Not what I expected but OK
Hojicha is one of my favorite teas. I was surprised to see the one I bought from this store looked like roasted Kukicha. I was very curious to try it but found it… just OK. Don’t think I will repurchase it.
This organic Japanese green tea is roasted to perfection to produce an amber infusion with flavors of toasted grain and stone fruit, with a pleasant buckwheat aftertaste. Our most recent lot boasts a more pronounced toasted flavor profile. Although this is truly an organic green tea (in that it lacks oxidation), the leaves are turned brown during the roasting process. According to Japanese research, Hojicha Green Tea (also spelled "Houjicha") is reputed to have lower caffeine than other green teas because of the unique roasting technique. This organic loose tea can be brewed with hotter water than most green teas and is devoid of astringency.
Ingredients: organic Japanese green tea
Located in central Japan, Shizuoka is known as the capital of Japanese green tea production. Though it is not the oldest producer of green tea, it is the largest: this prefecture alone accounts for 40 percent of all green tea production in Japan. However, much of the world never experiences organic tea from Shizuoka because tea is so popular in Japan that most tea grown in Japan is consumed in Japan; very little is exported. Shizuoka lines the Pacific, and runs into the Japan Alps and other mountains, including Mt. Fuji. For those concerned with the implications of the Fukushima-Daiichi disaster, we continue to have our organic teas from Japan independently tested for radiation.
At Arbor Teas, we believe tea should be brewed to suit your personal taste. We’re happy to make recommendations to get you started, but don’t hesitate to experiment! When brewing your tea, your main considerations are tea quantity, water temperature, and steeping time. We recommend green and white teas to be steeped for 2 to 3 minutes in water heated to not-quite-boiling, just as bubbles begin to form on the bottom of the pan (approximately 170 to 180 degrees F). For the best flavor, use fresh water whenever possible. Try not to steep your tea longer than necessary, as you’ll extract undesirable bitterness from the leaves. If you want a stronger brew, don’t steep longer, just use more tea. And don’t forget to re-steep your tea leaves to get the most out of your leaf!
Looking for more info? Check out our How-To Guides and Eco-Brewing Tips!
"I love the honey-like sweetness with the toasty notes in this, also delicious iced!"
"With its brown leaves and rich dark brew, I always find it difficult to believe Hojicha is actually a green tea."
"Because of the mellow, non-astringent qualities of this tea, I like to drink Hojicha at night. I also recently found that it makes an EXCELLENT iced tea!"
Hojicha is one of my favorite teas. I was surprised to see the one I bought from this store looked like roasted Kukicha. I was very curious to try it but found it… just OK. Don’t think I will repurchase it.
I have this in the evening, sometimes mixed with a bit of spearmint or peppermint, when I want something nice but very low caffeine.
This was a tea I originally tried in the Japanese green tea sampler, but I loved it so much that I bought a whole bag! It has a rich, chocolate-y flavor and a low amount of caffeine -- perfect for evening!
Hojicha is one of my favorite teas when made with quality Bancha and roasted with skill. This Hojicha however is more of a roasted Kukicha than a Bancha because it's about 99% stems. That's not to say it's bad but to me it's not a true Hojicha because of it. The flavor is different than what you'd get when using leaf. This one is more of a slightly nutty wheat with creamy tones. Where as a true Hojicha has a heavier roasted flavor that's warming and hard to describe. Still good though.
I normally can't drink green tea first thing in the morning before breakfast without becoming nauseated. Hojicha to the rescue! Very smooth and toasty flavor. If you like the roasted grain quality of genmaicha you might give it a try - even though there isn't any rice in this one.
This is a great tea! I used it to make cold brewed iced tea and am really enjoying the toasted flavor of it - it's definitely different but it makes it not quite as bitter as some other green teas I've had which I really appreciate.
I gave this a try due to reviews and suggestions that since I liked Kukicha, I should try this and Gyokuro. I found the toasty buckwheat flavor overpowering and will not finish the sample. Granted, the description did say this particular batch was toastier than prior batches but even so, I don't think I'll be trying it again.
I'm usually not a big fan of green teas. Generally, I prefer strong black teas and dislike the grassy, bright, vegetal notes in green tea. This green tea, though, has won me over. Instead of grassy and bright, this tea is mellow in flavor, with notes akin to toasted grains or a late summer field rather than a freshly-mown lawn. It's warm and only lightly astringent, and seems to walk a middle ground between green and black teas. I'd recommend this to those who prefer black teas to green but are looking for something different.
It's not the usual "green" tea! I just love the lightly toasty smell and certainly the sweet undertone is extremely pleasing for the finishing! I'm just so happy that I have tried the tea. It's a delight!
I wanted to find a green tea without a very vegetal flavor. This fits the bill, but I find that I prefer the vegetal flavor to the toasty buckwheat taste of this tea. I have tried one or two cups, and will probably discard the remainder of the package. I strongly recommend buying a sample size if you are contemplating ordering this tea.
This is a terrific tea to have with warm meals. I enjoyed it with chili this afternoon, believe it or not! To me, there is no mistaking this- it's a Japanese tea, and the toasty rice/grain comes through. It is mellow and smooth and lower in caffeine than other greens, so you could enjoy at any time of day.
I am not a green tea fan for I have never had a cup that I could truly say I enjoyed. However that is no longer the case, for as of now this is the best green tea I have tried. I had given up on green tea and stayed with white and oolong. Aubrey told me that the taste was slightly similar to Wuyi Oolong. She was completely right! It is very similar to me yet milder. If you like Wuyi, you'll like this green tea. It will not be as strong but will have a bit of Wuyi flavor.
My husband ordered this tea by mistake. He only drinks decaf tea. I tried it this afternoon and just can't get past the smell. The minute I opened the bag, it hit me. I almost thought it was spoiled but took a tentative sip. Surprisingly, it tastes ok, but it smells so bad I only managed to drink a half a cup. My husband got a whiff of the wet tea leaves and agreed that it really smells awful. I do agree that there is no bitterness or acidity.
I find this green tea to be much different relative to other Japanese varieties. I enjoy the surprising, roasted grain flavor from this dark brew. Nice aftertaste. re-steeped three times with great result. If you are looking for something different from a green tea this is a must try!
i love the flavor. it's mellow and light, lacks any real bitterness or acidity. has a slightly sweet aftertaste. it's really good. didn't think i would like a green tea that doesn't look anything like green tea.
This tea brews to a deep amber color. If I close my eyes I am sitting around a campfire with hot cereal cooking. The roasting creates a unique flavor with a faint hint of a dark honey flavor. I was about to enjoy my third cup from the same leaves when my wife asked for a try and she enjoyed it also. At the price per serving this one may find a permanent home with me.
Moderately savory and vegetal, offering a roasted aroma and creamy mouthfeel