Cameron B. select Send Message

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Cameron B. drank Kuki Hojicha (Roasted Stems) by Ippodo

4015 tasting notes

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One of the last of the teas I bought in Japan in 2019. The Ippodo storefront in Kyoto was so lovely, with kind and knowledgeable staff, plenty of tasty tea, and even a cute tearoom where we had tea and wagashi. I miss Japan, time to go back! :P

Anyway, I digress. This is a yummy hojicha, with a roast that’s a bit on the darker side. There’s just a whisper of woodsmoke in the background – not enough to make it taste like a smoked tea, just the right amount to give it optimal cozy, autumnal vibes. Predominantly woody with mineral and fallen leaf notes, perhaps a touch of roasted walnut as well.

Honestly, I don’t have a strong preference among different hojicha (aside from my favorite Kyobancha), so I don’t know that I would buy this specific one again. It’s more of a general toasty vibe to me, and I always have a plethora of Obubu options on hand from my subscription anyway. So farewell, tea with fond memories! :)

Flavors: Autumn Leaf Pile, Campfire, Dry Grass, Mineral, Roast Nuts, Roasted, Smoke, Smooth, Sweet, Toasty, Walnut, Woody

Preparation

200 °F / 93 °C 2 min, 0 sec 3 tsp 16 OZ / 473 ML

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Bio

Hi, I’m Cameron!

I’m a 30-something software engineer currently living in Austin, Texas with my husband and our two pugs, Gobo and Ume. I tend to cycle between my different hobbies, and they include piano, knitting, video games, board games, miniature painting, planners, bento, KBeauty, and – of course – TEA! But really, what I’m best at is “collecting” hobby-related things… ;)

~ 2024 SIPDOWN CHALLENGE! ~
- May Sipdowns: 14
- Total 2024 Sipdowns: 27

I prefer my tea lukewarm or at room temperature and without milk or sugar. I steep Western style, and fluctuate between using big mugs or small teapots depending on the season.

I am always up for a swap! Just let me know if you’d like to try something in my cupboard.

Tea Preferences:
I enjoy both flavored and unflavored teas in many forms. These days, I drink mostly flavored teas, and I tend to gravitate most toward black, green, oolong, and herbal varieties. I do have a special fondness for straight Japanese green teas, however.

I do not sweeten my teas, and pre-sweetened teas are usually too sweet for me. I also do not enjoy stevia.

I tend to reach for fruitier flavors rather than desserty ones these days, but I do have favorites from both categories. Willing to try anything once! There are a few ingredients/flavors that aren’t generally my jam, such as coconut, rose, lavender, and chocolate flavoring. But I also have teas that I love with some of those things, too! :)

Favorite Companies:
3 Leaf
Bird & Blend
Dammann Frères
Harney & Sons
Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms
Lupicia
Old Barrel Tea Co
Simpson & Vail
Taiwan Tea Crafts
TeaVivre

Tea Rating Scale:
90-100: Outstanding! Permanent cupboard resident
80-89: Great – a possible staple
70-79: Good, but I wouldn’t buy it
60-69: It’s decent
50-59: Meh… I may or may not have finished the cup
40-49: Ick. Couldn’t finish it.
00-39: Repulsive, I spat it out

I will sometimes refrain from rating a tea if I feel I’m too biased due to my personal dislikes, or if I suspect the sample has been compromised by age or scent contamination.

Cupboard Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZEuKf1-ppR-VXajO4vV39zU1N3zjFJteEPAynqD2yl0/edit?usp=sharing