Genmaicha Tea

Japanese Green Tea with Puffed and Toasted Rice – The Popcorn Tea

• Product: Japanese green tea with toasted brown rice
• Ingredients: Bancha tea leaves, puffed and toasted rice (genmai)
• Origin: Japan
• Harvest: 2025
• Available sizes: 50 g, 100 g, 250 g

What is Genmaicha Tea?

Genmaicha tea is a Japanese green tea made from tea leaves — traditionally Bancha, sometimes Sencha — mixed with puffed and toasted brown rice grains, known as genmai. The name in Japanese (玄米茶) literally means "brown rice tea": genmai is the rice, cha is the tea.

It is also known worldwide as popcorn tea because during the toasting process, some rice grains "pop" like small popcorns and are found in the mix with the green tea leaves. Genmaicha is one of the most consumed teas in Japan, historically considered the people's tea: rice was added to lower the cost of tea and make it accessible to everyone.

Terzaluna's Japanese Genmaicha tea is obtained through direct import. It is the ideal tea to start with green tea: low caffeine content, sweet and nutty flavor, with almost no astringency.

What does Genmaicha taste like?

The flavor of Genmaicha tea is one of its most surprising features, often winning over even those who do not like classic green tea. The combination of Bancha and toasted rice creates an aromatic profile completely different from any other green tea:

• Toasted hazelnut — the dominant, sweet, and enveloping note, produced by the caramelization of the rice during toasting
• Puffed rice and caramel — a warm sweetness reminiscent of freshly made popcorn
• Fresh herbal notes — a light vegetal undertone inherited from the Bancha
• Buttery and nutty aftertaste, long and pleasant

The color of the infusion is light straw yellow. The bitterness is very mild: the toasted rice naturally balances and sweetens the astringency of the green tea, making Genmaicha enjoyable even without sugar. It pairs well with cheeses, meats, savory dishes, sushi, hazelnut cookies, and spoon desserts.

Genmaicha: History and Origins

There are at least two legends about the origin of Genmaicha tea. The oldest tells that in the 15th century, a servant named Genmai accidentally dropped rice grains into his samurai master's tea cup. The samurai punished the servant but then tasted the tea and found it delicious. From then on, he always wanted the tea prepared this way, naming it "Genmaicha" in honor of the unfortunate servant. The second, more prosaic version attributes the creation of Genmaicha to a Kyoto merchant in the 1920s who added pieces of rice cake to his tea to enrich it during the New Year.

The most plausible explanation is economic: in Japan, rice was a common and low-cost food, while tea was precious. Adding puffed rice allowed the tea to be "stretched," lowering its price and making it accessible to the lower classes — hence the nickname "people's tea." Today, it remains one of the most consumed teas in Japan, enjoyed during meals and breakfast.

What does Genmaicha tea contain?

Terzaluna's Genmaicha tea consists of only two ingredients: Bancha green tea leaves and puffed and toasted brown rice. No added flavors. The mix is about 50% tea and 50% rice — and it is precisely this proportion that explains the low caffeine content compared to pure green tea.

From the perspective of bioactive compounds, Genmaicha contains:

• Catechins and polyphenols — antioxidants typical of green tea, the subject of numerous scientific studies
• L-Theanine — an amino acid found in green tea, studied for its ability to promote a state of calm without drowsiness
• Vitamin C and beta-carotene
• Folic acid
• Minerals: potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, zinc, selenium, magnesium
• Theine (caffeine) in low quantity — halved compared to pure green tea thanks to the presence of rice

Properties of Genmaicha Tea

Genmaicha tea has the same qualities as Bancha tea from which it is derived. The catechins present — typical of all green teas — are the subject of numerous studies for their antioxidant action.

The puffed and toasted rice also has a balancing effect on the refreshing component of Bancha, making Genmaicha a warming tea in the macrobiotic tradition — suitable during winter and seasonal changes. It contains less caffeine than a normal green tea, is less bitter, and can be enjoyed by everyone, even in the afternoon and evening.

The information provided refers to the traditional uses of macrobiotics and research on green tea in general. They are not intended to attribute therapeutic or curative properties to the product. Tea is not a medicine.

Genmaicha: Does it contain theine?

Genmaicha tea contains theine, but in significantly lower amounts compared to other green teas. The reason is simple: the mix is composed of about 50% toasted brown rice, which does not contain caffeine. This automatically halves the theine concentration compared to pure Bancha or Sencha. Genmaicha is therefore one of the green teas with the lowest theine content overall, suitable for afternoon and evening consumption and also recommended for children and those sensitive to caffeine.

Genmaicha and Sencha: What is the difference?

The main difference between Genmaicha and Sencha concerns ingredients, flavor, and theine content. Sencha is a pure green tea, with a grassy, fresh, and slightly astringent flavor, and a medium theine content. Genmaicha is a blend of green tea (Bancha or Sencha) and toasted rice: the flavor is sweet, nutty, almost devoid of astringency, and the theine is halved.

