What is the Japanese green tea mixed with roasted brown rice called?

The Japanese green tea mixed with roasted brown rice is called genmaicha. The name literally means “brown rice tea,” and the blend combines green tea leaves with roasted rice, some of which may puff or pop during roasting.

Genmaicha traditionally had an earthy, nutty flavor created by the toasted rice. Adding rice also stretched the tea leaves, helping make the drink more affordable and accessible. This history gave genmaicha the informal reputation of a “people’s tea,” although it is now enjoyed across all social groups and sold in both loose-leaf and tea-bag forms.

The green tea base may vary. Sencha is common, while other blends use bancha or different Japanese green teas. The roasted rice softens the tea’s grassy character and gives the infusion a warm aroma and light yellow color. It is often served with everyday meals because its flavor is milder than many unblended green teas.

Matcha-iri genmaicha is a related version containing powdered matcha. It is greener and often more intense than ordinary genmaicha. Hojicha, by contrast, is roasted green tea without the defining roasted-rice mixture.