If you are a fan of genmaicha, or you’re simply curious about it, you might be interested in learning about all the great genmaicha tea benefits.
In this article, we are going to be covering a few different genmaicha benefits, and how you can take full advantage of them by preparing your own genmaicha tea at home. Without further ado, let’s get started!
Before talking about the Genmaicha Tea Benefits, what is genmaicha?
Before we discuss the genmaicha green tea benefits, let’s first discuss what the tea is.
Genmaicha is a traditional Japanese green tea that is made by blending sencha tea or bancha leaves with roasted brown rice.
Genmaicha pronunciation is easy. When you say genmaicha pronounce the hard “g” as in “gap” rather than a soft “g” as in “Giraffe”. For the next half of the genmaicha tea pronunciation, you will want to make sure you pronounce the “i”. It is genmaicha, not genmacha.
Genmaicha tea is also known as "brown rice tea" so in this article, we are really going to be discussing the benefits of genmaicha brown rice tea. We’ll take a look at not only the benefits of green tea, but of green tea with toasted rice specifically.
Overview of the Genmaicha Green Tea Health Benefits
Green tea is well-known for its health benefits due to its high levels of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds. These compounds have been linked to a variety of health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes, as well as improving mental health and cognitive function.
Because genmaicha is a type of green tea, the benefits of green tea also apply to it. Within the leaves of the genmaicha tea, you are getting caffeine, antioxidants and polyphenols. We will be discussing these compounds and how they interact with the body later on in the article.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are substances that can prevent or slow down the damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals. These free radicals can damage cells, proteins, and DNA, which can lead to various health problems such as cancer, heart disease, and aging. Antioxidants work by neutralizing free radicals and preventing them from causing damage.
Genmaicha tea is rich in antioxidants, particularly catechins, which are a type of flavonoid. Catechins are the most abundant antioxidant in green tea, and they account for 30-40% of the total antioxidant content. Other antioxidants found in genmaicha tea include epicatechins, gallocatechins, and theanine.
Heart Disease
The antioxidants found in genmaicha tea may have a variety of potential health benefits. Catechins, the most abundant antioxidant in genmaicha tea, may help to lower the risk of heart disease by reducing cholesterol levels and decreasing blood pressure.
Because heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, it is particularly important to keep an eye out for these risk factors and try to mitigate them.
Inflammation
Antioxidants in genmaicha tea may also have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to reduce inflammation in the body and promote overall health. Additionally, the antioxidants in genmaicha tea may also help to boost the immune system, which can make it easier for the body to fight off infections and illnesses.
Studies have also suggested that the antioxidants found in genmaicha tea may have potential anti-cancer properties and may also help to prevent cognitive decline. However, more research is needed to fully understand the potential health benefits of antioxidants in genmaicha tea.
Mental health and stress
Genmaicha tea has been found to have a calming effect on the nervous system, which may help to reduce stress and anxiety. Theanine, an amino acid found in genmaicha tea, has been found to increase the production of alpha waves in the brain, which are associated with a relaxed and alert state.
Additionally, the antioxidants found in genmaicha tea may help to protect the brain from damage and inflammation, which may have a positive effect on mental health. However, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of genmaicha tea on mental health and stress.
Digestion and gut health
The antioxidants found in genmaicha tea may also have a positive effect on digestion and gut health. They may help to reduce inflammation in the gut, which can alleviate symptoms of conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Additionally, genmaicha tea may also help to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut, which can improve overall gut health. However, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of genmaicha tea on digestion and gut health.
Genmaicha benefits on skin and hair
You may be pleased to learn that genmaicha benefits skin and hair as well! The antioxidants found in genmaicha tea may also have a positive effect on skin and hair health. They may help to protect the skin from damage caused by UV radiation and environmental toxins, which can lead to premature aging.
Additionally, the antioxidants in genmaicha tea may help to promote the growth of healthy skin and hair cells. However, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of genmaicha tea on skin and hair health.
Limit of the Health Benefits of Genmaicha
It's important to note that while genmaicha tea may have potential benefits for mental health, digestion, skin and hair health, it should not be relied upon as the sole means for improving these conditions and more research is needed to fully understand its effects. Consulting with a healthcare professional or a nutritionist is recommended before making any significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.
Very affordable tea
Genmaicha is considered to be a cheaper Japanese green tea. But why? Genmaicha began as a way to conserve tea supplies during times of economic hardship. By adding a cheaper ingredient to the tea leaves like toasted rice, it stretched the supply of tea.
This new genmaicha green tea with roasted rice soon became popular all around Japan, even for people that could afford sencha. Now it is sometimes consumed at Japanese restaurants due to its low caffeine content and its pleasant cereal flavor.
Low Caffeine level is one of the main Genmaicha benefits
Genmaicha caffeine level is quite low. It contains a moderate amount of caffeine.
