Yamacha Hojicha "Mountain Tea"

The Story

This is a roasted green tea from old growth tea trees cultivated deep in the mountains of Ehime Prefecture. Called yamacha, this "mountain tea" has naturalized to it's area - it's considered a wild cultivar. At this farm, Waki-san does not use pesticides or sprays, relying on the natural ecosystem - ladybugs and bees, and other beneficial insects, to take care of pests.

We love the wild nature of this tea, it's soft tropical aroma - like loquat in the nose - and gentle sweetness. It's lightly roasty, mellow mood. It's slightly bitter chocolate or coffee bean note at the end. It's a cup of comfort that instantly transports us to the Japanese countryside.

Since hoji is particularly light on caffeine, we like this tea in the afternoon and evening. It also makes a delicious cold brew and is very refreshing.