2011/02/15

What would you parch with "HOROKU"?

Have you tried Hojicha (roasted Japanese tea)?

Actually, Hojicha is not always a thing to buy. We can make our own freshly- roasted Hojicha using green tea at home.

In Japan, Horoku, a traditional earthen parching pan, helps make roasted tea. Nowadays, horoku is not popular as much as it used to be, but it was often used as one of the cooking utensils to parch not only tea but also sesame, salt, rice, beans etc.

In my case, I use it to get rid of extra moisture in the event that tea has some, in addition to making Hojicha.

What interests me the most is to see the last process. Look at the picture. Can you see the hole in the handle? Tea comes through its hole after roasted. It is very effective and clever idea, isn’t it?

I have to admit that I wouldn’t be able to “a roasting expert”, but it is fun to make homemade Hojicha. Why don’t you try at home? A frying pan may replace it. Aroma while roasting tea is fabulous!

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