, it belongs comfortably beside an everyday meal or in the quiet hour after it.
Why matcha is sometimes added
Traditional genmaicha contains green tea and roasted rice. This version also includes matcha.
Matcha deepens the green color and gives the tea more body without hiding its roasted character. For someone unfamiliar with Japanese green tea, the result is approachable: fresher than a roasted tea, but softer than sencha on its own.
Genmaicha pairs naturally with rice, grilled fish, vegetables, and other savory foods. It can also be enjoyed without food when something warm and unsweetened is wanted.
Simple to prepare
Genmaicha does not require special tea utensils.
Place a tea bag in a cup, add hot water, and allow it to steep before removing the bag. Serve it hot to enjoy its full aroma, or prepare it cold for a lighter summer drink.
A simple ceramic cup is enough.
The STANDARD HOUSE choice
For everyday use, we would choose MAEDA-EN Japanese Genmai-cha Green Tea with Matcha.
It combines green tea, roasted rice, and matcha in individually wrapped tea bags. Each package contains 100 tea bags and can be prepared hot or cold.
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Available on Amazon
MAEDA-EN Japanese Genmai-cha Green Tea with Matcha
- Green tea with roasted rice and matcha
- 100 individually wrapped tea bags
- Suitable for hot or cold brewing