Genmai cha tea, also known as brown rice tea or popcorn tea, is a sweet and nutty Japanese beverage made by brewing green tea leaves and rice. It has roots in Japanese peasant history and is easy to make. Matcha-iri genmaicha is a stronger version with added powdered green tea. It is enjoyed by people of all ages and is considered a comforting drink. A legend suggests that the tea was named after a servant who accidentally mixed rice with his master’s green tea.
An exotic Japanese beverage, genmai cha tea is also known as folk tea or brown rice tea. The full leaf drink is brewed together with rice and green tea leaves. The result is a sweet and nutty dessert tea that is popular in many areas.
Another name that tea is typically called is people’s tea. This is due to its roots in Japanese peasant history. Historically, tea was an expensive luxury. To help make such an expensive product last, Japanese farmers mixed their tea leaves with roasted rice. From this simple procedure, the flavor of genmai cha tea was born.
Genmai cha, or genmaicha, sometimes makes a crackling sound as the rice cooks with the tea leaves. For this reason, it is also known as popcorn tea. Some even claim it tastes similar to popcorn. The tea features light yellow leaves and produces a mild, herbaceous flavor combined with that of the roasted, nutty rice used to ferment it.
To make genmai cha tea, the water should be steeped between 176 and 185 degrees Fahrenheit (80-85 degrees Celsius). Three to five minutes of prep time is recommended for best results. Some people, preferring a lighter tea, may steep it for as little as a minute. Genmai cha tea is considered to be an easy tea to make. While most people prefer the drink hot, it can also be enjoyed cold.
Matcha-iri genmaicha is a popular form of genmai cha tea. With the addition of matcha or powdered green tea, it is the typical version of the tea sold on the market. Matcha-iri genmaicha is usually more green than yellow. The tea is often even stronger than plain genmai cha tea. A fine strainer is recommended when making this tea, as the leaves are tiny and can easily be left in the finished product.
People from all walks of life enjoy the drink. Japanese children especially enjoy mild tea as part of an after-school snack. Many people choose to drink tea before bed to help induce a feeling of relaxation. Inexpensive, simple, and readily available, it’s considered a toasty and comforting drink, particularly during the cold months of the year.
A popular Japanese legend presents an interesting alternative to the history of the drink. During the 1400s, a samurai warlord in Hakone was outraged when his servant, named Genamai, poured rice from his pocket into the samurai’s green tea during a meeting. The samurai killed the servant and continued his meeting, but found that his spoiled drink was very tasty. In honor of the servant, he then proclaimed that the tea should be called genmai cha tea.
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