Willowynd Alchemy

Homemade Advent Exchange Tea #5

This was my evening tea because I wanted to drink one more new one but didn’t want to go too far ahead. Since houjicha is low caffeine I figured it should be ok.

I don’t get much besides the roasty houjicha notes. Possibly a tiny bit of juniper but if I didn’t know it was in the ingredients I would not notice it. I can’t taste any pine. Overall, still a nice cup. I like roasty notes. I can pick out toasted grain, dry wood, and popped rice.

Day 23 of my advent calendar from Kelmishka! This houjicha is great. It’s so smooth and rich that it’s almost chocolatey. The pine and juniper are fairly faint by comparison in the first steep. However, a long second steep brings out the pine nicely. I know it’s not meant to be, but this is a great seasonal tea, beautifully encapsulating that combination of coziness and Northern hemisphere winter flora. More advent calendars should include teas like this instead of 80 takes on chai/spice blends that eventually blur together. I love chai, but I also love variety. I appreciate that this one is a little more creative.

A friend gifted me four Lord of the Rings-themed loose-leaf blends a couple years back, from a company that no longer seems to offer teas. Ranger Brew (named for Aragorn, of course) features hōjicha blended with whole juniper berries and white pine needles. I suppose the concept is that Strider, during his rambles throughout Middle Earth, might forage for tea ingredients and enjoy a cuppa over a campfire? Sure! Why not.

I think Strider would’ve been better off crushing his juniper berries rather than leaving them whole, because I didn’t get any juniper notes in this cup. Pine? Maaaybe a tiny bit, but the hōjicha is really the dominant flavor. It’s light, earthy, and very smooth, with a back of the throat aftertaste that bizarrely reminds me of pickles?! Not in a strong vinegary way, but more like pickling spices. Maybe it’s the juniper? It’s odd but not unwelcome, and it at least brings a little interest to the cup.

Can I envision Aragorn sipping this tea? Umm… sure? Maybe while hanging out with his beloved in Rivendell.

This is a fine, inoffensive tea, but I’m not sure it really delivers on its flavor promises.