{"title":"Roasted Tea \/ Hojicha","description":"\u003cp\u003eHojicha is Japanese green tea that is roasted instead of steamed, giving what would normally be a bright and cooling tea warm and soothing qualities.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"kenjo-kaga-bocha","title":"Kenjo Kaga Bocha","description":"\u003cp\u003eMaruhachi Tea Factory was founded in Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture in 1863. This tea factory has been making the finest roasted teas for six generations, from the Edo Period to the present day. Kaga Bocha specifically has been crafted in Ishikawa Prefecture since the Meiji period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter many years of practice, Maruhachi Tea Factory was asked to produce the finest quality kaga bocha for Emperor Showa, the 124th emperor of Japan, who favoured roasted teas as he grew older. To do this it was essential that they use high quality stems. The highest grade, and the ones sourced for this tea, are called \u003cem\u003emiruibo\u003c\/em\u003e, which means \"young, soft and fresh.\" These stems are rarely produced by farmers, as they come exclusively from first harvest leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are two methods of roasting tea in Japan. One is the direct-fire method, in which tea leaves and\/or stems are roasted directly on a hot iron plate. The second, and more time consuming one, is a sand-roasting method by which leaves and stems are mixed with hot sand and heated indirectly. Heat transfers gradually to the center of the tender stems, bringing out their complexity without over-roasting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith the direct-fire method, the one most commonly used for hojichas, the roasted tea has a strong aroma and taste, and brews a dark liquor. With sand-roasting, the tea liquor is lighter in colour, and has a more nuanced aroma and taste. Maruhachi Tea Factory has only ever made bocha using the sand-roasting method. Nowadays, with consideration for food safety, instead of sand Maruhachi uses customized ceramic heaters that slowly roast the stems to the core, just as the sand would.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result of this incredible craftsmanship is a tea that resides in a category of its own, and is unlike anything we have ever tasted. The flavour of kaga bocha is soft and gentle, but it has an undeniable intensity, whether you brew it hot or cold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wet tea smells like tobacco leaf, ashed cigar, and pandan. As we drink it, these aromatics settle in the center of our palate before moving upwards to fill our head. The sensation is so vaporous, it may feel like you are smoking it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe call this tea \"Cultivate's Bocha,\" as it reminds us of what we love about pu'erh: it is deep, it continues to surprise us, and as it does, invites openness and consideration.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"60g Bag","offer_id":44661273100568,"sku":"","price":46.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"60g Tin","offer_id":44661273133336,"sku":"","price":55.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/615A3294.jpg?v=1678411758"},{"product_id":"botto-dark-roast-bancha","title":"Kaga Dark Roast Bancha BOTTO!","description":"\u003cp\u003eMaruhachi Tea Factory was founded in Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture in 1863. This tea factory has been making the finest roasted teas for six generations, from the Edo Period to the present day. They maintain their reputation by focusing on the quality and parts of the tea plant used, the consistent blending of the tea stems, and their refined and innovative method for roasting them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat gives Maruhachi Tea Factory's teas their clean and complex fragrance is the traditional roasting method the stems go through. There are two methods of roasting tea in Japan. One is the direct-fire method, in which tea leaves and\/or stems are roasted directly on a hot iron plate. The second, and more time consuming one, is a sand-roasting method by which leaves and stems are mixed with hot sand and heated indirectly. Heat transfers gradually to the center of the tender stems, bringing out their complexity without over-roasting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith the direct-fire method, the one most commonly used for hojicha, the roasted tea has a strong aroma and taste, and brews a dark liquor. With sand-roasting, the tea liquor is lighter in colour, and has a more nuanced aroma and taste.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaruhachi specializes in lightly roasted tea, but in Botto! we see them using a slightly stronger roast to bring out even more of the character from the tea leaves. This hojicha is unique to their teahouse, and also stands apart from other dark roast tea we're familiar with because of how it was made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe deep, complex, almost mineral notes of this tea are brought out by several rounds of slow roasting rather than higher heat. Botto! ends up having a coffee-like quality: it feels palate-rinsing, like dandelion or tobacco. These structural, earthy, and ashy characteristics make it a perfect after dinner tea, as it leaves the palate with a sense of completion.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44726493675800,"sku":"","price":45.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/615A3433copy.jpg?v=1678412536"},{"product_id":"hojitate","title":"Kaga Hojitate","description":"\u003cp\u003eMaruhachi Tea Factory was founded in Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture in 1863. This tea factory has been making the finest roasted teas for six generations, from the Edo Period to the present day. They maintain their reputation by focusing on the quality and parts of the tea plant used, the consistent blending of the tea stems, and their refined and innovative method for roasting them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat gives Maruhachi Tea Factory's teas their clean and complex fragrance is the traditional roasting method the stems go through. There are two methods of roasting tea in Japan. One is the direct-fire method, in which tea leaves and\/or stems are roasted directly on a hot iron plate. The second, and more time consuming one, is a sand-roasting method by which leaves and stems are mixed with hot sand and heated indirectly. Heat transfers gradually to the center of the tender stems, bringing out their complexity without over-roasting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith the direct-fire method, the one most commonly used for hojicha, the roasted tea has a strong aroma and taste, and brews a dark liquor. With sand-roasting, the tea liquor is lighter in colour, and has a more nuanced aroma and taste.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a lightly roasted tea made from second harvest stems. While not crafted from the highest grade stems, like we see in their kaga bocha, it has the refined characteristics imparted by Maruhachi Tea Factory's signature roasting process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHojitate is a delicious and refreshing every-day roasted tea. It has less body and depth than first harvest stem teas, and finishes more quickly. Still, it offers a smooth, uncomplicated and high quality experience of hojicha with smoky, incensed aromatics that refresh the senses.