I first encountered Niju and other green tea samples that Hokusan Teas had curated at the Toronto Tea Festival in January 2023. But having had an abundance of matcha waiting for me at home then, I was more interested in the Hojicha.
I asked to try a sample. And it was * immaculate *.
I need this! Where do I get it?” – I exclaimed.
” Unfortunately, I don’t have the Hojicha on me right now. I know; I’m sorry. I should’ve brought some with me.” – Rikko replied.
I was disappointed, but I always remembered how amazing the Hojicha tasted.
So when I saw Niju sitting on the counter of Plearn Café in downtown Toronto a couple of days ago, it felt like fate. Because this time, I was actually looking to restock on good quality matcha.
And there it was, once again.
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About Hokusan Tea
Hokusan Tea is a wholesale distributor of premium Japanese green tea. It launched in Toronto, Canada in 2019 and was founded by Rikko Osaki, who grew up surrounded by tea farms in Shizuoka. Despite a rocky start to the business (due to the pandemic), Hokusan has grown immensely and was awarded Best Japanese Green Tea of 2022 by North American Tea Association.
What I like about Hokusan:
- Quality Tea. Rikko really cares about delivering high-quality tea. She involves tea sommeliers and advisors throughout every step of the production process and is very transparent with how her teas are made and cared for. Rikko herself has also spent time in tea farms learning from highly experienced farmers and getting certified.
- Philosophy. One of Hokusan’s missions is to bring Japanese tea philosophy into people’s lives. To encourage people to view and experience preparing green teas as a way to slow down and live in the present, moment by moment.
- Education. Hokusan does a great job educating people on how their products can be used and the process behind creating and curating their teas. This is important because it lets buyers know exactly what they’re getting and teaches them how to get the most out of their product.
About Niju
Niju is a ceremonial matcha tea distributed and sold by Hokusan Tea in Toronto, Canada. It comes in a 40 mg (1.4 oz) glass container, which is perfect for everyday use.
How much does Niju Cost?
Niju retails for CAD 24.00 for 40 grams (1.4 oz) before tax and can be purchased on Hokkusan’s official website. However, if you do buy Niju elsewhere, prices may vary. For instance, when purchasing at Plearn Cafe, my total was CAD 25.00 (before tax).
Cost summary
- Price (per gram) : $0.60/ g
- Price (per oz): $17.00 / oz.
My Review of Niju Ceremonial Matcha
Tea Sommelier’s Notes
- Tea: Ceremonial matcha, first harvest
- Origin: Shizuoka, Japan
- Aroma: Vegetal, floral
- Appearance: Vivid bright green powder
- Flavor: Rich,strong, vegetal, with a pleasant, sweet after taste
What I like about Niju
I am really happy with Niju and have made a couple of matcha lattes for myself since purchasing it. Unlike the culinary matcha I’ve used in the past to make matcha lattes, Niju is thick, vibrant green, and has a strong vegetal flavor. I treat it like liquid gold and appreciate brewing it in my matcha bowl because of how delightful the sight of the green matcha powder is. And personally love enjoying it in the morning to start my day because of the kick of energy it gives me.
But out of everything, the three huge things that stood out to me about Niju were the packaging, quality, and instructions.
- The packaging. Some packages come in sealable zip-lock-like tea bags, but Niju comes in a small dark glass bottle which makes keeping it fresh and stashing it away for later a lot easier.
- Quality & taste. Not only are the green leaves vibrant, but you can also really appreciate the aroma and taste all the strong, beautiful earthy, and floral notes of the matcha.
- Instructions. I love enjoying matcha with milk – partly because that’s how I was introduced to matcha, having grown up in Western culture, but also due to personal preference. While some will frown upon adding milk, I love that Niju’s instructions include directions on making a matcha latte. And they even suggest sweetening it with honey or maple – a Canadian staple 🇨🇦.
Final Thoughts
Niju is currently hands down my favourite ceremonial matcha. I recommend it to anyone who would love to explore high quality matcha and enjoy the complex flavours that matcha has. However, if you haven’t tried matcha before I’d say start slow and try experimenting with other grades of matcha before going for a strong tasting matcha like Niju.
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