"bowcha" Roasted Tea (Kinbocha)

Bōcha is a type of hōjicha made by roasting the stems of the tea plant. While most teas use the leaves, which are carefully picked by snapping the stems, this process leaves many stems behind. Out of a desire to make use of them, people began roasting the stems, and bōcha was born. Praised for being both delicious and affordable, its popularity spread until in Ishikawa Prefecture it came to be said, “When you say tea, you mean bōcha.” Today, this tea—rooted in the traditions of the region—is still cherished as a daily favorite, warming the hearts and bodies of those living busy modern lives.