[Review] Nodoka Tea - hojicha & genmaicha powder

While researching authentic Japanese green tea brands for an earlier blog post, I came across Nodoka. Through my in-depth research on the brand, I convinced myself I needed to try some of the products myself. Less than a week and $25 in shipping later, my wonderfully fresh green tea pouches arrived at my doorstep on a rainy day straight out of Japan.

About Nodoka

With droves of matcha and green tea brands dotting supermarket shelves, it’s hard to know what differentiates each one.

Although I only heard of Nodoka online, the brand immediately stood out to me for their transparent mission and strictly value-driven products. Their unique story has been featured in multiple news and industry publications like The Japan Times and World Tea News.

Directly supporting farmers:

Nodoka connects Japanese tea farmers with the modern tea-drinking market abroad, all while preserving tradition. As ready-to-drink bottled teas have risen in popularity for convenience and profit, Japanese farmers have been forced to drop the costs of their tea.

Organic:

The tea is JAS (Japan Agricultural Standards) and USDA organic certificated. Their website explains that only “3% of tea grown in Japan is certified as organic”, so their certification is a rarity for Japanese tea.

Sustainable practices:

Nodoka explains that they package shipments in cardboard boxes, avoiding overpackaging. The shipping supplies is 100% Biodegradable cornstarch and their invoicing is done electronically to avoid paper waste. They are also proud members of the 1% for the Planet initiative.

Hojicha review

For years I looked everywhere in my area for powdered hojicha, a type of roasted Japanese green tea, with no luck. It’s known for its low caffeine content and earthy, almost nutty flavor. So when I realized that Nodoka only sells tea in powdered form, I decided it was time to follow up on that craving and finally treat myself to premium powdered hojicha.

The benefit of powdered tea is ranges from increased nutrition compared to loose leaf tea to a much more efficient way to make lattes and mixed drinks. If you’ve ever tried making lattes with loose leaf green tea, you’ll understand the sad, diluted struggle.

Nodoka’s hojicha powder is finely ground to a matcha consistency and works almost the same way. There are several delicious recipes on Nodoka’s website to try with their products, such as hojicha tiramisu and matcha white chocolate pound cake, for inspiration far behind a simple latte. While I have yet to try any of the delectable desserts, I’ve been making hojicha lattes just by layering ice, milk, and hojicha powder dissolved in a bit of water.

Genmaicha review

One downside of ordering from Nodoka to the United States is the high shipping cost of $25. Granted, this hefty price tag gives you a super fast turnaround time of 5-8 days (I had no idea you could even ship internationally that fast). Because of how quickly it arrives, your product maintains freshness and won’t sit out in odd temperatures through transit for too long.

Back to my point.

Although hojicha was my main objective in this order, I tacked on genmaicha packets because 1) I was already paying for shipping and 2) I’ve never had powdered genmaicha before.

I chose the single serve packets to test the different packaging, although the bulk bag is almost the same price with 30 servings rather than 8. However, the convenience would definitely be worth it if you’re planning to take your powdered tea anywhere but home.

Compared to loose leaf genmaicha, Nodoka's powdered form tastes far richer and much more flavorful. Overall, I love the versatility of the powder to use in recipes, as well as the convenience without sacrificing taste and quality.

Learn more about Nodoka: nodokatea.com

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