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Kuki Hojicha

Kuki Hojicha

$16.10
$28.75 $16.10
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🍃 Pesticide free

🇯🇵 Directly sourced from Japan

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Learn all the secrets of the Kuki Hojicha

The Kuki Hojicha is a deliciously dark roasted stem tea made by Mr. Issin in Takachiho. It’s roasted in a pan, giving it notes of chocolate and coffee

Taste

Discover the results of Nio Teas’ 4 step tea tasting method

When evaluating the flavor of Kuki Hojicha, we consider both its aroma and how it interacts with the palate, including any dryness, acidity, minerality, or sweetness it may produce. Additionally, we assess the tea's texture or mouthfeel. Finally, for roasted teas, we take into account the level of roasting present in the taste profile, as this is a common feature among most roasted teas.

Step 1 - Observing the Appearance

This kuki hojicha is mostly comprised of stems with a few small leaf particles added in.

Step 2 - Assessing the Aroma

The aroma coming off the wet leaves of the kuki hojicha is rich and earthy, with notes of chocolate, coffee and old leather

Step 3 - Tasting the Tea

The minerality of the kuki hojicha hits the palate first, followed by a strong note of roasted coffee. There is a tiny bit of acidity that plays on the sides of the tongue, but the roasted notes completely dominate the taste profile, with notes of coffee and baked chocolate.

Step 4 - Evaluating the sensation on the palate

This kuki hojicha is rich in flavor and it has a lot of physicality as well. The dark roasted notes dominate the structure, but the acidity and minerality linger around to keep things interesting.

100% Organically grown and Ethically Sourced

At Nio, we collaborate exclusively with tea farmers who cultivate their tea plants using organic and pesticide-free techniques. Our experience has shown that this approach not only yields superior tasting tea, but it also creates healthier tea fields overall. These environmentally-friendly farms also serve as a haven for local wildlife, promoting a thriving ecosystem.

Nio Teas Unique Organically grown sourcing process

  • At Nio, we meticulously taste test each tea to identify the ideal flavor profile.
  • We also maintain open communication with our tea farmers to understand their production methods and ensure they avoid pesticides and chemicals.
  • Additionally, we conduct in-person visits to the tea fields and production facilities to assess their quality.
  • It's important to us that the tea fields provide a safe environment for local wildlife to thrive, promoting a healthy ecosystem.
JAS Japanese Agriculture Standards logo

JAS Certified

We have strict standards at Nio, and only partner with tea farms that grow tea without the use of pesticides or chemicals. This is reflected through the JAS (Japanese Agricultural Standard) certification that you can find on some of our packages. For the larger farms we partner with, we require them to obtain JAS certification through soil testing and sampling.

We also like to partner with smaller farms, who may not have the resources for this certification. We also accept tea from them under our "pesticide-free" label. This allows us to support and provide opportunities to smaller farmers who produce exceptional quality tea, while still upholding our commitment to quality and sustainability.

How to prepare the tea

For brewing the kuki hojicha, we recommend using a slightly higher temperature and a shorter brewing time. This allows the warmer tasting notes to come through, but be careful not to overdo it!

  • Step 1

    Heat water to a temperature of 80°C (175°F), which is the ideal temperature for this tea.

  • icon of 5 grams of tea leaves

    Step 2

    Add 5 grams of kuki hojicha to your teapot and pour in 150ml of the heated water.

  • icon of a teapot with time brewing instruction of 1 minute

    Step 3

    Let the kuki hojicha brew in the water for 1 minute without disturbing the leaves. This allows the stems of the kuki hojicha to release a nice roasted flavor and aroma into the water.

  • black icon of a cup of tea

    Step 4

    After the brewing time is up, pour out the brewed kuki hojicha from the teapot. The teapot will automatically filter out the leaves and the stems so they don't end up in your cup. Enjoy your delicious cup of kuki hojicha!

  • icon of a teapot with time brewing instruction of 20 seconds

    2nd brew

    Don't throw out your kuki hojicha after the first brew! You can enjoy multiple infusions from the same leaves. Simply add hot water to the teapot and let the leaves steep for just 20 seconds for subsequent infusions.

  • icon of glace of matcha latte with ice cubes

    Cold brew

    We do not recommend cold brewing the Kuki Hojicha

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Learn more

Necessary teaware

For the ultimate brewing experience, we recommend to brew your kuki hojicha with a kyusu teapot. This traditional Japanese teapot is designed to provide ample space for the tea leaves to unfurl and infuse the water with their unique flavor.The teapot also has a built-in sifter, which automatically filters out the tea leaves as you pour, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable tea-drinking experience. Investing in a kyusu teapot will elevate your kuki hojicha brewing to the next level and help you extract the full flavor from this exceptional tea.

Alternative without teaware 

If you don’t have access to a kyusu teapot, the next best thing is using a tea strainer for the kuki hojicha. This may not produce as rich of a flavor profile as a kyusu, but at least it will keep the tea leaves out of your cup! You can always upgrade your teaware later.

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Location of production and farmer

Information about the farm

True to its name, our kuki hojicha is crafted by the skilled hands of Mr. Issin, an esteemed farmer from Takachiho, a quaint village nestled in Miyazaki prefecture. With a unique expertise in roasting teas such as Kamairicha and Hojicha, Mr. Issin has perfected the art of creating teas with distinctively warm tasting notes of coffee, caramel, and chocolate, setting them apart from the typical vegetable and grassy flavors found in most Japanese green teas.

Sourced in Takachiho

Japan

This kuki hojicha is lovingly crafted in the mountainous region of Miyazaki prefecture in Southern Japan. Renowned for its lush volcanic soils and mild subtropical climates, Miyazaki provides an ideal environment for tea cultivation. The terraced tea fields, a picturesque sight to behold, are a testament to the traditional methods still cherished by farmers like Mr. Issin, who choose to cultivate their tea in this time-honored way, despite it being less common in modern times.

Cultivar and tea plant variety

The kuki hojicha is made using the Yabukita tea cultivar, the most common tea variety in Japan, making up close to 75% of the total green tea production.

  • Yabukita

    There are two factors that have made Yabukita as popular as it is today. The first is the fact that it is frost resistant, making it more suited to the colder winters in central Japan. Also, it produces a rich savory flavor with lots of these citrusy or grassy characteristics. These grassy characteristics are removed during the roasting process, so you won’t notice them in the kuki hojicha.

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Free Worldwide Shipping & Delivery

We offer free shipping for all orders, using the most cost-effective carrier available in your country. For customers in the U.S. and E.U., delivery typically takes 5-7 days, while customers outside these regions may experience a slightly longer wait time of up to 10 days. If you need your order to arrive faster, we have expedited shipping options available for a nominal fee.

Order issues

If you encounter any issues with your order, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can reach us via email at info@nioteas.com or send us a direct message on Instagram at @nio_japanese_green_tea for help.

Payments

We accept all major credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay as payment methods. We also accommodate bank transfers for your convenience. Simply select this option during checkout, and we will provide you with the necessary details to complete the transaction. Once we receive your payment, we will promptly ship your order.

Returns & Refunds

Our priority is to ensure that every customer enjoys their tea from Nio. If you receive tea that you are not satisfied with, kindly inform us and we will gladly send you a replacement. There is no need to return the tea you ordered, feel free to keep it and share it with someone who may appreciate it.

Kuki Hojicha learning plateform

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