Organic Single-origin Japanese Roasted Tea (Hoji-cha) Loose Leaf 3.52oz (100g) by Tea Kitamura

This stuff is good! I’ll definitely buy more when I run out!

This organic Hoji cha has a perfect balance of sweetness and roasted after taste! I also like the simple packaging. It’s one of my daily essentials.

Good tea and affordable but more heavily roasted than expected.

Product is exactly as described. Great tasting hojicha and well worth the purchase. It is not top tier, but it is definitely a decent quality hojicha. Will likely buy again.

The flavors are soft and mild. The quality allows for several brews of the same leaves.

Used it for our daily tea and for ice cream

Review of Organic Single-origin Japanese Roasted Tea (Hoji-cha) Loose Leaf 3.52oz (100g) sold by Tea Kitamura I could not find any indication of a Best By date. There are no brewing notes or instructions included. I received brewing instructions from the seller which state: >>[Amount of tea leaves] 0.1 oz. (3g) >>[Temperature of hot water] 203°F (95°C) >>[Amount of hot water] 4.5 fl oz. (130 ml) >>[Extraction time] 30 seconds Looked online for brewing instructions for hojicha tea and the suggestions varied greatly between 2 g per 6 ounces of water up to 8 g for 6 ounces of water. This is a problem because the leaves, stalks, etc., present in the package are very light in weight and 8 g therefore is a very large volume. Suggested water temperature varied between 180F to 205F. Came in a package that cannot be resealed so one must have a storage tin available. Initially tried using 2 g in near boiling water steeped for a few minutes. Taste was a bit bland so some adjustments are required. Supposedly can reinfuse up to twice more (from other online information from other sellers). After receiving the updated brewing instructions I tried again and the flavor was greatly improved (used more tea and less water). A second infusion was not quite as good as the first but passable and I had allowed the tea to steep a bit longer for the second. Updated my review after receiving a response about brewing instructions.

I absolutely enjoy Japanese tea and I was quite pleased to see that Tea Kitamura from Nagasaki, Kyushu, would be releasing their tea worldwide via Amazon. Giving ocha lovers the chance to try their delicious, organic tea. The company was founded in 1954 by Kitamura Chikaji, who would take a rough mountain terrain to cultivate his own tea farm. But his biggest challenge was when a customer requested him to produce a completely organic tea crop which was unheard of as most tea farmers utilized pesticides and chemical fertilizers. And while he wanted to take on the challenge, others scoffed at him, because they didn’t think it was possible. But for Kitamura, he wanted to produce a safe tea that his grandchildren can drink. And it wasn’t an easy success, it took many years of trial and error and now Kitamura Tea Farm has become one of Japan’s most respected producers of certified organic single origin green teas. In 1995, he was awarded the Japan Agriculture Pioneer Award and in 2012, he was awarded the Yellow Ribbon Medal of Honor by the Japanese emperor. The company’s teas are also certified organic by the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. I am reviewing Tea Kitamura’s Organic Roasted Tea (Hochija) which is a green tea roasted in an iron pot over charcoal. The process makes it sweeter and less astringent and the taste of the tea is toasted and delicious. The aroma also has a hint of cocoa but I find it mild and delicious and for new tea drinkers, I classify this as safe, easy and mild enough for those who want to start drinking tea, to start off with the Tea Kitamura Organic Roasted Tea Leaf. The price is under $14 which is great for a loose leaf tea from Japan. Definitely recommended!