Hoji Cha is a roasted Japanese tea. It’s also called stem tea because both the bancha tea leaf and stem are blended together and then roasted. The process gives this tea a nutty, warming aroma and flavor. This Hoji Cha has roughly half the caffeine compared to other green teas, due to the inclusion of tea stems. The brew delivers robust flavor without the heaviness, making for a smooth and savory cup of tea. The tea master where this tea is made was recently awarded Top Tea Connoisseur in Japan. This company bypasses the government tea auctions and purchases its tea directly from the farmers. This way, the tea farmers get a higher price for their crop. In addition, the tea manufacturer knows the tea source. You benefit from this arrangement, getting a consistently tasting and high-quality tea.