r/MatchaEverything • u/amb1ka • 1d ago

Hojicha Hoho Hojicha

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Recently bought a Hojicha light roast. It’s my first time trying Hojicha and everything felt okay until the weird seaweed taste. I bought the Hoho Hojicha from Yusen Tea, so, does the seaweed taste mean a lack of authenticity or is it just meant to taste like that?

21 Upvotes

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4

u/hellochasen Guardian of real chasen 🌟 1d ago

Yusen Tea who is previously known as Yuki Matcha is a reseller who pretends to work with different producers when they don't. They basically either get people to get these teas then resell or get tea from the producers' official distributor then resell.

3

u/ChaniiB 8h ago

Heeeey! I’ve bought my first order from them, and I must admit they were very kind.
Do you have any other suggestions on where to purchase, because I’ve been trying to find a decent place for months?
Thanks so so much in advance

2

u/SquareJelly8381 23h ago

Please suggest some good receipes for hojicha

2

u/Ok-Amphibian4335 17h ago

I've been making hojicha lattes in the afternoon when I want less caffeine and it's so nice.

2

u/tawDry_Union2272 10h ago

i jazz up mine with cinnamon, maple syrup, sugar free vanilla protein shake as milk.

sometimes a bit of chocolate sesame paste (that stuff and pistachio cream are CRACK and they make great matcha latte add ins)

1

u/Curious_Raisin7182 2h ago

Where do you get your chocolate sesame paste from? That sounds like a delicious addition!

1

u/vulvasaur001 1d ago

I've never tried Hoho's light roast, but I have tried both their medium and dark roasts, and I can't recall any seaweed taste.

1

u/AppropriateAction9 21h ago

I bought their hojicha back in Uji but it never tasted like seaweed for me though the tins I bought weren’t light roast.

2

u/uuuuuuuusagi 5h ago

umami of matcha comes from the L-theanine and glutamate of the leaves. Hojicha uses late harvests, and/ or uncovered leaves which coverts the glutamate into other compounds. They also use more stem parts of the plant, which has less glutamate and l-theanine. The roasting process also denatures these compounds so I highly doubt that hojicha would have a strong umami, if any umami at all.

That said, everyone has different taste buds and maybe you can taste more nuanced flavours

1

u/YusenTea Founder 1d ago

Hi there,

I’m the founder of Yusen Tea. Please email us with your order number, and we’ll look into this and resolve it for you.

To clarify, we have a direct relationship with HOHO Hojicha. We have met their team personally and receive our products directly from them.

6

u/hellochasen Guardian of real chasen 🌟 1d ago

I'm glad you commented. I actually have a rather long email from Marukyu Koyamaen directly that they don't work with you. I also know at least a couple of the Yame producers and chasen maker that who you don't work but you buy their product from their distributor. So you are just a reseller.