A new lease of life for old tea      

You can never get enough of a good thing... or that's what I thought until my tea collection began to get out of hand! All the fresh tea that I had so enthusiastically bought got pushed further and further to the back of the cupboard as newer supplies arrived. I just could not bring myself to throw away the old tea, even though the aroma had almost completely disappeared.

If you have the same problem, you could try roasting the old tea to produce your original houjicha.
You can use your own heat-resistant pot or try this specially designed pot from Tokoname (Houjiki).Place the tea leaves in the pot and heat over a low flame. As the leaves begin to move, toss them gently using an up-down movement. Slowly but surely the old tea leaves will change color and give off a deep, rich aroma. Leave to cool naturally and then brew.

Roasting your own tea has two advantages. Not only can you resolve the problem of mounting stocks of old tea, but you can also enjoy experimenting with different teas and roasting times to create your very own original blend of Houji-cha.

The Tokoname Houjiki pot can also be used to roast sesame seeds, rice snacks, beans, salt etc., opening up a whole new world of sensory experiences!