This is the last entry in our “Tea Series.” Today, we take a look at the output of a Gunma-based firm we wrote about relatively recently. The link is here:https://drinkingjapan.org/2026/01/29/the-olive-trees-of-gunma-and-their-oil/. We also turn our attention from matcha to hojicha.
There was an academic back in the last century who coined the term “proletarian drift,” or “prole drift” for short. (Don’t you just love those clipped forms?) This is a useful concept to be sure, especially for you fashion mavens. Simply put, it refers to how, over a given period of time, things of high status tend to move down the social-status scale. When digital watches first hit the market, they were considered high-class, and with their introduction, the analogue watch became, in its mass-produced manifestation at least, associated with the working class, but as digital watches became more ubiquitous and concomitantly less expensive, it was that type of timepiece that took on the blue-collar mantle. Sometimes this sort of thing works in reverse. What was once considered low class moves up the scale, from denim to ermine, so to speak. A classic example of this is the Italian drink grappa. Another example is the tea that we will discuss here.
Hojicha is one of our favorite styles of tea. It was first produced about a hundred years ago in Kyoto. At that time it was made using scraps—leftovers—and leaves of low-quality. These undesirable elements were roasted, the process of which imparts a very pleasant aroma, to most nostrils, that is, and a nutty taste. Not surprisingly, it became very popular and in the 21st century enjoys a high-class status among those who know their tea.
For this entry, we tasted Jungle Delivery Company’s Olive Hojicha Tea, available in teabags that come in this attractive jar with a nutritional information sticker attached. Just add water and allow to steep. After an appropriate interval, you will be able to enjoy the following.
Sensory Evaluation: Color: a light reddish brown. Aroma: very intriguing. It is moderately smoky, bearing a certain resemblance to a peaty scotch. It is also sweet with a hint of resin. Palate: Slightly smoky with vegetal notes, from the olive leaves obviously. Smooth. Naturally low in caffeine. Finish: Long.
Drinking Japan 