Genmaicha, or brown rice tea, is a Japanese tea made with green tea and toasted rice. It’s also called popcorn tea, because some of the grains of rice pop during the toasting process, resembling tiny pieces of popcorn. Historically, the rice was a way to stretch expensive tea leaves, making the drink available to people of limited means. Now however, the nutty flavor the rice imparts has made the tea popular for its own sake.










