Packaging concept: amber ROJI Hojicha serum bottle with a dropper, beside a dish of roasted hojicha
Packaging concept

Japanese ingredients · Our first serum

Hojicha Serum

Planned price $68

We’re building our first serum on hojicha distilled in Japan. In place of added water, the formula starts with the tea.

The only scent we want is the roasted leaf itself.

Formula intent

  • Hojicha distillate base
  • No added water
  • No added fragrance
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Estimated shipping: Q2 2027 · April–June

Packaging concept: ROJI Hojicha serum on a wooden veranda beside a ceramic tea bowl, with a stone garden path behind
Packaging concept

Our story

The garden path.

Roji is the garden path to a tea house, walked slowly so you arrive composed. We named the house after it because that is how we want to make things: one Japanese ingredient at a time, with all of it on the label.

We begin with hojicha, green tea roasted over heat until its bitterness gives way to warmth. Distilled in Japan, it becomes the base we’re building our first serum on.

We’re designing it without added water — the tea takes its place — and without added fragrance, so the scent comes from the roasted leaf itself.

We plan to make it in small, dated batches, traced from leaf to bottle, because an ingredient is only worth building around if you can say exactly where it came from.

Roasted hojicha tea leaves and stems
Hojicha · Japanese roasted green tea
Formula & development

The serum brief is built around hojicha distillate from Japan, with no added water and no added fragrance or essential oils. The distillate carries the tea’s own aroma, so “no added fragrance” does not mean scent-free.

The serum is in development. Formulation, sourcing, packaging and testing are still being confirmed, and the images on this page show a packaging concept. We’ll share the full ingredient list before launch.

From leaf to distillate

Tea, in place of water.

Many serums are built on water. We’re building ours on hojicha distillate instead. This is how that distillate comes to be.

  1. Leaf

    Hojicha begins as Japanese green tea, often from later harvests and often including the stems.

  2. Roast

    The tea is roasted over high heat until it turns reddish brown. The grassy edge fades, and a toasted warmth takes its place.

  3. Distill

    Steam is passed through the roasted tea, then cooled and collected as a clear distillate that carries the tea’s aroma.

  4. Formulate

    We’re designing the serum around that distillate, in place of added water, with nothing added for fragrance.

We’ll share where our tea is grown, roasted and distilled once sourcing is confirmed.

Development

Where we are.

The serum is early in development. Here is the path from brief to first batch, and where we are on it.

  1. Now

    Formula brief & maker

    Defining the formula around hojicha distillate and choosing a small-batch maker in Japan.

  2. Next

    Samples

    Refining early samples for texture, finish and scent.

  3. Before launch

    Testing

    Stability, preservation and safety testing on the finished formula.

  4. Est. Q2 2027

    First batch

    A small, dated first batch. The waitlist hears first.

Questions

Good to know.

Anything else? Email [email protected].

When will it ship?

Our current estimate is Q2 2027 (April–June). That depends on development and testing, so we’ll email the waitlist as timing firms up.

How much will it cost?

The planned price is $68. If that changes before launch, we’ll let the waitlist know.

What does joining the waitlist mean?

You’ll get development updates and news of the first release. It’s free, we don’t ask for payment details, and it doesn’t commit you to buying. To leave, email [email protected].

What does “no added water” mean?

Many serums use water as their base. We’re designing ours so hojicha distillate plays that role instead. The distillate is itself water-based, carrying the tea’s aroma, so this describes what we add, not a promise that the serum contains no water.

Is it fragrance-free?

We don’t plan to add fragrance or essential oils. The hojicha distillate carries the tea’s own aroma, though, so the serum isn’t intended to be scent-free.

Will it suit sensitive skin?

We can’t say yet. The formula is still in development and testing isn’t complete. We’ll publish the full ingredient list before launch, and as with any new skincare, we’d suggest a patch test first.

Where will it be made?

We plan to make it in Japan, and we’ll name our maker once that’s confirmed.

Where will you ship?

We plan to launch in the United States first.

The serum waitlist

Be first to hear.

Leave your email for development updates and news of our first hojicha serum, planned at $68. Joining is free and doesn’t commit you to an order.

Estimated shipping: Q2 2027
April–June 2027. We’ll keep you posted as timing is confirmed.

By joining, you agree to receive ROJI serum updates and launch news. To leave the list, email [email protected]. Privacy.

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