Houjicha is a Japanese roasted green tea. According to Wikipedia, houjicha is roasted in a porcelain pot over charcoal. So that explains the reddish color and the smoked scent of this tea.

Before my Japanese friend head back to Japan, I ordered another bunch of Japanese snacks and teas. I got one pack of sencha, matcha and a 20 pack of houjicha. I didn’t get the tea box because we didn’t want a bulky packet but she put it in a zip locked bag so the freshness is still kept.

I like the color and design of the tea pack but bf has mistaken it for … condoms! >.<! I guess it’s because of the glossy sachet packaging. Hmm..  What do you think?

Anyways, the brand name of this houjicha is Oi Cha Ito En. According to a friend, this is one of the famous beverage brands in Japan.

Steeping time is 30 seconds to 1 minute in 85 degrees C water.

Since this tea has a lower amount of caffeine compared to other teas like sencha and matcha, you can drink this before going to bed. When it comes to taste I find it unique because of the roasted smokey taste. I’m not sure if my description fits but just imagine sitting at a bonfire and smell the scent of burning dried leaves.