Roasted brown rice is added to green tea to produce genmaicha which is light brown in colour. As some of the grains of rice pop during roasting, the tea has a distinct popcorn flavour, and is also referred to as “popcorn tea”. The addition of brown rice results in a tea that is low in caffeine and bitterness. Today, it is universally popular due to its mild flavour and the pleasant nutty taste of the roasted rice.