Hojicha
Hojicha is a Japanese green tea that is roasted, which gives it a reddish-brown colour, a toasty aroma, and a lower caffeine content than many other Japanese teas.
Hojicha is a Japanese green tea that is roasted, which gives it a reddish-brown colour, a toasty aroma, and a lower caffeine content than many other Japanese teas. It is commonly made from bancha, sencha, or stems, and is often enjoyed in the afternoon or evening. Hojicha is widely available through Canadian tea retailers, cafés, and Japanese grocers, and it has become a common low-caffeine alternative for Canadian readers looking for evening tea or latte options.
Production
Hojicha is created by roasting tea leaves, often from bancha or sencha, at high temperatures. This roasting is the defining feature of the tea and is responsible for its colour, aroma, and lower bitterness.
Taste and aroma
The tea is known for a toasty, nutty, earthy profile with mild sweetness and less astringency than many green teas. Roasting gives hojicha a warm aroma and a more mellow taste.
Caffeine content
Hojicha contains caffeine, but much less than matcha and many other teas. Reported amounts vary by leaf type and brewing method, and it is not considered caffeine-free.
Uses and serving styles
Hojicha is commonly served as a brewed tea and is also used in lattes, desserts, and other flavouring applications. Its smooth flavour makes it adaptable in both traditional and modern drinks.
Key facts
- Hojicha is made by roasting Japanese green tea leaves or stems, which changes both flavour and caffeine content.
- It is generally considered a low-caffeine tea, with reported values around 5–20 mg per cup depending on brewing and blend.
- The roasting process reduces bitterness and tannins and produces a toasty, caramel-like aroma.
- Hojicha is often chosen as an evening tea because of its comparatively low caffeine content.
- It is distinct from matcha, which is powdered, unroasted green tea with a stronger vegetal taste and higher caffeine content.
Hojicha is widely available through Canadian tea retailers, cafés, and Japanese grocers, and it has become a common low-caffeine alternative for Canadian readers looking for evening tea or latte options.
Frequently asked questions
Does hojicha have caffeine?
What does hojicha taste like?
Hojicha benefits
How to make hojicha latte?
Hojicha vs matcha
References
- Hojicha Co. — https://hojicha.co/pages/caffeine-in-hojicha-roasted-green-teaSupports: Hojicha is low in caffeine; a standard 250 ml serving contains about 7.7 mg of caffeine.
- Yunomi Life — https://yunomi.life/blogs/japanese-tea-guide/why-hojicha-is-low-in-caffeineSupports: Hojicha is not caffeine-free; a standard cup contains about 7.7 mg of caffeine and is often consumed in the afternoon or evening.
- Rishe — https://rishe.eu/en/blog/hojicha-guide/Supports: Hojicha is an unoxidized Japanese tea that is roasted at high temperatures; the starting material is often bancha, sencha, or stems.
- Good Housekeeping — https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/a71405620/hojicha-tea-review/Supports: Hojicha originated in Kyoto in the 1920s and became popular as a roasted tea with lower caffeine.
- Matcha Direct Kyoto — https://matchadirect.kyoto/blogs/matcha-101/how-much-caffeine-is-in-hojicha-vs-matcha-and-coffeeSupports: Hojicha contains caffeine but is generally classified as low-caffeine; matcha has higher caffeine and a different flavor profile.
- NutriScan — https://nutriscan.app/calories-nutrition/hojicha-teaSupports: Roasting creates pyrazines and hojicha is described as lower caffeine than matcha, with a smoother relaxation-oriented profile.