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Light and abundant, green tea rice is a Japanese comfort food made with steamed rice and savory tea. It’s quick, healthy, and pairs well with many appetizers – perfect as a comforting meal after a busy day!
Green tea rice
A bowl full of green tea rice or Reversed it’s one of the simplest Japanese dishes you can make at home. Hearty, refreshing and filling, it’s something you can make when you’re feeling a little down or craving a delicious meal after a long day.
This rice tea recipe is healthy, low in calories and extremely easy to prepare. It sounds really simple, but the clean, toasty flavor of green tea paired with rice and various seasonings makes for a satisfying and comforting meal.
Want to try another classic Japanese comfort food? Check out my Asari Miso Soup recipe!
What is Ochazuke
Ochazuke is a simple Japanese rice dish sprinkled with tasty hot green tea and optionally seasoned with various ingredients. In Japanese, ocha means “tea” and You means “to dip,” which describes this dish perfectly.
It is commonly eaten as a quick meal, but is also usually served at the end of a large meal in Japanese restaurants. The hot tea is poured over rice and sometimes topped with flaked fish, pickled vegetables, or seaweed.
In Japan, this dish is typically eaten using chopsticks with leftover rice and green tea drunk as a soup. Of course, you can also use a spoon if that’s more convenient for you. Make sure to mix the bowl well to fully incorporate all the flavors before eating!
What kind of green tea to use
In general, any type of green tea can be used, but the best are those called Shincha leaves. It’s technically the first spring harvest of Sencha tea of the year, so it’s sold out before it’s even harvested.
It is celebrated for its fresh, lively aroma, naturally sweet finish and smooth umami flavor, which constitute the qualities of a premium green tea.
For this green tea rice recipe, you can steep tea leaves to make the tea that will be poured over the cooked rice. Check out other alternatives you can explore in the Ingredients section!
Benefits and nutrition of green tea
Fresh Shincha leaves are distinct from the latter harvested green tea called Sencha. Compared to Sencha it has a discreet sweetness, which can be attributed to a higher L-theanine content and a lower caffeine content.
The rich, vibrant tea leaves are also more fragrant and fresher tasting. And the best part? It has more vitamin C and antioxidants than regular green teas!
Ingredients for Japanese Green Tea Rice
- Steamed rice – I like to use white rice like jasmine and short grain sushi. But you can easily use leftover rice from your refrigerator!
- Green tea leaves – In this recipe I opt for Shincha, sometimes called Sencha, for a complex but balanced flavor. You can use other types of green tea like Houjicha and Genmaicha for a different flavor profile.
- Condiments – I wanted this green tea rice recipe to be simple, so I only used thinly sliced scallions and black and white sesame seeds.
See the recipe card for full ingredient information.
How to make tea with rice
The Japanese really know how to prepare comfort food, which is both tasty and healthy. But what I love most about this rice tea recipe is how convenient it is to make!
A simple green tea rice is one of my favorite dishes for a light meal. But you can also add some Japanese dashi to the rice to liven up the flavor. Or explore other nontraditional toppings like grilled chicken and mushrooms for variety.
Step 1. Bring the water to the boil in a saucepan, add the green tea leaves, salt and turn off the heat. Set aside for 10 minutes. Drain and filter the tea. Discard the green leaves.
Tip: Increase the flavor of your green tea rice by using more tea leaves for a stronger brew. Use Japanese dashi instead of salt for more umami flavor.
Step 2. Take a large, shallow bowl, place the steamed rice, and add the shallots and sesame seeds on top of the rice. Pour the green tea over the rice and serve immediately.
Frequently asked questions
YES! Tea is known to have various health benefits and antioxidant effects, while rice is an excellent source of carbohydrates. Seasonings like fish and seaweed also add protein to the dish.
I do not recommend using powdered green tea or matcha green tea to make this recipe.
Compared to black tea and coffee, green tea has a lower caffeine content. A cup of green tea contains approximately 22-40 mg of caffeine.
Yes, of course you can. While traditional green tea rice is made with white rice, you can easily replace it with brown rice. It also contains more fiber, making this dish even healthier.
The saltiness of ochazuke depends on the seasonings and additional seasonings you add. Furikake, for example, is a common topping for this dish and is quite salty. The same goes for dashi which is usually added to green tea rice.
This green tea rice recipe has only 106 calories per serving.
What to serve with this recipe
Serve this dish with other Japanese dishes (such as agedashi tofu, teriyaki chicken, and teriyaki salmon). For an easy and healthy dinner during the week, I recommend the following recipes:
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Bring the water to the boil in a saucepan, add the green tea leaves, salt and turn off the heat. Set aside for 10 minutes. Drain and filter the tea. Discard the green leaves.
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Take a large, shallow bowl, place the steamed rice, and add the shallots and sesame seeds on top of the rice. Pour the green tea over the rice and serve immediately.
- In general, any type of green tea can be used, but the best ones are those called Shincha leaves.
- I do not recommend using powdered green tea or matcha green tea to make this recipe.
Serve: 2people, Calories: 106kcal, Carbohydrates: 22G, Protein: 2G, Fat: 0.5G, Saturated fat: 0.1G, Polyunsaturated fats: 0.2G, Monounsaturated fats: 0.2G, Sodium: 298mg, Potassium: 36mg, Fiber: 0.4G, Sugar: 0.04G, Vitamin A: 0.04UI, Soccer: 17mg, Iron: 0.2mg
Nutrition information is calculated automatically, so should only be used as an approximation.