Genmaicha is even on our top 8 of the Lowest Caffeine Teas. Do you know which one has the lowest caffeine level? The answer is in this article 👉 8 Lowest Caffeine Tea: from Lowest to Highest
Caffeine is a naturally occurring stimulant that is found in many foods and beverages, including tea, coffee, and chocolate.
When consumed, it acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system, which can lead to increased alertness, decreased fatigue, and improved cognitive function.
Caffeine can also have a thermogenic effect, which can increase the metabolism and aid in weight loss. However, excessive caffeine consumption can lead to negative side effects such as jitteriness, anxiety, and insomnia.
Comparing the caffeine of genmaicha to other teas
As we mentioned before, japanese genmaicha green tea benefits from having a lower caffeine content. If we compare the caffeine content in genmaicha vs sencha or Gyokuro tea, it is significantly lower. It can vary depending on the type of tea leaves used and the brewing method, but on average, the tea contains about 20-30mg of caffeine per 8 oz cup. This is less than half of the caffeine found in a cup of coffee.
Nutritional benefits of Genmaicha brown rice tea
Genmaicha tea is a low-calorie beverage, making it a great option for those looking to maintain a healthy weight.
A cup of genmaicha tea contains only about 2-5 calories, which is significantly less than most other beverages.
Additionally, genmaicha tea is a great source of hydration, which is essential for overall health.
The addition of roasted brown rice in genmaicha tea also adds to its nutritional value.
Mineral and Nutrient content of Genmaicha
Genmaicha green tea with roasted brown rice benefits from being high in minerals such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium. The addition of roasted brown rice in genmaicha tea also adds to its mineral content. Brown rice is a good source of minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Additionally, genmaicha tea also contains small amounts of vitamin B, vitamin C, and carotenoids.
How genmaicha benefits from minerals and nutrients
The minerals found in genmaicha tea such as potassium, calcium, and magnesium are essential for maintaining healthy bones, muscles, and nerves. Additionally, they also help in maintaining blood pressure and fluid balance in the body. Magnesium, in particular, is known to have a calming effect on the nervous system and helps in reducing stress and anxiety. Vitamin B, Vitamin C and carotenoids have their own health benefits such as maintaining skin and eye health, and improving immune system.
It's important to note that while genmaicha tea does contain small amounts of these nutrients, it should not be relied upon as the sole source. A balanced diet with a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains is essential for optimal health. Drinking genmaicha tea as a part of a healthy diet, along with other healthy habits, may be beneficial in obtaining these essential nutrients.
Easy to brew
Finally, genmaicha tends to be a tea that is very forgiving to both the producer, as well as the person preparing it. It is difficult to prepare a bad genmaicha tea, so when you find it at a cafe or a coffee shop, it can sometimes be the safest bet. Even some cheaper genmaicha teas still have a pleasant rice flavor to them.
The tea can also stand up to hotter temperatures, so it is more forgiving if you use water that is too hot. This can be useful if you are ordering the tea at a cafe, as they will more than likely bring it out with water that is close to boiling.
Genmaicha green tea benefits not found in other teas
Genmaicha tea, being a blend of green tea leaves and roasted brown rice, has a unique combination of health benefits that are not found in other teas. The addition of brown rice in Genmaicha tea provides a nutty and slightly sweet flavor to the tea and also adds to its nutritional content.
Furthermore, brown rice is a good source of minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and zinc. Additionally, the combination of green tea leaves and brown rice in Genmaicha tea provides a more balanced caffeine content when compared to other green teas. This makes it a great alternative for people who are sensitive to caffeine but still want to enjoy the genmaicha health benefits.
Final verdict on the benefits of genmaicha brown rice tea
As you can see, there are many different genmaicha tea benefits that can be had simply by drinking the tea. Let’s quickly outline some of the major genmaicha benefits in this short list:
- High in Antioxidants
- Can Lower the risk of Heart Disease
- Can Lower Cholesterol
- Can Reduce Inflammation
- Low in Caffeine
- Low in Calories
- Good for Mental Health
- Good for Reducing Stress
- Good for Digestion and gut health
- Good for the Skin
- Good for the Hair
- Very affordable
- Easy to prepare
Where can I shop Genmaicha?
At Nio Teas, we have a wide range of Genmaicha. Our Genmaicha is 100% organically sourced from small Japanese farmers. By doing this, we insure a sustainable economical development for the tea industry and small farmers.
Our Genmaicha is made by combining tea leaves with toasted rice. This started out as a way to conserve tea supplies, but people all around the world soon began to fall in love with it because of its sweeter flavor of warm cereal, caramel and popcorn. This tea is lower caffeine, and it is commonly served at restaurants and cafes around Japan.
