Ichi-go Ichi-e Roasted Green Tea

ORGANIC HOUJICHA

Origin: Kirishima, Japan

Net Weight: 50g | 1.8oz

Servings: 20 cups | re-steep for up to 60-80 cups

Our Notes:

We chose this tea as a stepping stone into the world of green tea as it has a more accessible taste, twice as many vitamins, and less caffeine than standard green tea.

Kirishima Houjicha is a special kind of roasted green tea that comes from the foothills of Mount Kirishima in Kagoshima Prefecture on Kyushu Island in Japan. The volcanic soil and misty climate contribute to the tea's unique character. This Kirishima Houjicha goes through a quick "steaming" and "rubbing" process at the green tea stage to retain the harmony of its sweet tastes even after roasting. Houjicha literally translates to "roasted tea," and unlike traditional green tea which is steamed, it is roasted at high temperatures (like coffee!), giving it a distinctive reddish-brown color and a cozy toasted nutty flavor with caramel notes. It also has lower caffeine and tannin content due to the roasting process, making it a smoother, gentler drink that's easier on digestion and suitable for evenings. This tea invites you to tune in, turn on, and mellow out while you slowly sip and appreciate the unique beauty of every passing moment of life.

One of the tea ceremonies we experienced while in Kyoto was at our friend Joe's place off the Philosopher's Path. The 100-year-old home that he's restoring there has traditional Japanese Shoji paper sliding doors, Tatami mat floors, and a dedicated tea room. He shared some Japanese slang with us, including an old proverb "Ichi-go Ichi-e" (一期一会), which translates to "one time, one meeting" or "once-in-a-lifetime chance." The phrase is said to have its origins in Japanese tea ceremony and 16th century tea master Rikyū, who pointed out that even when the same group of people get together in the same place again, a particular gathering will never be replicated. It encapsulates the idea that every encounter we have is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and should be treasured as such. We thought "Ichi-go Ichi-e" was the perfect name to commemorate our journey and this tea's rarity.