Genmaicha (Roasted Rice Green Tea)

Toasty, light and gently savoury, genmaicha brings together Japanese green tea leaves and roasted rice for a cup that is softer and nuttier than many plain green teas. The rice gives a warm cereal aroma while the tea keeps the finish clean and fresh, making it well suited to everyday drinking, especially alongside simple meals or savoury snacks. A brief infusion is important: water cooled to about 80°C (175°F) helps preserve the green tea’s brightness and avoids bitterness, while a short steep draws out the roasted character without making the cup heavy.
Recipe by JustRecipes Editorial Team
Content validated: August 2026 How we create recipes
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Cuisine style Japanese tea
Cooking style Minimal cleanup
Time commitment Under 15 minutes

Why this recipe works

  • Gentle steeping: Cooling the boiled water before brewing helps protect the green tea from harsh bitterness.
  • Simple ingredients: Good water and genmaicha-style tea are all that is needed for a clean, balanced cup.
  • Toasted but light: Roasted rice adds warmth and nuttiness while the green tea keeps the drink fresh and delicate.

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Timing notes

  • Serve immediately: Genmaicha is best poured as soon as it has steeped; leaving the leaves in the pot can make the tea taste sharp.
  • Let the water cool: After boiling, allow the water to stand briefly before pouring so the tea brews gently rather than extracting bitterness.

Ingredient notes

  • Use fresh tea: Genmaicha loses its toasted aroma over time, so use tea that smells nutty and fresh rather than flat or dusty.
  • Water matters: Still mineral water can give a cleaner, slightly sweeter cup if your tap water tastes strongly chlorinated or hard.

Common mistakes

  • Steeping too long: A longer steep does not simply make the tea stronger; it can draw out bitterness, so keep the brew short and adjust strength with a little more tea instead.
  • Using boiling water: Pouring freshly boiled water straight onto green tea can make the flavour harsh. Let it cool slightly before steeping.

Equipment you'll need

Kettle Sieve / strainer Teapot
Ingredients
Instructions
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  1. Bring the water to the boil, then let it stand for 2 minutes so it cools slightly to about 80°C (175°F). Warm a teapot with a splash of the hot water, then discard it.
  2. Add the tea to the warmed teapot, then pour over the hot water. Steep for 30 to 60 seconds, keeping it short for a bright, balanced cup.
  3. Strain into a cup and serve straight away. If you like, you can re-steep the leaves once more with slightly cooler water for 20 to 30 seconds.

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Recipe notes

Tips

  • If the tea tastes bitter, your water is too hot or the steep is too long; cool the water a little more and keep the steep closer to 30 seconds.
  • For a stronger nutty aroma, use a slightly higher tea dose and keep the steep short rather than extending the time.

Substitutions

  • Replace Water with still-mineral-water for a cleaner, slightly sweeter cup.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 1 days
  • Genmaicha is best freshly brewed. If needed, cool quickly and refrigerate, then drink chilled within 24 hours; avoid reheating as it can turn bitter.

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Genmaicha (Roasted Rice Green Tea)
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Recipe overview

  • Servings: 1 cups
  • Total time: 7min (2min active)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cuisine: Japanese
Beginner friendly Kid friendly
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Equipment you'll need

Kettle Sieve / strainer Teapot

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Water

1 cup ≈ 240 ml
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