

We analyze real customer reviews to surface what matters: key strengths, ideal use cases, and honest considerations — so you can make an informed choice.
Yamamotoyama Organic Genmaicha Loose Leaf Green Tea
Loose leaf genmaicha with a pronounced popcorn-and-toasted-grain character — smooth, nutty, and entirely free of the grassy notes typical of green tea.
🎯 Best for: Cold mornings for body warming, Iced tea preparation (strong brewing recommended)
🍃 Tastes like: popcorn, roasted rice, toasted grain
What Stands Out
🍃 Flavor Profile
Strength: Moderate
Notes: popcorn, roasted rice, toasted grain
✅ What Customers Love
- Distinctive popcorn/roasted flavor from toasted rice (5 mentions)
- Smooth and flavorful taste (3 mentions)
- Complex flavor profile (2 mentions)
🎯 Best For
Cold mornings for body warming • Iced tea preparation (strong brewing recommended) • Daily tea routine • Those seeking non-grassy green tea flavor
Brand: Yamamotoyama
Category: Green Tea
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
About This Green Tea
This genmaicha delivers a strong roasted rice presence alongside the green tea base, producing a warm, nutty cup with a distinctive popcorn aroma. Reviewers praise its smooth finish and layered complexity — approachable enough for daily use yet interesting enough to sip slowly. The leaves are concentrated, so small measures stretch further than expected. Steeping time matters: overbrew and bitterness sets in quickly, so a light hand on the clock is worth developing. Best suited to those who enjoy toasted, nutty flavors and want a green tea without any vegetal edge — and equally good brewed hot on a cold morning or steeped strong for iced preparation.
Is Yamamotoyama Organic Genmaicha Loose Leaf Green Tea Right for You?
What does Yamamotoyama Genmaicha taste like?
It has a distinctive popcorn and roasted rice flavor that sets it apart from typical green teas. Multiple reviewers highlight the toasted grain notes and nutty character. The taste is smooth and complex rather than grassy — think warm, roasted, and slightly sweet. If you've ever had rice puffs or popcorn, you'll recognize that toasty quality in every sip.
What makes Genmaicha different from regular green tea?
Genmaicha is green tea blended with roasted brown rice, which gives it a completely different flavor profile from standard green tea. Instead of grassy or vegetal notes, you get popcorn, toasted grain, and nutty flavors. This Yamamotoyama version has a particularly strong roasted character that multiple reviewers highlight. It's a great gateway for people who find regular green tea too grassy or bitter.
Is Yamamotoyama Genmaicha good for beginners?
Absolutely. Genmaicha is one of the most beginner-friendly green teas because the roasted rice smooths out the grassy edge that turns some people off green tea. The brewing is fairly forgiving too — just don't oversteep it. Reviewers note the flavor is distinctive but approachable, and since the leaves are concentrated, you won't waste much figuring out your preferred strength.
How do you brew green tea properly?
For this Yamamotoyama Genmaicha, use water around 175–185°F (not boiling) and steep for 2–3 minutes. One key tip from reviewers: don't overbrew it, as it can turn bitter if you let it sit too long. The leaves are concentrated, so you don't need as much as you might expect — start with about a teaspoon per cup and adjust to taste.
How much loose leaf Genmaicha should I use per cup?
Start with about one teaspoon per 8 oz cup. Reviewers note that this tea is concentrated — a little goes a long way — so you may find you need less than with other loose leaf teas. If you like a stronger roasted flavor, go up to 1.5 teaspoons. The 3.5 oz pack will last quite a while at this rate.
Can this Genmaicha be overbrewed?
Yes — this is the one thing to watch out for. At least one reviewer notes it can become bitter if overbrewed. Stick to 2–3 minutes of steeping and you'll get the smooth, roasted flavor it's known for. If you accidentally oversteep, adding a splash of hot water can help mellow the bitterness somewhat.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
What are common mistakes when brewing green tea?
The biggest mistake with this Genmaicha specifically is oversteeping — reviewers note it can become bitter if you leave it too long. Other common green tea mistakes include using boiling water (which scorches the leaves) and using too much leaf. Since this Yamamotoyama blend is concentrated, a little goes a long way. Start with less than you think you need and work up.
Is there too much rice in this Genmaicha?
One reviewer noted that this loose leaf version has more roasted rice relative to green tea compared to Yamamotoyama's tea bag version. If you prefer a more balanced or tea-forward flavor, you might find the roasted taste quite strong. That said, most reviewers love the bold roasted character — it really comes down to personal preference. If you like pronounced toasty, popcorn-like flavor, you'll enjoy the ratio.
Does this Genmaicha smell good?
Yes — the aroma is a big part of the experience. Reviewers mention a pleasant roasted rice fragrance that fills the room when you brew it. It smells like toasted grain and popcorn, which makes the whole tea ritual more enjoyable. The scent alone is often what hooks people on Genmaicha.
Who is Yamamotoyama Genmaicha best for?
This tea is ideal for a few groups: beginners who find regular green tea too grassy, enthusiasts who appreciate complex toasted flavors, anyone looking for a comforting daily tea (especially on cold mornings), and iced tea lovers who want a flavor that holds up over ice. It's also a solid pick if you're looking for a caffeine source gentler than coffee.
Is Yamamotoyama a good tea brand?
Yamamotoyama is one of the oldest and most established Japanese tea companies, with roots going back centuries. They're known for traditional production methods and consistent quality. Reviewers of this Genmaicha praise both the flavor quality and the value, which reflects the brand's reputation for delivering solid tea at accessible prices.
Can I make iced tea with this Genmaicha?
