Topic

Tea

Matcha, sencha, hojicha and the Japanese tea ceremony — how they are made, how to brew them, and how to choose good tea.

Koto presenting a row of six glass cups of Japanese tea in different colors, from pale green to reddish brown

Tea

Japanese Tea Types Explained: Sencha, Gyokuro, Hojicha & More

A simple map of Japanese green teas — how each one is grown and made, what it tastes like, and how to brew it — so you know exactly which tea to buy next.

Koto holding a steaming cup of hojicha in a tea shop, with tea leaves roasting in a pan and a hojicha latte on the counter

Tea

What Is Hojicha? Japan's Roasted Green Tea, Explained

Hojicha is green tea roasted until it turns reddish brown — toasty, smooth and low in bitterness. Here's how it's made, how it tastes, how to brew it and how to make a hojicha latte.

Tea

Matcha Brands Worth Knowing: How to Compare Before You Buy

From historic Kyoto tea houses to organic brands made for lattes — an overview of well-known matcha brands, where their tea comes from, and a checklist to compare any matcha before you buy.

Koto presenting two bowls of matcha — one vivid green, one duller olive — next to a matcha latte and a matcha cookie

Tea

Ceremonial vs Culinary Matcha: Which Grade Should You Buy?

"Ceremonial" isn't an official grade. Here's what the labels really mean, how to judge matcha quality yourself, and which kind to buy for drinking, lattes or baking.

Koto in a sage-green kimono whisking matcha in a tea bowl at a low table, with an iron kettle and a tea caddy beside her

Tea

How to Make Matcha the Traditional Way: The Tools You Actually Need

A step-by-step guide to whisking a smooth, frothy bowl of matcha at home — which tools matter, which you can skip, and the mistakes that make matcha bitter.

Koto, in a sage-green kimono, smiling and holding a bowl of frothy matcha at a table with a bamboo whisk and tea caddy, tea fields visible through the window

Tea

What Is Matcha? The Japanese Tea Ceremony Origins Explained

Matcha isn't just green tea powder. Here's how it's grown, why it's ground on stone, and how it became the heart of the Japanese tea ceremony.