The Dream of Japan
Japan has always felt like home. From my first visit, I was moved by the quiet intentionality of it all, a culture where the smallest details are given space to breathe, and the ordinary is handled with profound respect. I kept going back, year after year.
Discovering Hojicha
I've always loved the ritual of a drink that marks a moment. But between an iron deficiency and a high sensitivity to caffeine, the things I loved most — coffee and certain green teas — often felt too aggressive for my system. I needed something as rich as it was gentle.
I found it during a tea ceremony in Japan. The smell reached me first: warm, toasty, almost like cocoa. For the first time, I could enjoy a deep, satisfying latte at any time of day, without the jitters, without the guilt. It wasn't just a drink. It was exactly what I'd been looking for.
The Birth of Hōri
Back in the UK, I searched everywhere for that same quality. It didn't exist. So I went back to Japan, not as a tourist this time, but as a founder. I spent time with producers who have been doing this for generations, people who care as much about the soil as I do about the final cup.
Hōri is my way of bringing that piece of Japan home to you. No noise, no excess. Just a deeply satisfying ritual for every day.