Japanese Roasted Tea, also known
as “Hōjicha”, is a type of green tea that was first invented by a Japanese tea
merchant while dealing with wastefulness during the tea production process.
Different from other teas, Japanese Roasted Tea goes through an additional high
temperature roasting process. Through roasting tea leaves, stems, stalks, and
twigs at extremely high temperature (approximately 350°C) for hours till
turning a reddish brown color, a distinct roasted tea with a smoky aroma was invented
and introduced to the market officially in the 1920s.
Speaking of the home of Chatime Japanese Roasted Tea- Kagoshima
prefecture, which is located in the southwestern part of the island Kyūshū,
well-known for its’ volcanic landform. The mild climate and diverse
environments allow Kagoshima to be perfect for cultivation of the agricultural
environment, including tea crops. The volcanic environment not only provides
ideal weather for tea trees to thrive vigorously, the volcano ashes also
fertilize the soil to be rich in nutrients and minerals all year round. With
the abundant natural resources in Kagoshima, Chatime Japanese Roasted Tea is
recognized as the highest quality and taste compared to other roasted tea.
Nowadays, Japanese Roasted Tea is favored by people from all
around the world for its phenomenal taste. The high temperature roasting
process lowers the astringency in tea and creates a sweet ending note. Through
mixing a portion of Taiwanese High Mountain Oolong tea leaves in the roasting
process to bring out the smooth caramel aftertaste and enhance the overall tea
flavor after brewing. For the tea lovers who are looking for an extra
creamy flavor, Chatime Japanese Roasted Milk Tea is definitely the tea that you
would not want to miss for sure!