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Green tea · Brown rice tea

Genmaicha

玄米茶

8.0/10 editor's score

Japanese green tea mixed with roasted, partly popped brown rice. Warm, nutty and easy to drink, once a thrifty "people's tea".

ToastyEasyWith food
↓ Jump to brew guideAbout this teaCompare

Based on published sources, not yet tasted.

Dry leaf of Genmaicha, top-down

What you need

3 g leafGenmaicha
250 ml water80 to 85°C
Steep 1:002 steeps
LiquorLight yellow
Served inKyūsu and yunomi

At a glance

Japanese green tea mixed with roasted, partly popped brown rice.

CaffeineLow~15 to 30 mg, our estimate
Beginner fit9.5 / 10From the editor's score
HarvestBlended all yearBlended from stored leaf and rice.
Pairs withSushi, Ramen, Onigiri, TempuraLess good with rich desserts
Grown atLeaf from many regionsShizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture
Served inKyūsu and yunomiJapanese teapot, tall cup

About Genmaicha

What sources say about the taste

Sources describe a warm, full, nutty flavour from the rice, with the fresh grassy taste of green tea and a light yellow cup 1.

01 · Aroma

First sip

Lift the cup and smell before you drink.

02 · Taste

Middle

Let it sit on the tongue for a moment.

03 · Finish

Finish

What stays after you swallow.

Hover or tap a noteBigger image and more dots mean a stronger note.

Notes and intensities are an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not our own tasting.

Where it grows

ShizuokaShizuoka PrefectureJAPAN
What
Green tea with roasted brown rice 1
Nickname
"Popcorn tea", from popped grains 1
History
Rice once stretched the tea for poorer drinkers 1
Variant
With matcha added: matcha-iri genmaicha 1

More from Shizuoka and Japan.

History and culture

Rice was a filler that made tea cheaper, so genmaicha was long seen as a people's tea. Today everyone drinks it 1.

Editor's score

8.0/10

Weighted across six criteria: flavour 30%, heritage 20%, availability 15%, value 15%, beginners 10%, versatility 10%.

Based on published sources, not yet tasted. Rates the tea style, not a brand. How we score →

1086Flavour & complexity: 7.0Origin & heritage: 7.0Availability: 9.0Value: 9.0Beginner-friendliness: 9.5Versatility: 8.5Flavour 7.0Heritage 7.0Availability 9.0Value 9.0Beginners 9.5Versatility 8.5
Taste profile and caffeine

Profile is an editor's summary of published tasting notes, not a lab measurement or our own tasting.

Caffeine

Brewed coffee~95 mg
Black tea (average)~47 mg
Green tea (average)~28 mg
Genmaicha~15 to 30 mg

Our estimate. The rice replaces part of the leaf. Per 8 fl oz (240 ml) cup. Coffee and tea averages from Mayo ClinicC.

Harvest calendar

Genmaicha is blended all year from sencha or bancha. Tap a month or a season.

Cultivars and plant

Camellia sinensis leaf (sencha or bancha) with roasted brown rice 1.

How it is made
01Base tea

Sencha or bancha.

02Rice

Brown rice is soaked, steamed and roasted; some grains pop 1.

03Blending

Roughly equal parts leaf and rice.

Dry leaf and liquor
Dry leafGreen leaf with brown and white popped rice.
LiquorLight yellow 1.
After steeping
Wet leafGreen leaf and soft rice.

The colour swatch is an approximate guide, not a photograph.

Food pairings and storage

Works well

  • Sushi
  • Ramen
  • Onigiri
  • Tempura

Best avoided

  • Rich desserts

Pairings are general suggestions from the tea's style, not tested matches.

Storage

  • Airtight, opaque container, away from light, heat and smells.
  • Green tea fades fastest: aim to finish it within 3 to 6 months of opening.
  • Unopened sealed packs can go in the fridge. Let them reach room temperature before opening.
Grades and fakes

Plain, with matcha, or made with hojicha 1.

How to spot a poor or fake one

  1. Rice should smell toasty and fresh.
  2. Check the packing date: the rice goes stale.
FAQ
Why is it called popcorn tea?

Some rice grains pop while roasting and look like popcorn 1.

Is there a Korean version?

Yes, hyeonminokcha, brown rice green tea 1.

Find it inGreen teasTeas from JapanShizuokaToastyEasyWith food

Sources

  1. Wikipedia, "Genmaicha". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genmaicha
  2. Mayo Clinic, "Caffeine content for coffee, tea, soda and more". www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/caffeine/art-20049372

Scores and content updated 30 Oct 2026.