Hojicha Toffee – Green Tea

Brew & Taste

Hojicha Toffee infusion is a warm, amber-brown color that's more reminiscent of a roasted grain decoction rather than a green tea. The aroma is utterly captivating. Right after brewing, you'll be greeted with a roasted aroma with a distinct butterscotch note, joined by a slightly nutty note as well as smokiness.

Origins

The foundation of Hojicha Toffee is powdered Japanese hojicha green tea, grown to organic standards in Kagoshima Prefecture in the south of Kyushu. The story of hojicha began in the 1920s in Kyoto, when a local merchant tried roasting surplus green tea at high heat to sell his leftover stock. The result exceeded all expectations, giving rise to a completely new type of tea that Japan immediately fell in love with.

The raw material is typically the leaves and stems of bancha tea, which are steamed and then roasted in a porcelain pot over charcoal. It is precisely this roasting process that distinguishes hojicha from all other green teas. The grassy and vegetal notes typical of sencha or matcha transform into warm, roasted, and nutty tones. The astringency softens, and the caffeine content drops significantly.

Hojicha is therefore one of the green teas you can enjoy even in the evening without worrying about the quality of your sleep. It's also suitable for people sensitive to caffeine as well as children. Compared to classic green tea, it's also gentler on the stomach, as roasting reduces the tannin content, which can cause irritation in more sensitive individuals.

Tea leaves are rich in antioxidants – substances that help protect cells from oxidative stress. But that’s just the beginning. Green tea actually influences a wide range of processes in the body. It supports normal blood vessel and heart function, helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels, and has a positive effect on fat metabolism.

Anyone dealing with water retention will appreciate its ability to promote natural fluid elimination. And that's still not all. Green tea contributes to the proper functioning of cognitive processes – that is, concentration and mental alertness – and also benefits the skin, teeth, eyesight, and gut microbiota.

The caramel aroma blends with the roasted base of hojicha as naturally as if the two flavors had always been neighbors. Incidentally, toffee first appeared in England sometime in the 19th century and has been quite popular ever since. But when combined with Japanese roasted tea, it takes on a whole new dimension.

Tea packaging preview

We pack our teas in a strong, zip-lock aluminum packet which allows you to easily re-seal its contents. This container protects the quality of the tea against humidity, light or foreign odors, all of which could noticeably affect the quality of the brew.