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44726533488920,"sku":"","price":39.5,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/615A3580.jpg?v=1678413675"},{"product_id":"yakushima-hoji-sencha","title":"Hoji-sencha","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is one of five teas I sourced from my journey to Yakushima Island in January 2023.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis unusual tea is made from second harvest sencha that has been roasted, hojicha style. This is not something we see very often, as sencha is a steamed tea! To make this tea the sencha, or the steamed leaves, and the finer leaves are roasted over low heat while the stems are roasted over high heat. The sum of all of these kinds of tea and techniques creates a mysterious and fragrant hybrid that we can only call, \u003ci\u003ehojisencha\u003c\/i\u003e. As odd as it sounds, for many Japanese people this tea is nostalgic, and speaks of rural areas that historically have made tea in this manner.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe remote farm on Yakushima that produces this tea does so using natural farming methods, without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Because the tea leaves are grown naturally, the taste is rich in catechins and thus slightly astringent. The flavor and shape of the leaves varies from year to year on account of different weather patterns and insect populations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tea can be brewed hot or cold, the latter only requiring a bit more tea and a bit more time submerged in water at a low temperature. Either way, hojisencha offers a warmer, more subdued experience of green tea. The roasting process grounds it and brings out the sweetness of the stems and leaves. But this is not to say it isn't still an intense tea – hojisencha has strong, uplifting energy and a fascinating, full bodied flavour that keeps you wanting for more.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44733033873688,"sku":"","price":28.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/products\/615A3840.jpg?v=1678472365"},{"product_id":"uji-hojicha-for-hojicha-latte","title":"Uji Hojicha (For Hojicha Latte)","description":"\u003cp\u003eArita Sansuien was founded in 1949 in Uji, Kyoto by Ippei Arita. In the 75 years since, they have formed deep relationships with the best tea farmers in their region. Their commitment to quality offers some reasons as to why their hojicha is so outstanding, but nothing will fully explain why this tea is so pleasurable to drink.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile being whisked this hojicha looks very dark, like cocoa. Even when mixed with milk it maintains a rich pigment. Given its appearance, its taste is softer and smoother than we would expect. It has an edgeless mouthfeel and a sweet, woody finish that lingers long after you swallow.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUji Hojicha is the darker, deeper, and richer counterpart to Yame Hojicha, and a very comforting drink, especially during the colder months.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g Tin Can","offer_id":46291515015448,"sku":"","price":56.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g Refill Bag","offer_id":46291515048216,"sku":null,"price":42.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g Refill Bag","offer_id":46291515146520,"sku":null,"price":68.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g Bag","offer_id":49546536386840,"sku":"","price":130.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/G0A5426.jpg?v=1716411925"},{"product_id":"yame-hojicha-for-hojicha-latte","title":"Yame Hojicha (For Hojicha Latte)","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom Yame Miryokuen, a small farmer's cooperative formed in 1996, this light roast hojicha makes one of the most interesting and delicious lattes in our collection. It is crafted as a tribute to the Yame region itself, and its terroir is expressed in this drink's uncategorizable nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe finely ground tea powder is remarkably light in colour, but by no means pales in flavour. Whisked and blended with milk, it has a smooth mouthfeel and a unique, lingering aftertaste that floats upwards, into our head. These bright, fresh notes remind us a bit of Kaga Bocha (our beloved Japanese roasted tea), giving it a wonderful, floral complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYame Hojicha is an inspiring and refreshing alternative to our dark roasted Uji Hojicha, well suited for warmer times of the year.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"50g Tin Can","offer_id":48607740756248,"sku":"","price":56.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50g Bag","offer_id":48607740789016,"sku":null,"price":42.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"100g Bag","offer_id":48607740821784,"sku":null,"price":68.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"200g Bag","offer_id":49973940846872,"sku":null,"price":130.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/G0A5316.jpg?v=1717381496"},{"product_id":"noma-fuji-kaori-copy","title":"Seasonal Hojicha \"Shizu 7132\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eMaruhachi Tea Factory was founded in Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture in 1863. This tea factory has been making the finest roasted teas for six generations, from the Edo Period to the present day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNoma is a collection of limited edition roasted teas designed by the Maruhachi Tea Factory. Each season they release a special roasted tea in this series that is inspired by the time of year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis delicately roasted green tea is intentionally crafted to align with the spring season. With a gentle astringency, reminiscent of fresh, budding flowers, its scent makes us feel a little light headed, and certainly light-hearted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe unique floral aroma of this seasonal hojicha comes from the tea leaves themselves, without the use of any artificial oils or scenting processes. The main varietal in this hojicha is \"Shizu 7132,\" known to carry a scent reminiscent of cherry blossom leaves. These Shizu 7132 tea leaves have been carefully grown by producers before being blended and traditionally roasted at Maruhachi Tea Factory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis season's Noma is characterized by its subtle astringency and soft, caramelized sweetness. The roasted leaves and stems brew a golden liquor that lands with structure on the palate. It is warming and refreshing -- grassy and honeyed -- like hay left out in the sun. Its sakura scent comes after we've swallowed it, leaving a trail of blossoms in its wake.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Cultivate Tea","offers":[{"title":"60g Bag","offer_id":50059855692056,"sku":null,"price":58.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0091\/5737\/8153\/files\/cultivate-june-2025-hochija-v2-3915.jpg?v=1749663815"}],"url":"https:\/\/cultivatetea.com\/collections\/roasted-tea\/flavour-caramel.oembed","provider":"Cultivate Tea","version":"1.0","type":"link"}