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Hojicha
Yoshinaga Organic

Name: Hojicha Yoshinaga Organic
SKU: 3012-bio
Price: 6.90 EUR
Availability: InStock

Premium 92 P.

SKU

3012-bio

Premium organic Hojicha from the protected mountain area of Kirishima. Directly sourced from Yoshinaga Seicha and made with 40% southern cultivars and 60% yabukita. 100% nibancha, fine leaves. 100g

Character	Mountain tea, quite strong, finely bitter, slightly astringent, full roast aroma
Tea Garden	Yoshinaga Seicha
Terroir	Kirishima, Kagoshima (prefecture), Japan
Harvest	2nd harvest (nibancha), end of April to mid-May, 2023
Cultivar	60% yabukita, 30% kanayamidori, 10% okumidori and zairai (native)
Elevation	670m above sea level
Steaming	Medium (chumushi, 30-40 seconds)
Shading	Shaded for approximately 5-7 days
Roast	Strong roasting, pronounced dark colour
Organic Cert.	EU certified organic, JAS organic since 2007 (cultivation according to organic standards since 1994)
Laboratory Tests	Radioactivity (Region 08/2018)
Grade	92/100 p. (hojicha category); Premium

In stock

Yoshinaga Seicha (Tsuyoshi Yoshinaga)

Mr. Yoshitake has managed the small and specialised tea farm in the picturesque mountains of Kirishima since 1976. After studying agriculture, his son Tsuyoshi Yoshinaga joined him in leading the farm, and together they transitioned to organic farming in 1994. The tea field is situated at a high elevation of 670m with good drainage and protected by mountains. This location provides significant fog in the mornings as well as evenings, and experiences large temperature differences between day and night, which facilitates the growth of the tea plants.

Flavour

The strong mountain character of this premium hojicha is nicely balanced out by merit of the blend of southern cultivars including the native zarai with umami flavour, the shading of the tea plants before harvest, as well as the use of a fine nibancha (2nd harvest) with a small proportion of stems. The thorough roasting reveals itself in the full, dark brown colour of the cup. All in all, a potent and pleasantly bitter hojicha with a full roast aroma.

Leaf

Relatively fine, small leaves; very few stems

Cup

Dark reddish orange

Hojicha's fine needles are gently roasted in special Hojicha roasters after being processed into Sencha or Bancha, whereby they develop malty sweet aromas and even caramel notes. Unlike most other Hojicha teas on the market, we only use absolute top quality and 1st harvests, a difference that has an extremely positive effect on both taste and nutritional content. Due to its mild flavour profile, Hojicha is also extremely popular in Japan, particularly during the winter holidays and after sumptuous meals and feasts.

We go to great lengths to identify the finest organic tea farms across the world’s most celebrated terroirs. All our teas are sourced directly from the farmer and, with a few exceptions, are certified organic or come from pesticide-free farms. Each batch of tea for every harvest is tested for pesticides and other pollutants in an independent German lab to ensure they meet our strict quality standards as well as HACCP food safety requirements. Likewise, all the regions of Japan from which we source our teas are tested for radioactivity for every harvest.

Premium Organic Teas

Our comprehensive portfolio focuses on organic, single-origin teas sourced directly from renowned farms. We believe in creating partnerships with farmers who share our values and are committed to sustainable, responsible tea cultivation. Thanks to these strong relationships our exciting range is constantly growing and evolving. As an international team of dedicated and passionate tea experts, we are committed to preserving centuries-old tea culture while ensuring it remains relevant and continues to bring joy in the present. About Yoshi En.

Cultivation & Processing

The tea field is nestled between picturesque mountains. The tea plants are exposed to much fog as well as significant temperature fluctuations between day and night. An organic fertiliser made from rice bran is used to support the plants' growth.

Yoshinaga Seicha is known for its nicely balanced blends. For this hojicha, the tea master pairs yabukita with a selection of uncommon as well as typical Kyushu cultivars (kanayamidori, okumidori, zarai) that give the tea more umami and character. Only a few kilos of this tea are produced each year.

Single Origin

This tea is exclusively sourced from the above mentioned tea farm, Yoshinaga Seicha.

Sourced directly from the tea farmer.

Organic Certification

Preparation

Brewing Guide

2 heaped tsp per 200-300ml (60°C) water. Steep for 2 minutes.

Packaging

High quality, airtight, resealable standing zipper pouch with 9 protective layers to preserve flavour and protect against oxidation and contamination. The tea is vacuum packaged according to the highest standards in Japan, with a small quantity of nitrogen added to the package to protect against oxidation.

Recommended Teapot

The ideal teapot for this hojicha is a brown kyusu or dobin for hojicha (which allows it to develop a more full-bodied flavour). For a more neutral taste, a black tokoname kyusu with a fine ceramic sieve can be used.

Recommended Storage

Ideally store in a quality tea caddy made from cherry tree bark (wooden, kabazaiku chazutsu) or an airtight, double-coated metal tin.

Test results

We find it very important that our teas are pure and produced in a way that respects the environment. For this reason, each one of our teas is tested for pesticide residues by an independent laboratory, the results of which can be found here. Some of our teas are also tested for specific nutritional compounds, in which case the test results are also published here.

Confirmation of analysis

See tests

Hojicha Yoshinaga Organic

Tea Farm