Genmaicha is more accessible for green tea novices, while Sencha is preferred by those who love a more grassy and structured profile. Our Genmaicha uses Bancha as a base — historically the most widespread choice and most faithful to the original tradition of the people's tea.

Genmaicha Tea: Preparation

Genmaicha tea is among the easiest to prepare: the aroma of toasted rice is very forgiving and allows for small variations in temperature or time. It is suitable for both classic infusion and cold brew.

Hot Infusion (Western method)

• Dosage: 2-3 g per 200 ml of water
• Temperature: 80 °C (never boiling — water that is too hot extracts bitterness)
• Infusion time: 2-3 minutes
• You can make up to 3 infusions with the same leaves, extending each subsequent infusion by a few seconds.

Japanese Method with Kyusu

• 5 g per 150 ml at 80-90 °C
• First infusion: 30 seconds
• Second infusion: 10 seconds
• Third infusion: 30 seconds

Cold Brew (Iced Tea)

• 10 g per 1 liter of cold water
• Leave in the refrigerator for 6-8 hours
• Filter and serve. Sweet, nutty, and refreshing: great in summer.

Genmaicha Latte

Genmaicha Latte is an increasingly popular variant, inspired by Matcha Latte and Hojicha Latte. It is prepared in two ways:

• With concentrated infusion: prepare a strong infusion (5 g per 100 ml at 80 °C for 3 minutes), strain and add hot and frothed plant-based milk (oat, almond, or soy) in a 1:2 ratio.
• With Genmaicha powder: if you have ground Genmaicha powder, dissolve 2-3 g in a little hot water, then add the frothed milk. The result is a creamy drink, with a sweet and nutty flavor, caffeine-free — perfect as an alternative to the morning cappuccino or in the evening.

Matcha Genmaicha: the variant with matcha

The Matcha Genmaicha (in Japanese Iri Genmaicha) is a variant of the classic Genmaicha to which matcha powder is added.

The mix of Bancha, toasted rice, and matcha creates a more complex tea: sweet and nutty like Genmaicha, but with the intense grassy note and bright green color of matcha. It has a slightly higher theine content than pure Genmaicha. You can find it on Terzaluna in the Matcha Genmaicha version.

Contraindications of Genmaicha tea

Genmaicha tea is generally well-tolerated and free of significant contraindications for most people, thanks to its low theine content. Some warnings:

• Those sensitive to caffeine: although it is among the teas with the lowest theine content, it still contains a small amount. Those who are very sensitive can consume it in the morning or at lunch.
• Those suffering from gastritis or ulcers: like all green teas, excessive consumption can stimulate gastric acidity. It's better to consume it during meals.
• Rice allergies: Genmaicha contains toasted brown rice — check for any allergies or intolerances before consumption.
• Iron absorption: green tea can reduce the absorption of non-heme iron. If taking iron supplements, consume the tea away from meals and supplements.
• Pregnancy: theine consumption during pregnancy should be moderated. Consult your doctor.

Where to Buy Genmaicha Tea? Purchase Online at Terzaluna

If you're looking to buy Genmaicha tea online, at Terzaluna you can find Genmaicha tea in loose leaves directly imported from Japan. Bancha leaves and toasted brown rice, no added flavors: just the two traditional ingredients, in the typical green and caramelized color of the mix and with the nutty aroma that has made it famous worldwide.

Also discover other varieties of Japanese teas, green teas, and Matcha Genmaicha.

Formats and Prices

• 50 g — 4.50 €
• 100 g — 9.00 €
• 250 g — 20.25 €

Ingredients

• Bancha green tea (Camellia sinensis), puffed and toasted brown rice.

Warning

The information provided is purely informative and educational and is not intended to replace medical advice. Genmaicha tea is not a medication. Do not exceed the recommended doses. Keep out of reach of children. Consult your doctor in case of ongoing medical conditions or drug therapies.

Scientific Studies and Insights

• Radeva-Ilieva, M., Stoeva, S., Hvarchanova, N., & Georgiev, K. D. (2025). Green Tea: Current Knowledge and Issues. Foods, 14(5), 745. — Updated review on catechins, bioactive compounds, and varieties of Japanese green tea including Genmaicha.
• Cabrera, C., Artacho, R., & Giménez, R. (2006). Beneficial Effects of Green Tea — A Review. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 25(2), 79-99.
• Haskell, C. F., Kennedy, D. O., Milne, A. L., Wesnes, K. A., & Scholey, A. B. (2008). The Effects of L-Theanine, Caffeine and Their Combination on Cognition and Mood. Biological Psychology, 77(2), 113-122.
• Nobre, A. C., Rao, A., & Owen, G. N. (2008). L-Theanine, a Natural Constituent in Tea, and Its Effect on Mental State. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 17(S1), 167-168.

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