This was the tea that brought me into the wonderful and interesting world of tea! I had gotten this and a sencha in teabag form from a cousin who just came back from Japan. I must have been like 11 or 12 at the time. I remember sitting on my kitchen floor and just sniffing the box for a few minutes before actually making a cup. I had tea before this, but nothing quite piqued my interest such as the smell of houjicha. I thought it was a crazy concept. “Wait. You mean to tell me that this toasty, toasty, cup of goodness is green tea?? Like this neon green one I have sitting next to it on my shelf?!”
Man, little did I know I was in for a crazy ride.
That is the coolest memory :D