Genmaicha Popcorn Tea - Loose Green Tea

Genmaicha is sometimes referred to as Japanese popcorn tea, as it consists of sencha green tea blended with toasted rice. High-grade Japanese sencha leaves provide the fresh vegetative taste of green tea, while the toasted rice brings a slightly nutty-like flavour and natural sweetness. This unique and delicious tea is a must-try.

10 Facts About Genmaicha, Japanese Popcorn Tea

1. Historical Origins: In Japanese culture, adding rice to tea leaves makes green tea last longer. Many people with low incomes did this to make drinking tea more affordable.
2. Blend: The blending of either Sencha or Bancha tea leaves with roasted brown rice gives popcorn tea its distinctive sweet, nutty character. Many of the rice grains pop during the roasting process and look like popcorn.
3. Nutritional Benefits: This traditional blend of green tea and brown rice, contains antioxidants, vitamins B and E, and an important mineral called selenium.
4. Caffeine Content: Compared to other green teas, the addition of brown rice means less tea is used per cup, so less caffeine is absorbed.
5. Weight Loss: Drinking 3–5 cups of green tea daily may help you lose weight because it speeds up your metabolism.
6. Stress Buster: The amino acid L-theanine present in the tea helps to calm people down, relax them, and lower their stress.
7. Digestive Health: Green tea and brown rice are good for your digestive system. Green tea is said to reduce inflammation, and brown rice has fibre. Together, these two things make this tea great for gut health.
8. Samurai's Choice!: Japanese Samurai thought this blend of green tea and rice was a valuable source of nutrition, providing both hydration and sustenance. According to Ancient Japanese War Tactics, the samurai warriors found this tea to be essential to helping them stay strong in battle.
9. Popularity: Green tea blended with brown rice was first thought to be only for people with low incomes, but over time, people from all walks of life in Japan have grown to love it.
10. Japanese Tea Ceremonies: As this unique blend became more popular among the upper classes, it was enjoyed in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies as a way to cultivate humility, grounding, and soothing qualities.