The bright, emerald color of its tea leaves and luminous green tint once prepared gives green tea its prominent name, but have you heard of Hojicha or roasted green tea? Thanks to the increased popularity of matcha tea over the years, people are becoming more interested in what other green tea varieties offer. That's why we decided to put together a comprehensive breakdown of one of the most up-and-coming green tea varieties: Enter hojicha.
- NOTE: If you're looking for a reputable source of authentic Hojicha powder, then please see our Organic Hojicha here. If you're not finding the hojicha (or size) you're looking for, then please email us at support@matcha.com
What is Hojicha and where did it come from?
A still relatively unknown variety of Japanese green tea in North America, hojicha (shop ORGANIC Hojicha here), also spelled houjicha, is similar to matcha green tea powder due to its high antioxidant conentrations but still stands out in various ways. (3)
Hojicha, a roasted green tea, originated in Kyoto, Japan in the 1920s when a tea merchant attempted to find use for leftover green tea leaves debris. The merchant then rolled the green tea debris and roasted it over a charcoal fire. The result was Hojicha: a green tea that induces a calming effect with notes of a smoky yet sweet taste. Due to it’s natural inviting aroma and all the benefits of green tea without any bitter taste, Hojicha’s popularity surged rapidly throughout tea shops in Japan. (1)
What health benefits does hojicha tea have?
Like other green teas, hojicha tea: (3) (1)
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Reduces stress and anxiety
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Enhances metabolism
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Boosts your immune system
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Decreases inflammation
We find that a lot of people have questions about matcha vs. hojicha. That's why we've outlined six important difference between hojicha and matcha — and exactly why its worth adding both to your daily ritual at different times of the day.
Shop our hojicha teas:
6 Differences between hojicha and matcha green tea
1) Appearance and color of the tea
Matcha is a bright, green color — and this is particularly true of high-quality, ceremonial grade matcha. Though the lower the quality of matcha, the less distinctly vibrant the matcha powder often is.
Unlike matcha green tea powder, dried hojicha leaves and hojicha powder is brown in coloring, sometimes accompanied by a reddish hue. The tint of hojicha tea once prepared can vary depending on the roasting period, harvesting, and the type of green tea leaf it is made from, though they all tend to have a much richer, smoky, and nuttier flavoring than matcha. (5)
2) Production and processing method (Hojicha is roasted)
Matcha is always made by stone-grounding the tencha leaves into a fine green powder. Hojicha, by contrast, is produced by tightly rolling dry tea leaves, stems, stalks, and twigs and slow-roasting them in a roasting pan – or more traditionally, in a porcelain pot over charcoal. Once roasted, hojicha can be used in loose-leaf form or ground into a very fine powder used in beverages and cooking recipes. (5) (2)
And unlike Matcha, Hojicha can be made from different types of green tea leaves and parts of green tea plants — including twigs.
3) Caffeine content
Wondering about hojicha's caffeine levels? Two servings or one large cup of high-quality matcha tea powder can have over 75mg of caffeine, making it the perfect choice for getting your morning going or for an afternoon-energy pick-me-up. Hojicha, on the other hand, has just less than 8 mg of caffeine per cup, depending on the duration and exact temperature it is roasted at.
Why the significantly lower caffeine content in hojicha? It's because the parts of the tea plant and leaves used in hojicha are naturally lower in caffeine than the young tencha leaves used for matcha. Plus, the high heat during the roasting process of hojicha further changes the chemical composition of the tea, lowering the caffeine content. (5)
Hojicha's lower caffeine content makes it an excellent choice for unwinding after a long day.
4) The difference in flavor and aroma
Hojicha's distinctly earthy flavor tones comes from how the tea is roasted, which can be done to varying degrees depending on unique preferences and taste. In most cases, the deeper and more intense the roast, the more of a bitter and smokier taste the hojicha will have.
