Get Poppin - Genmaicha Green
Watchu gonna do? Gonna get get get it poppin' with this traditional and earthy tea. Japanese sencha green tea gets a nutty flavour and body with layers of roasted rice.
Also known as popcorn tea - when you pour your first scoop, you’ll see why!
Ingredients: Green tea, roasted rice
Steeping Instructions: 1 tsp per 8 oz cup. Brew water at 85°C and steep for 2 minutes.
About the Tea:
Genmaicha (pronounced: gen-MAI-cha) which translates to "brown rice tea", is a traditional Japanese green tea blended with roasted brown rice. Originating from an ingenious way to stretch more expensive tea leaves, it integrated the addition of rice, making the tea more affordable.
Not only did it economize the blend, but it also introduced a delightful toasty flavor, creating a unique tea experience. The name reflects its key ingredient, with "genmai" meaning brown rice and "cha" denoting tea in Japanese.
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Often paired with sushi in restaurants, genmaicha is cherished for its ability to cleanse the palate. Its light, toasty flavour complements the delicate tastes of sushi, ensuring that each bite is as fresh and flavorful as the first. The roasted brown rice also aids in digestion, making it an excellent accompaniment to meals.
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Tory's Tea-Time Tidbits
So the legend goes that once upon a 15th-century vibe in Japan, a samurai was chatting about some serious war stuff. In the midst of this intense convo, his sidekick and trusty servant Genmai, was doing the usual – pouring the boss man his green tea.
Plot twist: some rice from Genmai's pocket took a nosedive right into Mr. Samurai's cup. The samurai, in full diva mode, lost his cool and, well, let's just say Genmai's head and shoulders had a brief separation moment.
But here comes the tea – literally. When Samurai-san sipped on the brew, he had an "OMG, this is tasty" epiphany! Those toasted rice vibes were giving him life! Feeling mega guilty about his overreaction and to honour Genmai's accidental genius, he named the tea "Genmaicha."
Now, between us, while this tale is super spicy and all, there are a few versions out there. So, is it the real tea? Who knows! But it sure is a fab story to spill when you're sipping on some Genmaicha.