How Much Caffeine Is in Genmaicha?
Genmaicha blends Japanese green tea with toasted brown rice. Because half the volume is caffeine-free rice, a cup of genmaicha has roughly half the caffeine of plain sencha — about 15-20 mg per 8 oz.
About 17 mg per cup — a whisper of caffeine.
How it compares
Genmaicha's caffeine is noticeably lower than sencha because half the weight is toasted rice, which contributes flavor but no caffeine. It's a good afternoon tea for people who want warmth and a hint of energy without the bigger lift from pure green tea.
| Drink | Caffeine (mg) |
|---|---|
| Genmaicha (8 oz) | 17 |
| Sencha (8 oz) | 30 |
| Hojicha (8 oz) | 8 |
| Brewed drip coffee (8 oz) | 95 |
Our picks on Amazon
Traditional Japanese green tea with roasted brown rice. Nutty-fresh flavor, moderate caffeine. Kyoto classic.
Premium Japanese green tea with matcha and roasted rice. Classic Japanese tea from Ito En.
Frequently asked
Is genmaicha safe for kids?
Genmaicha is one of the lowest-caffeine Japanese teas, but it isn't caffeine-free. Families that want a zero-caffeine Japanese option usually serve mugicha (roasted barley).
Why is genmaicha sometimes called 'popcorn tea'?
During the toasting step a small fraction of the rice grains pop open like miniature popcorn. The nickname stuck — it has nothing to do with caffeine, but it's the question people ask most.