Everything You Need To Know About Japanese Hojicha Tea

• Hojicha offers many benefits
  • It is versatile
  • It's a great alternative to coffee
  • Hojicha can be enjoyed many different ways
  • It is a form of aromatherapy

What is Hojicha exactly?

Japanese Hojicha Tea offers many benefits to those who drink it. It is made from the green teas leaves or stems that originate from sencha Japanese green tea.

Hojicha Tea, unlike similar but different green teas, is reddish-brown in color. When the leaves are roasted, the bitterness is removed, and the Hojicha takes on a nice earthy scent and the attractive reddish-brown color.

There are varying grades of green tea leaves. Lower-grade leaves are typically used for making Hojicha while higher-grade leaves are most suitable for other applications.

Using the right leaves for the job will ensure that the optimum taste is achieved for the most enjoyable and palatable experience.

 

How is Hojicha different from sencha or matcha?

The main difference between sencha or matcha is the color. Although both are considered Japanese green teas, matcha is bright green in color. The lower the grade of matcha, the less vibrant the color. Click here to see the in-depth difference between sencha and matcha.

Hojicha, on the other hand, is more of a reddish-brown in color. (see below image difference between Hojicha and Sencha) The hue will vary depending on whether it came from the Sencha, Bancha, or Kukicha green tea.

Matcha will have a more vegetal aroma while Hojicha, in its roasted green tea form, will have more of an earthy umami aroma to it. Matcha is quite bitter while Hojicha has a sweeter and even smokey flavor to it.

Hojicha has a much lower caffeine content than matcha at about 0.13 g of caffeine for every 100 g while matcha is upwards of about 3.2 g of caffeine for every 100 g.

Hojicha tea leaves are steamed before being dried while matcha is made by grinding the dried leaves into a very fine powder. Hojicha can also be ground into a fine powder, but it is typically in loose tea form.

     

Hojicha Tea (Left), Sencha Tea (Right)

The Process of How Hojicha is made

Hojicha is made from Bancha tea leaves, and sometimes it may be sourced from Kukicha twigs  or Sencha leaves. It is grown in Japan and is roasted at very high temperatures. This technique is why Hojicha has a reddish-brown color as well as a nice, umami flavor and aroma.

How is Hojicha different from Chinese roasted tea?

There are a number of differences between Chinese roasted tea and Hojicha tea. Chinese roasted teas are often prepared in such a way that the oxidation process is stopped because they are traditionally heated in woks.

However, Hojicha is typically steamed to stop the oxidization process first then roasted. Because of this careful preparation, Hojicha has little to no bitterness as well as a low caffeine content. (Often times, hojicha is made with bancha or tea which has less caffeine; this also helps with having low caffeine)

Hojicha also is often made with Yabukita cultivar which is Japanese whereas Chinese tea uses other type of cultivar; this difference also contributes to the differences of the end resulting tea. 

How to Brew Hojicha for the Best Flavor

In order to enjoy the highest level of taste and aroma, there is a certain way that Hojicha should be prepared. When properly prepared, this tea will offer not only all of the benefits that it has to offer, but it will taste and even look as appealing as possible to the drinker.

For starters, Hojicha should be prepared in the proper teapot. It should have an attached mesh inside in order to keep leaves from escaping into the teacup yet allowing them to move freely for maximum flavor and evenness in strength. (Click here for an example teapot which works well to brew hojicha and make the taste better)

Temperature is also very important and should be allowed to cool to the ideal temperature after being brought to a full boil. It is also important to use good, filtered water for maximum smoothness and flavor. 

It is vital to always adjust the temperature according to the grade of the tea. The higher the grade, the lower the temperature should be. Premium Hojicha should be brewed at around 190 degrees Fahrenheit or 90 degrees Celsius.

You should also adjust how many leaves you brew to the size of the cup that you will be using. If you are serving your tea in a smallish cup, you will want to use fewer leaves unless you want to achieve a very strong brew.

