Country of Origin: Japan
Leaf Appearance: dark brown and twiggy
Water Temperature: 203 degrees
Steep Time: 30 seconds
Preparation Method: Tokoname kyusu
Liquor: amber
Tezumi is fast becoming one of my favorite Japanese tea vendors. I’ve met the team in person and enjoyed trying several of their teas. Their range of teas is broad but carefully curated with a lot of affordable options. The teaware selection on their website is also not to be missed! In this post, I’ll be reviewing their Zansho Hojicha. It was produced by Azuma Chaen in eastern Wazuka. This farm specializes in tencha but also makes a small quantity of other teas.
Leaf
Most hojicha is made from lower-quality teas like bancha. Instead, this tea is made with leaves and stems from first flush sencha. The dry leaf was dark with a twiggy appearance. Some larger leaves were scattered throughout. I was immediately struck by its sweet woodsy aroma. Stick your nose right into the bag for this one and inhale deeply! I prepared this tea in a Tokoname kyusu using 203° water and an infusion time of 30 seconds. Zansho Houjicha brewed up a reddinsh amber liquor.
Liquor
The taste of Zansho Houjicha was almost smoky upfront. It was sweet and toasty with a subtle sweetness, yet full-bodied at the same time. There was no grassiness or bitterness to speak of. A pleasant aftertaste lingered long after my session. The overall effect was lighter and more refreshing than some other hojicha teas that I have tried. I think that comes down to the higher quality base material as well as skillful roasting.
I would definitely recommend giving this tea a try, even if you aren’t usually a fan of green tea. It will still hold the interest of those that are already hojicha afficiandos. It would also be a great choice for anyone who enjoys other roasted teas. Have you tried any of Tezumi’s teas? Which ones should I review next? Let me know in the comments below!
Zansho Houjicha sample was provided for review by Tezumi.
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