Fresh hojicha just arrived Tuesday March 4th. All pre-orders are dispatching this week.

Finally. An easy way to make yummy roasted bubble tea at home. Naturally sweet, smooth and smoky. Not matcha. The Alchemist is the cool, nonchalant brother of the family (green tea). His roasted, woody flavours are quirky but loveable. 

How it tastes: 

The taste is one of a kind. The Alchemist is a light bodied drink. Roasted over charcoal,  there's a woody, smokiness with hints of nuttiness. 

Being the brown sheep of the pack, The Alchemist doesn't compete with his siblings (matcha). In lattes it's as if your chocolate ice-cream had melted, with an earthiness like cocoa. The aroma is faint but inviting. Smells herbal when whisked, he impresses in his own way.

Toasted over extreme heat, the traditional roasting method evaporates 96% of caffeine — making Hojicha powder a cosy, calm drink for slow mornings and chill nights.

On top of that, the health benefits stay. Loved for his calming properties, hojicha is great for stress relief. Bursting with vitamins and antioxidants to boost your immune system, he reduces bloating and supports digestion as well as heart health.

Did you know in Japan, hojicha is fed to babies? Enjoyed by elderly, the Alchemist is safe for all ages — more than suitable for caffeine sensitive individuals, he is almost a decaffeinated matcha if it wasn't for the amber hue.

I find myself embracing the summer heat, just so I can sip on iced hojicha lattes to cool off. 

Best ways to enjoy it:

The Alchemist is confident in all applications. In baking it adds smoky, roasted flavours — giving baked goods a beautiful amber brown colour that's light and airy, notably in sponge cakes. A good idea to fill it with extra hojicha cream to triple the roasted tea flavours, I know I would. It seems to be my companion between 2-6pm, when a gentle pick me up is needed.

In hojicha lattes, the smoky flavours remind me of roasted green tea latte from bubble tea shops. It's subtle and snappy. Easy to drink, especially when iced. What I found interesting is when paired with full-fat milks it doesn't diminish the flavours nor overshadow it.

In oat and soy the Alchemist is delicious. With a warm, fuzzy feeling that is cool and satisfying. 

Hojicha powder is denser than matcha. A good idea to stir and mix from time to time, since the sediments settles fast. 

Origin: 100% Japanese Roasted Green Tea (Blend of Sencha, Kukicha, Bancha)

2nd Harvest green teas. Wazuka, Kyoto.