Roasted green tea with full-bodied character and cinnamon-like toast notes. Information INGREDIENTS: Green tea INGREDIENTS FROM: Japan REGION(S): Kagoshima Prefecture GROWING ALTITUDES: 200 - 1000 feet above sea level GRADE(S): Uji MANUFACTURE TYPE(S): Non fermented, Traditional process, Small batch crafted ANTIOXIDANT LEVEL: High CAFFEINE LEVEL: Low KOSHER: Yes VEGETARIAN: Yes VEGAN: Yes ARTISANAL NOTES: Small batch blended and packed in Canada INFUSION: Pale green yellow Description Like many of the world's great teas, Hojicha was discovered through a process of curiosity and innovation. During the 1920s, a tea master living in Kyoto Japan discovered the method for producing the tea using common materials he found around the house. Rather than steam a batch of freshly plucked leaf - the traditional method of Japanese style green tea production - the master decided he would roast it in a porcelain pot over burning charcoal. The result, as history would attest, was delicious. Until recently, the Kyoto region was still home to much of the world's Hojicha crop, and served as the source of 100% of Metropolitan's stock. A little more about how Hojicha is produced: Hojicha is produced using a 3rd flush Bancha style leaf known in the tea business as Sanbancha. The plucked leaves are steamed and dried in a style similar to that of Sencha. Next the dried leaf is roasted over a low heat - the low roasting temperature imparts a sweet taste and nice fresh aroma. (Hojicha that has been roasted at too high of a temperature will lose much of its sweetness.) This roasting process results in a tea with a reddish color and light cup with a very unique flavor. Try pairing our Hojicha with Asian themed meals and notice how well it cleanses the palate - a refreshing tea that is as good hot as it is poured over ice. What's more, the roasting process removes much of the tea's caffeine, making it a great tea to serve to children. Enjoy! Allergen Declaration Allergens controlled by robust HACCP and GMP manufacturing protocols. SCROLL SIDEWAYS OR USE SLIDER AT THE BOTTOM TO VIEW FULL CHART PRODUCT NAME: Japan Hojicha Roasted Green Tea PRODUCT TYPE: Loose - Traditional Green Tea KNOWN OR CLAIMED SOURCES OF FOOD ALLERGIES AND INTOLERANCES Present in the product Present in the same manufacturing factory Tree Nuts and Derivatives of Tree Nuts No Yes Almonds No Yes Brazil Nuts No No Cashews No No Chestnuts No No Coconut No Yes Hazelnut No No Hickory No No Macadamia No No Pecan No No Pine No No Pistachio No No Walnut No Yes Peanuts and Derivatives of Peanuts No No Peanuts No No Peanut Oil No No Sesame Seeds and Derivatives of Sesame Seeds No No Sesame Seeds No No Sesame Oil, refined No No Wheat and Derivatives of Wheat No Yes Wheat Starch Hydrolysates No Yes Egg and Derivatives of Eggs No No Milk, Dairy and Derivatives of Dairy No No Soybeans and Derivatives of Soybeans No Yes Soy Oil/Soybean Oil No No Soy Lecithin No Yes Crustaceans and Derivatives of Crustaceans No No Abalone No No Clam No No Crab No No Crayfish No No Cuttlefish No No King Prawn No No Krill No No Lobster No No Mussels No No Oysters No No Scallop No No Shrimp No No Snail No No Squid No No Fish and Derivatives of Fish No No Anchovies No No Bonito No No Coal Fish No No Mackerel No No Perch/Tilapia No No Salmon No No Cod No No Tuna No No White Fish No No Fish, unspecified No No Mustard and Derivatives of Mustard No No Sulfur Dioxide and Sulfites at concentrations of more than 10mg/kg expressed as S02 No Yes Gluten and Derivatives of Gluten No Yes Gluten from Barley No No Gluten from Kamut No No Gluten from Oat No No Gluten from Rye No No Gluten from Spelt No No Gluten from Triticale No No Gluten from Wheat No Yes Celery and Products thereof No No Lupin and Products thereof No No Column 'Present in the product' indicates the allergens that may be found in the product, from addition or cross contamination. Column 'Present in the same manufacturing plant' indicates whether any allergens are pres