Since Hojicha is considered a delicate tea, it is often served in small Japanese cups, but it can also be enjoyed in your favorite mug as well. Drinking tea is all about the enjoyment of the drinker.

You should store your Hojicha in an air-tight bag and keep it in the refrigerator to preserve its flavor for as long as possible. (Click here to learn more about how to store tea)

 

New Ways to Enjoy Traditional Hojicha

Hojicha can be prepared a number of different ways. It is traditionally prepared as a tea by steaming the leaves in hot water for about one minute. It can also be enjoyed chilled.  (Here is how you can coldbrew hojicha – this instruction is for sencha, but works well for hojicha.)

There is even a Hojicha powder that can be used to make a tea similar to matcha. (If you got loose leaf hojicha, you can use spice-grinder to powder them.) It can even be made into a latte-type with milk. No matter how you enjoy it, you will still get to enjoy the many benefits that Hojicha has to offer.

How to Separate Good Hojicha From the Bad Hojicha

There are a number of ways to spot good, high-quality Hojicha. When shopping for high-quality Hojicha, you are going to want to pay attention to the color and aroma of the Hojicha.

You also want to find out where the leaves were grown and who has processed the tea. You will also want to get a little info on who is selling the tea. You will want to know if the seller and manufacturer are reputable and trusted, which will indicate the quality of the tea.

You should taste it as well if possible. You are looking for a deep yet bright brown hue and should never be black, which indicates that the leaves have been burnt in the roasting process. The aroma should be nice and earthy, and the leaves should have a nice, earthy flavor.

How to Find Good Hojicha No Matter Where You Live

When shopping for Hojicha tea, the best way is to be able to feel, smell, and touch the leaves for yourself. Shopping for tea is a very involves and intimate process and is also enjoyable for all of the senses.

If it is simply not possible to shop for your Hojicha tea in person, there are many reputable tea sellers online that you can purchase it from. Be sure to read the reviews of the other customers and to pay attention to the fine details such as how the leaves were prepared as well as where the leaves were grown.

Brand reputation is important, and online tea stores should provide pictures of their product so that you can shop with your eyes.

Tea shops, tearooms, supermarkets, health food stores are all good sources for your Hojocha tea supply.

If you are new to the process of purchasing Hojicha, you will mostly rely on the color and aroma of the tea.

There are many benefits to drinking Hojicha tea. Hojicha Tea is very high in antioxidants which help to flush out unwanted and even harmful free radicals from the body. It acts as a natural cleansing and detoxifying agent.

Antioxidants are also important for the body because they help to keep the skin looking young as they help to reduce the signs of aging.

It also helps to release stress. Sitting down and enjoying a nice, warm cup of tea is relaxing on its own, but Hojicha tea also contains L-Theanine, which is an amino acid that helps to boost mental capacity. It also reduces stress because it helps to lower blood pressure and cortisol levels.

When the body is relaxed, it reacts by becoming balanced and calmer. The wonderful scent of a cup of Hojicha tea also helps to ease the mind as it has a nice, soothing aroma.

It also helps to reduce cholesterol thanks to the high levels of catechins that are present in green tea. When cholesterol levels are lower, inflammation is reduced, and the risk of heart disease also declines.

For those who are sensitive to caffeine, Hojicha is a great alternative to a cup of Joe or an energy drink since it will boost energy levels naturally and without the jitters.

 

One cup of Hojicha contains only about 7.7 mg of caffeine whole a cup of coffee typically contains about 95 mg of caffeine. It is a nice little boost without causing any negative side effects.

Hojicha tea has been brewed and enjoyed for centuries and is gaining popularity all over the world thanks to our modern civilization where you can shop online form virtually anywhere in the world.

Whether you are thinking of trying it for the first time or you are already a fan, Hojicha is a popular choice for many due to its versatility and therapeutic benefits.

The key to enjoying this unique tea is to prepare it with care and to take the time to really appreciate its origin as well as the process in which it came to be. Drinking tea is an experience that is meant to be enjoyed and savored in a world that is often rushed and chaotic.

 

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