“Thanks so much to Roswell Strange and VariaTea for organizing this TTB! I had a lovely time with it, and it will be moving on to AJRimmer tomorrow. I made this hojicha from the Strange VariaTea TTB...” Read full tasting note
“I want to like this tea very badly. It’s such a simple, straight forward blend and in theory I can see the warm, toasty notes of hojicha being quite lovely with the sweetness of sarsaparilla....” Read full tasting note
About this Product
Origin: Shizuoka and Kagoshima Prefectures, Japan
Cultivar: Yabukita
Harvest: May 2022
Elevation: 300m
This winter we are releasing unique houjicha blends that are warming and comforting. Houjicha is a category of Japanese green tea defined by its level of roasting. Green tea leaves and stems are hot roasted and transformed by way of the Maillard reaction, similar to the caramelization of a properly baked sweet potato or striking the right roast in coffee or cocoa.
We selected a deeply roasted and sweet lot of houjicha made from only the first flush harvested stems from sencha and kukicha. These stems have amino acids, polysaccharides and tender fibers that when roasted with skill provide a deep sweetness, rich mouthfeel and a heady aroma.
This batch of houjicha is warming and toasty with a deep tea taste and notes of caramel, kuromitsu, dark chocolate, and espresso bean. We added a small percentage of Indian sarsaparilla with irresistible flavor notes of vanilla cream, root beer, sassafras and sweet rose with woodsy and floral accents. Houjicha Sarsaparilla is brimming with warm nostalgia and amazing aromas.
Traditional Preparation
Add 4g−5g to a small (200ml−290ml) kyusu teapot.
Use 190°F water.
Infuse for 1−2 minutes and decant.
Repeat for another 1−2 infusions for 1 minute.
Tasting Notes
Root beer, sarsaparilla, cream, kinako and caramel
Ingredients
Organic deep roast houjicha, organic sarsaparilla root
Rishi Tea specializes in sourcing the most rarefied teas and botanical ingredients from exotic origins around the globe. This forms a palette from which we craft original blends inspired by equal parts ancient herbal wisdom and modern culinary innovation. Discover new tastes and join us on our journey to leave ‘No Leaf Unturned’.