Houjicha

Simply put...

Houjicha tea is a roasted, nutty everyday tea. This Houjicha [blended] is a roasted green tea from Japan. This tea has a smooth, toasted nutty flavour and powerful aroma.

In more depth....

Tea Name : Houjicha [blended]

Origin : Ujitawara and Wazuka

Harvest Time : Middle to end of May

Cultivar : 'Yabukita' 

Plucking standard : Machine trimmed, Shaded 3 to 7 days before harvesting.

Processing : Houjicha roasting process : this tea has the same first three processing steps as Sencha.

Steaming : 30-60 seconds 
[The exact timing will depend on the condition of new growth]

Kneading : 1.5 hours or more.

Shaping : 1 hour.

Drying : 1 hour.

But to make Houjicha, the tea goes through one special additional step which is pan roasting.

Experience : A toasted nutty, warming tone and powerful aroma

How to prepare [kyusu]

Amount of tea per serving (200 ml): 3g (1 tea caddy spoon / 2 teaspoons)

Temperature of water: 100℃ / 212℉

Infusion time: 15 - 30 seconds

Number of infusions: 3

How to enjoy: No milk, no sugar

In more depth...

Some interesting Houjicha facts :  Like Sencha, tea leaves for Houjicha are grown with full sunlight. This means it contains the beneficial Catechin. Due to the process of pan roasting it is also very low in caffeine. Consequently, in Japan, Houjicha is commonly given to babies and people who are sick because it is both nourishing and low in caffeine. It also makes very nice iced-tea.

Houjicha is a good affordable everyday tea. In originated when tea famers would pick leaves and roast them over a fire before placing them in their pots. The processes used have developed since then but tea farmers still drink large quantities of it every day. Japanese farmers are well-known for their good health, and this is one of the reasons why.

Houjicha Tea Flavour: This tea makes an amber liquor and has a hearty roasted aroma that lingers when brewed. The flavour is toasty nutty and it has an earthy and warm quality which makes you crave more. There is no bitterness despite its colour and the tea offers an excellent aftertaste. Houjicha is an excellent accompaniment to food.