A Guide to Hojicha: Different Types, Benefits & How to Brew

Hojicha Roasted Green tea is a popular tea in Japan known for its fragrant aroma, toasty and nutty flavors and it’s soothing benefits. This tea is a popular staple in many Japanese homes and can even be found bottled and for sale in many convenient stores. Not only is the flavor unique, but the way it is processed keeps it low in caffeine drawing more people to drink it. In this guide, we will be discussing the different types of hojicha, different health benefits, as well as how to brew it, but first, we will further explain what exactly Hojicha Roasted Green Tea is.

What is Hojicha?

Hojicha is a green tea, however, what makes it different from typical green teas is that instead of being steamed after harvesting like Japanese sencha, hojicha goes through an additional roasting step. In Japanese, hoji (or houji) comes from the word, houjiru (焙じる) meaning to roast and cha means tea. The origins of hojicha date back to the 1920s when a tea merchant wanted to use all of the tea leftovers. Instead of throwing them away, the merchant roasted the tea leaves, stalks, twigs, and stems over charcoal. This experiment led to the Hojicha we know and love today. For more information on the history of tea, check out the article, Where Tea Originated: A Brief History of Tea in China, Japan, and the West.

Hojicha Yuu

ほうじ茶優

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From the hills of Shizuoka, this hojicha roasted green tea is incredibly fragrant with a soothing, earthy aroma and a light bodied, toasty flavor.

What are the types of Hojicha?

Overall, there are two main types of hojicha that can be found on the market. Hojicha in loose leaf form or hojicha in powdered form. Within the loose leaf category, there are many different hojicha blends that can be found. Because hojicha was created to reduce waste in the tea industry, as many parts of the tea plant were previously unused if they weren’t young leaves, nowadays, it is common to find various parts of the tea plant in your blend. You may find sencha, the unshaded, smaller, and younger tea leaves, bancha, the larger, more mature tea leaves, and finally kukicha, the stem of the tea plant. Once blended and roasted, this produces a reddish-brown colored tea with a great roasted aroma and bold flavor.

Hojicha Homura

ほうじ茶焔

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Hojicha Homura Roasted Green Tea Powder is made from deeply roasted tencha that is finely grounded into hojicha tea powder. This Hojcha powder is packed with nutrients and has an incredibly fragrant aroma with a bold, full-bodied roasted flavor that is excellent for lattes and baked goods.

The next type of hojicha that can be found on the market is hojicha roasted green tea powder. Hojicha powder is made from deeply roasted tencha leaves. Tencha refers to the tea leaves that have been steamed and sorted and are best known for being turned into matcha green tea powder due to its high quality of being from the first harvest. Tencha leaves have the most vibrant color, richest flavors, and nutrients. However for hojicha powder, instead of being grounded into matcha powder, the tencha leaves are roasted and then grounded to produce a high-quality hojicha powder. Its rich and bold flavor makes it an excellent choice for lattes and other baked desserts. For delicious baking ideas with hojicha powder, make sure to check out all of our recipes.

What are the health benefits of Hojicha?

The information presented in this article is in no way intended as medical advice or as a substitute for medical treatment. You should always consult with your physician or other health care professional before adopting any treatment for a health problem.

One reason why hojicha is so popular is because of the many health benefits it provides. As always, the information presented in this article is in no way intended as medical advice or as a substitute for medical treatment. You should always consult with your physician or other health care professional before adopting any treatment for a health problem.

Because of its low caffeine due to being roasted at a high temperature, hojicha is favored by those who have caffeine sensitivities, children, and the elderly. It is also known to help fight colds and keep your immune system strong and boosted. The naturally occurring catechins found in the tea help aid your circulatory system, regulating your blood pressure and cholesterol.

Another great health benefit of hojicha and another reason it is so popular is its digestive benefits. It is the perfect tea to drink during or after any meal. In Japan, it is especially popular to drink after dinnertime or late in the evening. Hojicha helps boost the body’s metabolism while also increasing your body’s calorie use. The healthy fibers will also help keep your colon healthy. For more detailed health benefits of Hojicha, read 8 Benefits of Hojicha Roasted Green Tea on our tea blog.

What is the best way to prepare Hojicha?

Hojicha roasted green tea can be enjoyed in many forms. With its bold, nutty taste and toasty warm aroma, you’ll definitely want to know all the different ways you can prepare a good cup of hojicha.

Hojicha Hot Brewing Instructions

Step 1: Heat fresh, filtered water until boiled. Let cool very slightly — water close to 203°F (95°C) is ideal for bringing out the fragrance and flavor in Hojicha.
Step 2: Pour water over 1 tablespoon of tea leaves per cup.
Step 3: Steep for 1-2 minutes. All of our teas can be steeped up to 3 times.

Cold Hojicha Brewing Instructions

Simply add the desired amount of Hojicha tea leaves into a container or bottle and pour boiling water until the top. Let the tea steep and cool down before putting it in the fridge to chill. After 2-3 hours, the cold brew Hojicha is ready. Cold-brew tea lasts in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Hojicha Powder Preparation

Step 1: Add 1 teaspoon or 2 chashaku spoons of hojicha (~2g) into the chawan bowl. We highly recommend sifting the hojicha powder to remove any clumps.
Step 2: Pour 70ml (2.46fl oz) of hot water over the hojicha.
Step 3: Whisk the hojicha with a bamboo whisk (chasen) until a rich foam covers the top. After whisking, drink immediately when the hojicha is fresh and covered with a foam top.
Step 4: For a Hojicha Latte, simply pour the freshly whisked Hojicha over a cup of hot or cold milk.

With various different types, a wide range of health benefits, and many different ways to prepare, hojicha roasted green tea is a great staple to have in your pantry as it can be enjoyed in many different ways and has a flavor that will never bore you. Happy brewing, and enjoy your cup of hojicha!