Genmaicha JAS organic Ihachi

Ihachi Genmaicha – Japanese green tea with home-grown roasted rice

Ihachi Farm's genmaicha is a particularly charming and rare Japanese tea. Genmaicha is traditionally a blend of green tea and roasted rice, but for this tea, the Shigeta family grows not only the tea but also the rice themselves, without pesticides. Thus, the cup truly brings together the flavors of the same farm, the same land, and the same philosophy.

Ihachi Farm has been working organically for 27 years and holds JAS organic certification. For Takuya Shigeta, organic farming is not just a technical decision but a way of life: living in harmony with nature, accepting insects, the seasons, and the unpredictability of the landscape.

This genmaicha is one of the most beautiful and simplest expressions of this philosophy. The fresh, vegetal character of the green tea is rounded out by the warm, cereal, slightly sweet aroma of the roasted rice. It is an easy-drinking, friendly tea, enjoyable both hot and cold.

Flavor profile

A tea with a soft, roasted, cereal, and slightly sweet character. Alongside the freshness of the green tea, the warm, bread crust, popcorn-like aroma of the rice appears. It is not too strong, not bitter, but rather comforting and enjoyable for everyday drinking.

Who do we recommend it to?

Ihachi Genmaicha is a good choice for those who are new to Japanese teas, as well as for those looking for a lighter, less caffeinated, homely tea. It works very well with meals, for an afternoon break, or for simple, everyday tea drinking.

Preparation suggestion

For many of his teas, Takuya Shigeta recommends water around 70 °C, because at this temperature the umami and amino acids are beautifully expressed, while the bitterness remains more subdued. For Genmaicha, this gives a softer, more delicate brew; those who want a more intense roasted rice aroma can try it with slightly warmer water.

This tea does not try to say much, yet it tells a great deal. The combination of home-grown tea and rice yields a clean, simple, and deeply lovable genmaicha — a tea that embodies the family work of Ihachi Farm and the calm, human warmth of Japanese rural tea drinking.

Preparation guide

It is advisable to prepare Ihachi Genmaicha at a lower temperature so that the softer, umami-rich side of the green tea is beautifully expressed, while the warm, cereal sweetness of the roasted rice rounds out the brew.

• Amount of tea: 5 g
• Amount of water: 200 ml
• Water temperature: 70–80 °C
• Steeping time: 60–90 seconds
• Number of infusions: 2–3

For a softer, sweeter brew, use water around 70 °C. This will make the tea less bitter and bring out the delicate umami of the green tea more effectively.

For a warmer, more roasted character, prepare with water around 80 °C. In this case, the cereal, slightly popcorn-like aroma of the rice will be more pronounced.

For the second infusion, a shorter steeping time may be sufficient, around 30–45 seconds. For the third infusion, steep longer according to taste.