Genmaicha is a Japanese specialty tea renowned for its delicately balanced, airy flavor and aroma. It was also called "poor man's tea" or "people's tea" because it reduced the price of a cup of tea by using rice as a filler. However, this simple blend of Sencha & toasted brown rice is now enjoyed by all Japanese and many other tea lover's around the world.

All about Genmaicha, Organic — Loose Leaf Green Tea

What it’s like, and how to make it

CaffeineLow caffeine
TypeGreen
CharacterToasted, savory, floral
What’s in itSencha green tea, toasted rice, popcorn

Perfect for

  • Beginners
How to brew it
  • 175°F / 80°C
  • Steep 2–3 minutes
  • Use 1 tsp per 8oz
  • Boiling water scorches the leaf and makes it bitter
  • Re-steep the same leaves twice

Beyond the cup

Japan’s popcorn tea. Brew strong and use as rice-cooking liquid for instant depth – add shiitake, ginger, and a splash of soy for a pilaf that practically makes itself. The toasted rice makes this the one green tea that works at brunch – waffles, scones, French toast all say yes. Stir infused butter into madeleines.

  • Genmaicha, Organic loose leaf tea, shown over a chalk-and-watercolour illustration
  • Illustration: Genmaicha, Organic with a Japanese farmhouse kitchen of long ago
  • Illustration of Genmaicha, Organic in The Tea & Spice Shoppe pouch, with a Japanese farmhouse kitchen of long ago
  • Genmaicha - Organic - The Tea & Spice Shoppe
  • Genmaicha - Organic - The Tea & Spice Shoppe

What’s in it

Every herb in the blend, and where to read about it on its own.

  • Tea · Contains caffeine

    Sencha Green Tea

    Camellia sinensis var. sinensis

    Japan's everyday tea and the most popular tea in Japan — steamed for fifteen to twenty seconds to stop oxidation, then rolled and dried into thin dark needles. The steaming is what separates it from a Chinese green: it gives sencha the grassy, faintly seaweed-like...

    Grassy and vegetal with a touch of seaweed and a clean sweet finish; greenish-gold in the cup

    Learn more Sold on its own

  • Other · Caffeine-free

    Toasted Rice

    Oryza sativa

    Roasted brown rice — the other half of genmaicha, and the reason that tea smells like popcorn. Three products carry it. It brings a nutty, toasted warmth and a savoury body that softens green tea's edge, which is exactly what it was originally for: rice...

    Nutty and toasted with a savoury warmth; it rounds off green tea's grassiness

    Learn more

  • Other · Caffeine-free

    Popcorn

    Zea mays

    The white puffs in a bag of genmaicha, and the thing everyone asks about. They are not an addition so much as a by-product: when brown rice is roasted for genmaicha, a proportion of the grains pop, and the popped ones are left in. Some...

    Toasted and faintly sweet; more aroma and appearance than flavour

    Learn more

Every ingredient in the shop →

What it goes with

Toasted, nutty, and the ultimate crossover tea. Works with Japanese food and brunch alike. Pair with our Ginger and Coriander for stir-fry nights, or our Cinnamon for weekend baking.

Reviews

What the time-travelers say

5.0 from 2 reviews of this one, and 206 of the shop’s 213 are five stars

Write a review

Genmaicha

I love love love this tea. So full of flavour. I have a tendency to follow Diana's recommendation on how long to "steep" your tea,…

I love love love this tea. So full of flavour. I have a tendency to follow Diana's recommendation on how long to "steep" your tea, as it is perfect this way. Thanks Diana.

— Linda G. Verified

Love this sushi tea<3

Sushi tea except BETTER cause it's loose leaf and potent and toasty and perfect!

— Dallas

Genmaicha

I love love love this tea. So full of flavour. I have a tendency to follow Diana's recommendation on how long to "steep" your tea,…

I love love love this tea. So full of flavour. I have a tendency to follow Diana's recommendation on how long to "steep" your tea, as it is perfect this way. Thanks Diana.

— Linda G. Verified

Love this sushi tea<3

Sushi tea except BETTER cause it's loose leaf and potent and toasty and perfect!

— Dallas

Genmaicha

I love love love this tea. So full of flavour. I have a tendency to follow Diana's recommendation on how long to "steep" your tea,…

I love love love this tea. So full of flavour. I have a tendency to follow Diana's recommendation on how long to "steep" your tea, as it is perfect this way. Thanks Diana.

— Linda G. Verified

Love this sushi tea<3

Sushi tea except BETTER cause it's loose leaf and potent and toasty and perfect!

— Dallas

Great products and great service

I had a slight mix up on my order, they were quick to reply and correct my order with no issues. Amazing service and great…

I had a slight mix up on my order, they were quick to reply and correct my order with no issues. Amazing service and great products.

— Nick C. Verified

Great tea

A lovely, delicate tea. The peach is strong without being overwhelming or cloying, and the calendula is a nice addition. Very…

A lovely, delicate tea. The peach is strong without being overwhelming or cloying, and the calendula is a nice addition. Very tasty!

— Zoe R. Verified

Maple Peach

The maple peach is delicious. What a beautiful combination. I will most definitely order it again, and a higher quantity of it.

— Gerda S. Verified

Always handy

I use dillweed often. This dill is fresh and has a nice aroma. I use it in marinades, salad dressings, and on fish. Good stuff.

— Jennifer D. Verified

Great stuff

This has helped my household a lot with circulation and alertness when we had it everyday. Will be ordering again soon. Thanks

— Dave G. Verified

Love this tea. Hands down my fav rooibos. This store is our one-stop-shop for tea and spice. Great service, top notch product.…

Love this tea. Hands down my fav rooibos. This store is our one-stop-shop for tea and spice. Great service, top notch product. 10/10!!

— Erin Poeta P. Verified

Delicious

I love this black tea, it has a really nice smooth flavour and love how it’s Swiss water method decaf. Will be buying again!

— Jessica A. Verified

Great flavorful tea

Toffee Ole is one of our favorite teas to share with friends in the evening, when we want something non-caffeinated but quite…

Toffee Ole is one of our favorite teas to share with friends in the evening, when we want something non-caffeinated but quite flavorful.

— Joel R. Verified

Another full bodied ‘real tea’ . ie It is not a flavoured tea. However, we do very much enjoy the Cafe Latte tea which is a…

Another full bodied ‘real tea’ . ie It is not a flavoured tea. However, we do very much enjoy the Cafe Latte tea which is a flavoured tea!!!

— Ted H. Verified

teas

love , love, love and they shipping is very fast. the headache tea works great, the throat coat tea works great as well

— Miranda A. Verified

4 stars

It worked beautifully; perhaps if I add a little more honey, it would make it better… It is a wellness tea, after all!

— Merrilee B. Verified

Bancha with a splash of lemon

A wonderful Green Tea. Smooth in taste. Also suitable as a summer tea with a splash of lemon. A second infusion makes an…

A wonderful Green Tea. Smooth in taste. Also suitable as a summer tea with a splash of lemon. A second infusion makes an enjoyable second cup!

— Monika F. Verified

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