Japanese Genmaicha Green Tea

Indulge yourself with this Genmaicha green tea: a blend of organic green tea from Japan, organic roasted rice and organic puffed rice. Genmaicha tea is ideal for accompanying your meals and relaxation breaks throughout the day.

WHAT IS GENMAICHA GREEN TEA?

Genmaicha means "brown rice tea" in Japanese. Genmaicha green tea is a blend of tasty organic whole tea leaves and organic roasted and puffed rice grains. This combination is a real delight and has the nickname "popcorn tea". It's aptly named as the puffed rice grains sometimes pop in the cup.

WHERE DOES GENMAICHA COME FROM?

Puffed rice tea originated in 15th century Japan. Legend has it that Genmai, a servant, dropped a few grains of rice into his revered samurai's tea cup. Subsequently, genmaicha green tea was consumed by the poorest peasant families. In fact it was less expensive because the mixture often contained more (therefore cheaper) rice than tea. Today, green tea with puffed rice is a favourite with all Japanese people who like to serve it with savoury dishes. This genmaicha is a high-quality blend of excellent organic green teas and roasted rice from organic farming.

WHAT DOES RICE TEA TASTE LIKE?

The blend of this organic green tea with puffed and toasted rice is a wonderful mix of green (tea), brown (toasted brown rice) and white (puffed rice). This Japanese tea has a light yellow liquor. The characteristic astringency of green tea is softened by the round, roasted flavour of the toasted rice grains. Genmaicha has a toast flavour and delicate roasted hazelnut notes for a subtle and fragrant balance. It is delicious hot, warm and even cold.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GENMAICHA?

Genmaicha green tea contains B vitamins which are essential for the nervous system to function properly. It is also rich in anti-ageing antioxidants (polyphenols), minerals (zinc, copper, manganese, selenium, etc.) and fibre. This green tea with puffed and roasted rice supports the digestive and immune systems. 

WHEN SHOULD YOU DRINK GENMAICHA ORGANIC GREEN TEA?

Genmaicha organic green tea can be enjoyed until the evening, as its low theine content will not have any effect on your sleep. Also, if you feel tired in the afternoon, genmaicha is a great way to stay alert without overdosing on caffeine.

HOW DO YOU MAKE GENMAICHA?

To fully enjoy genmaicha green tea, we advise you to steep 2 grams of tea in 200 ml of water at 80°C for 3 minutes. Want to surprise friends with a modern tea ceremony? You don't have to be an expert to try out the traditional Japanese tea ceremony "Cha no yu" (hot water for tea), which is a real art and can last for hours! Choose a nice tea set with a cast iron or ceramic teapot and matching small cups. Brew the tea in water at 80°C for 3 minutes. Then pour a few millilitres into each cup and repeat the process as many times as necessary until the last drop is used up. This technique balances the flavours so that each guest can enjoy a drink of equal intensity. The tea leaves can then be reused for a second or third brew. For a perfect gourmet break, serve with sesame biscuits.

WHAT KIND OF FOOD SHOULD GENMAICHA ORGANIC TEA BE COMBINED WITH?

A cup of Genmaicha is ideal with sushi, sashimi or raw fish carpaccio. These salty, briny flavours are in perfect harmony with the botanic and malty aroma of this tea. If you prefer to enjoy it in the morning, we recommend that you try genmaicha organic green tea at brunch with eggs and bacon or smoked salmon. If you're going for something even more original, flavour the sushi rice with an infusion of Genmaicha and serve it with warm steamed vegetables, accompanied with a soy sauce, rice vinegar and sesame seed dressing. If you're looking at dessert, the roasted hazelnut flavour of Genmaicha brings out all the sweetness of rice pudding with Japanese staples such as nashi (Japanese pear) and ginger. And its very botanical notes counteract the extreme sweetness of white chocolate: a true delight!

Are you a fan of Japanese teas? Discover all our Japanese organic teas! A selection that will delight anybody who loves quality teas.