05/03/2023
HŌJICHA.
About three weeks ago I spent two wonderful weeks in Japan after 3 years of not been able to go back. This time I got the chance to tick off one of the sushiya I have wanted to visit since my first trip to Japan about 10 years ago, Sushi Kiyota, which is now in its fourth generation of itamaes running the counter. Something I had not seen before was the roasting of hōjicha, which is basically roasted green tea in a porcelaine container (as seen on picture), while walking behind the guests giving off the caressing aroma of the tea leaves getting prepared to be soon brewed. This led me to start roasting again when I got home after many years of just having my container in a shelf. So next time if you come to dine and wonder what that aroma is, it's probably tea.
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