What Is Genmaicha? Taste, Caffeine & Tea Bags

Genmaicha is Japanese green tea blended with roasted rice. Its toasted aroma balances the fresh flavor of green tea, making it an approachable choice for everyday drinking. Some blends also contain matcha, which adds a greener color and more pronounced green-tea character.

At Luna Matcha, we carry two tea-bag options: a classic genmaicha from Marukyu Koyamaen and a matcha-added genmaicha from Hoshino Seichaen in Yame. Here is how they differ, what to expect from the flavor and caffeine, and how to brew each one.

What does genmaicha taste like?

Genmaicha combines grassy green-tea notes with the warm, nutty aroma of roasted rice. Think toasted cereal rather than the sweetness of a flavored dessert tea. The balance depends on the tea, the proportion of rice, and how strongly you brew it.

It is sometimes called “popcorn tea,” but popcorn is not what defines the blend. The essential combination is green tea and roasted rice. Enjoy it plain first to get a sense of that balance; it also pairs naturally with a meal or a light snack.

Genmaicha vs. genmaicha with matcha

Classic genmaicha combines tea leaves and roasted rice. Matcha-iri genmaicha adds matcha to that blend. The matcha contributes color, body, and umami while the roasted rice remains part of the flavor.

Matcha-added genmaicha is still brewed as a leaf-and-rice tea. It is not a substitute for pure matcha powder in a whisked matcha recipe. A little cloudiness or fine sediment is normal when matcha is present; gently stir before serving.

Does genmaicha have caffeine?

Yes. Genmaicha contains caffeine because it contains green tea. Roasted rice does not make the finished blend caffeine-free.

Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries lists a reference value of 10 mg of caffeine per 100 ml of brewed genmaicha. That would be about 20 mg in a 200 ml serving of that reference infusion. The listed preparation uses 15 g of tea in 650 ml of water at 90°C for 30 seconds.

This is a reference value, not a laboratory measurement of either product below. Your cup will vary with the blend, amount of tea, water, and infusion time. Matcha adds another source of caffeine, so the same figure should not automatically be applied to a matcha-added blend. We do not have product-specific caffeine measurements for these two teas.

Choose genmaicha for its flavor and convenience rather than a promise of “jitter-free” energy or caffeine-free evening drinking. See the MAFF caffeine reference table (Japanese) for the published values and preparation conditions.

Two genmaicha tea bags to try at Luna Matcha

Both options let you brew genmaicha without a separate tea strainer. The most useful differences are the blend and the amount of water each bag is intended to brew.

How to brew genmaicha tea bags

These blends have different brewing instructions. The methods below follow our current product-page guidance; check your package for any updated directions.

Marukyu Koyamaen: a single hot cup

1. Place one 3 g sachet in a heat-safe cup.
2. Add 180–240 ml (6–8 fl oz) of boiling water.
3. Infuse for 60–90 seconds, then remove the bag. Adjust the next cup to your taste.

Hoshino Seichaen: a pot of matcha-added genmaicha

1. Place one 5 g bag in a teapot or large heat-safe mug.
2. Add about 500 ml (17 fl oz) of water at 70–80°C (158–176°F).
3. Let it infuse to your preferred strength. Stir gently to distribute the matcha, then remove the bag when the flavor suits you.

Hoshino Seichaen: refrigerated cold brew

1. Place two bags in a clean pitcher with 1 liter (about 34 fl oz) of water.
2. Refrigerate for approximately two hours, then taste and remove the bags when ready.
3. Stir gently before pouring, as matcha particles can settle. Keep the tea refrigerated.

Getting a bitter cup? Try a shorter infusion or cooler water next time. If the tea tastes weak, check the bag-to-water ratio before leaving it to steep much longer.

Can you make a genmaicha latte?

Yes, but start with brewed tea rather than treating a tea bag like matcha powder. For a simple experiment, brew the bag with less water than usual, remove it, and add a small splash of warm or cold milk. Taste before adding more: too much milk can hide the toasted-rice aroma.

This produces a lighter tea-and-milk drink than a latte made with a full serving of tea powder. If a rich, roasted latte is your main goal, our hojicha guide explains tea bags, powders, and latte preparation.

Genmaicha FAQs

Is genmaicha a green tea?

Yes. It is green tea blended with roasted rice. Matcha-added genmaicha contains matcha as an additional part of the blend.

How do you pronounce genmaicha?

Break it into gen-mai-cha, with “mai” sounding roughly like the English word “my.” The Japanese spelling is 玄米茶.

Is genmaicha the same as hojicha?

No. Genmaicha gets its characteristic toasted-rice aroma from roasted rice blended with green tea. Hojicha is tea whose leaves and/or stems have been roasted. Both can taste toasty, but the ingredients and flavor profiles differ.

What about genmaicha’s health benefits?

Plain genmaicha can be enjoyed as an unsweetened drink. We do not present it as a treatment for blood sugar problems, a digestive remedy, or a weight-loss product. The clearest reasons to choose it are its flavor, ease of preparation, and how well it fits your routine.

Do I need a bamboo whisk?

No. Both products here are tea bags. Even the matcha-added version is designed to be infused; a gentle stir is enough to redistribute settled particles.

How should I store genmaicha tea bags?

Keep them dry and protected from heat, light, and strong odors. Leave individually wrapped sachets sealed until use, and close an opened pouch securely. Follow the storage guidance and best-before date on the package.

Ready to choose? Start with Marukyu Koyamaen for individually wrapped single-cup sachets, or try Hoshino Seichaen for matcha-added genmaicha in larger bags.