This is the Ito En O~i Ocha Maroyaka Yuzu Houjicha. It was flavoured using yuzu extract rather than fruit juice.
The beverage had a transparent golden-brown hue and a subtle aroma of yuzu oils, without any zestiness or sourness. When consumed chilled, the sweet floral notes of yuzu emerged immediately, carrying its natural fragrance without the usual tangy acidity. These were complemented by the hōjicha base, which introduced a gentle roasted quality that became more pronounced in the second half of the sip. The aromatic yuzu notes intensified from mid-sip, spreading across the palate as long as the liquid remained in the mouth. A slight astringency followed in the finish, leaving a clean aftertaste.
The combination of yuzu and hōjicha evoked the nostalgic experience of yuzu-flavoured wagashi paired with hōjicha at a cha-ya. Overall, this was a refreshing, unsweetened flavoured tea worth repurchasing.
This Ito En O~i Ocha Maroyaka Yuzu Houjicha contained 600 mL. It was produced in Japan and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2025.