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 roasted Japanese green tea with a reddish-brown colour and toasty aroma. It has lower caffeine than many other Japanese teas and is often enjoyed in the afternoon or evening.
What it is
Hojicha is made by roasting Japanese green tea leaves or stems at high temperatures. This process gives it a reddish-brown colour, reduces bitterness, and creates a toasty, caramel-like aroma. It is commonly produced from bancha, sencha, or kukicha (stem tea).
Taste and caffeine
The tea has a toasty, nutty, earthy flavour with mild sweetness and low astringency. Caffeine content is typically 5–20 mg per cup, making it a popular choice for evening drinking. It is not caffeine-free, but much lower than matcha or coffee.
How it's used
Hojicha is commonly served as a brewed hot tea. It also works well in lattes, desserts, and other flavouring applications. Its smooth, mellow flavour makes it adaptable for both traditional and modern drinks.
In short
- Roasted Japanese green tea with low caffeine.
- Toasty, nutty, earthy flavour with less bitterness.
- Often enjoyed as an evening tea.
- Distinct from matcha (powdered, unroasted, higher caffeine).
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.
Quick questions
Does hojicha have caffeine?
What does hojicha taste like?
How to make hojicha latte?
Sources
- 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.