The roasting process is also what gives Hojicha it's soothing, naturally enrapturing aroma and high concentration of the chemical pyrazine. In fact, many tea shop owners in Japan brew hojicha tea to attract customers with the natural alluring scent. (5) (4)
5) Pyrazine concentration
While the roasting process is responsible for taking away some of Hojicha's caffeine content, the roasting process simultaneously produces a chemical called pyrazine. Pyrazine is the element behind hojicha's "roast" aroma, which many people associate with pleasantness, and also makes Hojicha especially good at aiding in blood circulation and digestion. (5) (4) (2)
Pyrazine is the chemical enzyme that sparks pleasantness when you brew coffee, BBQ meat, make brick-oven pizza, or bake a pie. Do any of those things trigger pleasant memories for you? It's because of pyrazine! (4)
When you smell hojicha, your body is immediately hit with a beautiful scent that stimulates your blood vessels to expand, improves circulation, and gently warms your body from the inside out. Of course, matcha powdered green tea also creates a warming sensation in the body because it stimulates fat storage being burned due to its caffeine content and catechins – but hojicha is a better choice for this warm cozy effect before bed since it has less caffeine.
Hojicha's high pyrazine concentration gives your body a noticeably warm feeling, making it a perfect drink to enjoy while skiing or after enjoying a large, hearty meal. (4)
6) Tea preparation
Matcha is traditionally prepared using a bamboo whisk (or electric whisk), a tea bowl, hot water, and a strainer. You don't want to use water that's too hot as it will score the matcha and leave it tasting bitter. Once you've sifted your matcha tea powder and added it directly to your hot (but not too hot) water, you use the bamboo whisk enthusiastically until a foamy, green layer starts to form. You can then enjoy your matcha as is, or perhaps add some steamed milk and honey for a sweet matcha latte.
Hojicha can also be prepared in the same way as matcha powder if you have it in a super-fine powder form or steeped in a teapot. With Hojicha in its loose-leaf (in tea bags) form, you often steep the tea leaves for less than a minute. This is because the rich flavor of hojicha can intensify very fast in hot water, so it can become bitter if left to steep for too long. You can also place hojicha leaves into a tea infuser or Japanese teapot, infusing it several times to get the full spectrum of flavor. Generally, hojicha is best enjoyed once it cools down and its aroma has filled the room. It also is a great drink enjoyed chilled, as seen below by @Cafe.cindy.
Oh, and did we mention hojicha makes for a great topping sprinkled onto ice cream or blended into a vanilla milkshake?
The bottom line - give hojicha a try.
Suppose you have caffeine sensitivity but still want to enjoy the benefits of green tea or are just looking to lower your caffeine intake without giving up the other adding health benefits. In that case, hojicha is an especially great green tea for you that is full of antioxidants. (2)
Remember, though, when it comes down to Matcha vs. Hojicha – it doesn't have to be a choice. Hojichas heart-warming and soothing properties are distinctly different and complementary to matcha's relaxed yet focused energy-inducing properties. Matcha's higher caffeine content makes it the perfect choice during the daytime when you are getting ready for work or need it to get through the afternoon. Hojicha is the ideal cozy beverage to enjoy in the evenings or on a long ski weekend, or while cozying up due to its pyrazine content. (4)
We hope this article is going to help you warm up to hojicha!
References:
- LIczbiński, P., & Bukowska, B. (2022). Tea and coffee polyphenols and their biological properties based on the latest in vitro investigations. Industrial Crops and Products, 175, 114265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2021.114265
- Satoh, E., Tohyama, N., & Nishimura, M. (2005). Comparison of the antioxidant activity of roasted tea with green, oolong, and black teas. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 56(8), 551–559. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637480500398835
- Sharpe, E., Hua, F., Schuckers, S., Andreescu, S., & Bradley, R. (2016). Effects of brewing conditions on the antioxidant capacity of twenty-four commercial green tea varieties. Food Chemistry, 192, 380–387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.07.005
- Yang, Y., Zhang, M., Hua, J., Deng, Y., Jiang, Y., Li, J., Wang, J., Yuan, H., & Dong, C. (2020). Quantitation of pyrazines in roasted green tea by infrared-assisted extraction coupled to headspace solid-phase microextraction in combination with GC-QqQ-MS/MS. Food Research International, 134, 109167. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109167
- Zhu, Y. M., Dong, J. J., Jin, J., Liu, J. H., Zheng, X. Q., Lu, J. L., Liang, Y. R., & Ye, J. H. (2021). Roasting process shaping the chemical profile of roasted green tea and the association with aroma features. Food Chemistry, 353, 129428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.129428