Definitely — and reviewers recommend it. For hot-brewed iced tea, use double the amount of leaf and steep for 2–3 minutes, then pour over ice. For cold brew, add the leaves to cold water and refrigerate overnight. Either way, the roasted rice flavor translates beautifully to iced preparation. The nutty, toasty notes are refreshing cold in a way you might not expect.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
How to brew green tea cold?
Cold brewing this Genmaicha works beautifully. Add about 1.5 teaspoons of loose leaf per cup of cold water, place it in the fridge, and let it steep for 6–8 hours (or overnight). Cold brewing pulls out the smooth, toasty rice flavors without any bitterness — you won't have the oversteeping issue that can happen with hot water. The result is a refreshing, nutty iced tea.
Is green tea very high in caffeine?
Green tea has moderate caffeine — typically 25–50 mg per cup, compared to about 95 mg in coffee. This Yamamotoyama Genmaicha is caffeinated, but the roasted rice component means there's slightly less tea leaf per cup than a pure green tea, which can make the caffeine content a touch lower. It's enough to give you a gentle lift without the jitters most people get from coffee.
What brand of green tea is the best?
It depends on what flavor profile you're after. If you want something different from the typical grassy green tea, Yamamotoyama's Genmaicha is a standout choice — it's a historic Japanese brand (one of the oldest tea companies) that blends green tea with roasted rice for a smooth, nutty, popcorn-like flavor. Reviewers consistently praise the distinctive taste and the fact that a little goes a long way, making it good value too.
Is it beneficial to drink green tea daily?
Yes, daily green tea consumption is associated with antioxidant benefits and improved metabolism. This Genmaicha is particularly well-suited as an everyday tea — reviewers use it as part of their daily routine because the smooth, roasted flavor stays enjoyable cup after cup. Plus, since it's concentrated and a little goes a long way, the 3.5 oz pack lasts quite a while even with daily drinking.
What are the 5 benefits of green tea?
The top benefits are: antioxidant protection (green tea is rich in catechins), moderate caffeine for calm energy, metabolism support, potential heart health benefits, and improved focus thanks to L-theanine. With this Yamamotoyama Genmaicha specifically, you also get the comfort factor — that warm, roasted rice flavor that reviewers say makes cold mornings better. And because it's organic, you're getting those benefits without pesticide concerns.
What happens if I drink 1 cup of green tea every day?
Drinking a cup of green tea daily is widely associated with antioxidant benefits, improved metabolism, and better focus from its moderate caffeine content. This Genmaicha is well-suited for a daily routine — reviewers use it as their go-to everyday tea because the smooth, roasted flavor is easy to enjoy consistently without getting boring, and several mention the warming effect it has on cold mornings.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
What happens when you drink green tea every day?
Regular green tea drinkers often report improved focus, better digestion, and more sustained energy throughout the day. Reviewers of this Genmaicha specifically mention the warming effect on cold mornings as part of their daily ritual. The roasted rice flavor makes it easy to stick with — it's not the grassy, astringent green tea that puts some people off. Many reviewers describe it as their everyday go-to.
How to brew green tea leaves?
For this loose leaf Genmaicha, use a teaspoon of leaves per 8 oz of water heated to about 175–185°F. Steep for 2–3 minutes, then strain. The leaves are concentrated, so don't overload your infuser. And watch the clock — oversteeping is the one thing reviewers warn about, as it can bring out bitterness. You can often get a good second steep from the same leaves.
How to brew green tea for iced tea?
Reviewers recommend brewing it strong — use about double the amount of leaf you'd use for hot tea, steep in hot water for 2–3 minutes, then pour over ice. The strong roasted rice flavor holds up well when diluted by ice. Alternatively, cold brew it overnight in the fridge for an even smoother result with zero bitterness risk.
What Customers Love
⚠️ Limited sample based on limited customer feedback (9 reviews) • Our methodology
- Distinctive popcorn/roasted flavor from toasted rice (5 mentions)
- Smooth and flavorful taste (3 mentions)
- Complex flavor profile (2 mentions)
- Concentrated - a little goes a long way (2 mentions)
- Pleasant aroma (1 mentions)
Taste Profile
- smooth
- nutty
- roasted
- complex
- flavorful
Best Use Cases
🎯 Best For
- Cold mornings for body warming
- Iced tea preparation (strong brewing recommended)
- Daily tea routine
- Those seeking non-grassy green tea flavor
What to Consider
- Can become bitter if overbrewed (1 mentions)
- Too much roasted rice relative to green tea (inconsistent with tea bag version) (1 mentions)
- Roasted taste may be too strong for some preferences (1 mentions)
⚠️ Important: This analysis is based on limited customer feedback (9 reviews). We've shared what we found, but there may be additional considerations we haven't captured.
About This Analysis
This analysis is based on 9 customer reviews. We're showing you everything we found, but with a small sample, there's a lot we likely haven't captured yet.
✅ What we're confident about: What customers love and best use cases
⚠️ What may be incomplete: Potential issues and considerations
For more perspectives, check customer reviews on Amazon.
Product Selection
In short: We only feature high-rated products.
Products on TeaDelight.net are selected based on strong Amazon customer ratings, sufficient review volume, and market presence. We focus on well-regarded products that tea enthusiasts are actively considering and purchasing.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
You Might Also Like
✅ Strong, delicious peach flavor
Stash Ginger Peach Green Tea with Matcha
✅ High caffeine content / potent energy boost
Tekola Organic Gunpowder Green Tea
✅ Good taste/flavor quality
Lipton Green Tea with Jasmine
✅ Good taste with no bitterness
