Why Hojicha?

Hojicha is a style of Japanese green tea produced by fire roasting the tea leaves that’s only been introduced fairly recently in history (in the 1920s.)  It may be confused with other varieties of tea due to the red tone gained through roasting.  Some other effects of the roasting include:

• Less of a “veggie” taste and more of a roasted caramel taste compared to standard green teas.
• Less astringency and bitterness.
• Significantly less caffeine content.

It’s worth noting that the roasting also decreases the L-Theanine content of the tea.  L-Theanine is the amino acid in tea that’s responsible for increasing alpha waves in the brain, thus inducing calmness without drowsiness.  However, there’s been a study done in Japan which indicates the calming effect of Hojicha is similar to that of regular green tea even though the Theanine content is only 1/100 of it.  While it’s still premature to draw definitive conclusions from a single study, you can definitely test out the effect by comparing your level of “calmness” after consuming a cup of Hojicha vs. another cup of decaffeinated green tea.

Nevertheless, Hojicha is a popular tea among the elderly and children in modern Japan.  It’s also frequently served in the evenings due to its highly limited caffeine content.  So if you’re prone to Anxiety, this tea is definitely a tried and true remedy without the side effects of drowsiness or jitters!

So How Can I Learn More?

Please click the green “Check It Out” button below to head over to Amazon.com!  You’ll find the variety of Hojicha sold by Tokyo Matcha Selection in two 150g packages.