What is Hojicha Green Tea? – Benefits, Taste & Brewing Tips

We talk a lot about tea here at Sibo Survivor. Why? Tea is so much more than just a tasty and soothing beverage — it is packed with antioxidants and a number of health-boosting properties that fight disease, aging, and indigestion.

Hojicha is a lesser-known tea that we think deserves more attention. Let’s jump in and see why!

Hojicha: The Green Tea That Isn’t Green

Hojicha is a special green tea that is roasted. A cousin to matcha tea, the roasting gives it a unique zesty flavor not found in other green teas. And while it’s technically still a green tea, after roasting it’s actually varying shades of brown.

Roasting reduces not only the tea’s bitterness, but the caffeine levels as well. Some Hojicha is made from the roasted twigs of the tea plant instead of the leaves, and with these teas, the caffeine content is substantially lower. Because of its low caffeine levels, most people can enjoy Hojicha tea any time of day.

How Is Hojicha Tea Made?

Hojicha tea originates from Kyoto, Japan in the 1920s. Its use began to spread after World War II and is now enjoyed around the world.

Hojicha tea typically comes from either the bancha, kukicha, or sencha tea plants. After harvesting, the tea leaves or stems are steamed to preserve their nutrients and prevent oxidation. They are then roasted at around 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the tea is cool, it is roasted over charcoal or in a porcelain pot.

From there, the roasted Hojicha tea leaves are ground into a fine powder with a stone mill.

Benefits of Hojicha Tea

Like other green teas, Hojicha tea has numerous health benefits. Contrary to popular belief, the roasting process does not reduce the tea’s nutrition. It simply reduces the bitterness and caffeine! Here are some of the top benefits of Hojicha tea:

Get Glowing Skin With Vitamin C

Hojicha tea contains vitamin C, which is great for your skin. Vitamin C maintains skin’s youthful appearance, lightening dark spots caused by acne or aging and repairing skin damage. Consuming vitamin C also improves your skin’s elasticity and prevents wrinkles. [1]

Antioxidants For Improved Oral Health and Arthritis Prevention

Antioxidants are bioactive compounds that fight oxidative stress in the body. Oxidative stress leads to numerous non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, different types of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.

Antioxidants are considered health superheroes because they fight free radicals in the body, preventing cancer and reducing inflammation.

Hojicha tea contains high levels of antioxidants. In particular, it contains epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which can reduce allergies, prevent bad breath, cavities, gingivitis, and gum disease. [2] Plus, epigallocatechin gallate also reduces arthritis pain and joint inflammation.

Relieve Stress and Gain Energy

Any cup of tea can provide soothing comfort. However, Hojicha tea offers some additional relaxation effects backed up by research. The L-Theanine in this tea can reduce anxiety, depression symptoms, and overall stress. It also supports calm and focus, helping you be more productive. [3] This same compound also slows down caffeine absorption, so you don’t have to worry about a caffeine high and then crash- you can enjoy a slow energy burn all day long!

Immune Support

Hojicha tea contains vitamins A, C, and E which act to support the immune system and fight the common cold and prevent scurvy. Not to mention, the polyphenols in Hojicha tea have antiviral properties.

Boost Metabolism

Catechins contained in Hojicha tea can boost your body’s metabolism, meaning you burn more calories at rest. Plus, the caffeine in Hojicha tea supports weight loss by improving your body’s fat-burning abilities and increasing exercise performance. [4]

Improve Digestion

Hojicha tea contains more fiber than other types of tea, supporting your digestive health and regularity.

Brewing Hojicha Tea

There are a few ways to enjoy Hojicha tea. You can steep it traditionally with water, or sip it like a matcha latte.

Traditional method

1. Boil your filtered water. Hojicha tea is best brewed with very hot water, at around 100C. Add a bit of extra water to the kettle so you can heat your teapot before you add the tea!
2. Warm up your teapot by pouring some hot water into it and letting that sit for a minute. Otherwise, your boiling water will rapidly cool once you add it to the pot, and your tea will not brew as well. Once your teapot is warm, toss out the water.
3. Add your tea leaves or sachet and hot water to the teapot. Let it steep for 1.5 minutes; Hojicha tea does not need to steep as long as other teas.
4. Remove your tea bag or loose leaves. They’re organic matter so make sure you put them in the compost bin, not the garbage can!
5. Pour in your favorite mug and enjoy! It’s delicious on its own, or with honey.

Hojicha tea latte

Like matcha tea, Hojicha tea can be made into a delicious latte. Taking only a few moments, it is a delicious and healthy way to enjoy this tea. However, the benefit of Hojicha tea is that it is less prone to lumps, so no sifting is needed.

1. Add your Hojicha tea powder to a mug.
2. Pour a small amount of hot water or steamed milk on top and whisk vigorously until it’s fully combined and a pleasant foam forms. It’s best to use a bamboo whisk rather than metal because it imparts no flavor and gives you more control over foam. Because the powder is finer, you can also just mix it with water or milk with a spoon, but we find the whisking imparts the best texture.
3. Add the remainder of your steamed milk of choice (plant-based or dairy both work great) and stir thoroughly.

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Conclusion

Hojicha tea is a unique green tea with many wonderful health benefits. The flavor is delicious and quite different from most other teas. It can support your overall health goals while providing you with a soothing, tasty treat. So if you haven’t yet tried it, add Hojicha tea to your list!

Resources:

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579659/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8444437/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18296328/
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15640470/

Written by Stephanie Moore

Stephanie is a professional writer who is a ‘SIBO survivor’ herself with broad experience writing in the health field. She is a regular writer for SIBO Survivor and calls Berlin, Germany home.