Nara chameshi is said to have originated from rice eaten at priests' residences in temples such as Kofuku-ji Temple and Todai-ji Temple using tea which was valuable in those days and presented from people living in each temple's territory.
元来は奈良の興福寺や東大寺などの僧坊において寺領から納められる、当時としては貴重な茶を用いて食べていたのが始まりとされる。