This is the Roasted Japanese Black Bean Tea ($8.00/pot) from Tea Journal. We’d first tried this tea at a shop in Takayama, Nagoya in Japan, thoroughly enjoyed it but did not purchase any (much to my later dismay).
Rather than use tea leaf to make true tea, this steeps the beans in the water creating an infusion with a translucent deep red colour and a subtly sweet nutty aroma.
The tea is served hot and has a pleasant, gentle sweetness that recalled a clear consomme-like red bean soup that you often get in many Asian desserts. The subtle sweetness and the overall nutty flavour creates for a very comforting tea – the kind you turn to just before bed or when you’re needing a pick-me-up.
This Roasted Japanese Black Bean Tea was purchased at Tea Journal located at Chatswood Interchange, 44/436 Victoria Ave, Sydney NSW 2067 in November 2017.