Azuma's Hojicha Roasted Green Tea Powder

Weird that this is listed as Yunomi brand tea when Azuma is the farm that produces and sells it. Oh well! I got this in a hojucha lovers collection at a stand outside a store in Kyoto earlier this year and am just now getting around to trying it. I’m on my second cup already, so I must be liking this quite a bit! It says on the package that it is for baking and lattes, so I prepared this in oat milk which is adding a creaminess to the cup. It has a nice smooth roasty flavor to it, maybe a little nutty. I can pick out the hojicha when I focus on it, but it’s easy to get lost in the comforting aspect of the overall cup. I could mindlessly sip on this all day!

I finally drank this today. (And finally caught up on my notes!!!) I wasn’t really sure how to approach it. Since it is made from roasted tencha—the leaves generally used to make matcha—does that mean one prepares it like matcha? I spent time contemplating and researching this in the past and didn’t get anywhere, which is part of why I’m only trying this now. Being lazy and short on time, I decided to just pour in the minimum amount of water recommended on the package and whisk to stir it up.

Did that. This tea looks like the ugliest matcha you can imagine. But it tastes just like houjicha. There is a bit of a sour note at the very front, and the rest is roasty with a lingering creamy finish. And unlike my usual go-to houjicha, which is a karigane type (which equals even less caffeine than usual), I definitely felt the caffeine in this. So I could see it serving as an alternative to matcha when I need a boost in the morning.