Green Tea Forum

383bigblock · Posted: Apr 12, 2007 8:59 pm Post subject: Genmaicha ....whats the deal

Hey gang,

I'm fairly new to green tea and have only been drinking the Sencha (Miyabi) and Gyokura teas but have to ask what is the Genmaicha teas like. I can't imagine that puffed rice adds any flavor value to the tea so what are these used for and can anyone comment on their flavor, purpose etc.

Thanks
Michael

Chip · Posted: Apr 12, 2007 11:49 pm Post subject:

Hi Bigblock,

Well, surprisingly, it does add a new flavor to the tea. Predictably, it tastes and smells very much like green tea and rice krispies. Not my favorite, but occasionally, I enjoy this. I prefer the kind with matcha added...more tea taste!

spacesamurai · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 204

From what I understand, the original purpose was to add filler to green tea to reduce the cost, thus genmaicha was mainly enjoyed (or not) by poor people. As for the taste, to me it's not much different than houjicha.

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

I like genmaicha with food. And maybe on certain occasions by itself. One of the assets of genmaicha is that it is low in caffeine.

It is good if you're after a casual cup of tea.

Sarthax · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 02 May 2007 Posts: 4

I do enjoy a cup of genmaicha as it does have it's own identity. The smoky, nutty, sometimes buttery flavor of the toasted and/or popped rice makes an ordinary cup of tea unique. Just as a cup can have an "ocean" or "grassy" undertone, you can taste the "nuttiness" of the rice in genmaicha.

But yeah, as spacesamurai notes, it was originally filler to cut the tea for commoners. I would like to think that it's still around for a reason though.
I like genmaicha because it's not fussy to prepare like the more delicate teas. and still tastes halfway decent.

cgyh · Posted: Jul 17, 2007 12:58 am Post subject:

Domn · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 26 Nov 2007 Posts: 13

Ive tried matcha-iri-genmaicha and i dont quite get the point of putting matcha with genmaicha. I mean, the color is bit more greeny and more cloudy, but the taste is same.

And i wonder if you can even made second influsion with it, because all matcha is in first influsion.

Secondly i am wondering if it is good to make genmaicha in my regular kyusu (i use it only for sencha), because clay may absorb genmaichas aroma.

And last think is quite logical. Why are they putting matcha, which is for tea ceremonies in genmaicha, which was consumed by poor people.

britt · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 175

kylezo · Posted: Jul 25, 2008 4:53 am Post subject:

Oni · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 194

Did you know who invented genmaicha?
It is the Horaido teashop, founded in 1803, I quote this from their site "
Genmaicha (Tea and roasted rice mixed)
Enjoy the tea taste and savory flavor at meal time.
80 years ago our shop invented this tea. We call this tea Horaicha.", interesting to know, I just recently ordered 4 bags of tea from them, two high and two middle grades.

okimasa · Posted: Jul 26, 2008 7:09 am Post subject:

sleepyredmoo · Posted: Jul 26, 2008 9:50 am Post subject:

i have no idea about how genmaicha was invented, but i remember matsuda telling me how people in japan put those rice cracker things into their sencha, i did try that and it tastes just like genmaicha so if you want genmaicha and don't have any those rice crackers work good

britt · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 175

The story I heard about the discovery of genmaicha:

A warlord was having his morning meeting with his advisors and generals and called his servant to serve the daily tea. When called, the servant was eating a rice ball so he placed it inside his kimono. When he went to serve the tea, the rice ball fell out and landed in the teapot. Embarassed by his incompetent servent, the warlord drew his sword and beheaded him.

The meeting continued, and forgetting that the rice was now mixed with the tea, the warlord poured some into his cup and took a sip. He was astonished at how good it tasted. When he remembered what had happened he felt bad that the servant who made this discovery was now headless. In his honor, he decided to name this new tea variation after his servant, whose name was Genmai.

Hushfield · Brown Belt Joined: 30 May 2008 Posts: 49

That's a really nice story. I will try not to apply logic to a fictional story and shall therefore not point out that the servant was very conveniently called "brown rice" Mr. Green

[edit]: The first sentence sounds a bit sarcastic, sorry about that. I really enjoyed the story. Thanks for sharing.