Afternoon Tea: Genmaicha
Genmaicha tea is made from a combination of Sencha green tea and roasted brown rice. Initially this tea was favored by Japanese peasants who used rice as an inexpensive substitute for tea leaves. While the green leaves are being dried, the rice kernels occasionally pop. Thus Genmaicha is also referred to as ‘popcorn tea’.
Today Genmaicha is favored by many for its pleasant toasty flavor and light green color. While other Japanese green teas have a more vegetable-like flavor, Genmaicha has a unique roasted taste and campfire-esque aroma.
A steeping time of about 3-5 minutes is recommended with more or less time depending on the desired concentration.