Kirishima Hoji Chai

This Hoji Cha is a roasted bancha green tea produced by the Hayashi’s (pictured below), a traditional Japanese tea growing family in Kirishima on the island of Kagoshima without the use of chemicals.

Shutaro Hayashi uses leaves from the autumn harvest for this Houjicha. They are roasted strongly so they develop a nice aroma. Even while producing this simpler tea Shutaro stays true to his production philosophy by insisting on the fine sorting of the leaves. The very consistent structure of the dry leaves creates a stunning marbling with red and brown hues. The nutty infusion of the roasted tea is accompanied by a light sweetness.