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Excellent with meals too! The characteristics and delicious brewing method of deep-roasted hojicha

Many people might have experienced the comfort of sipping hojicha after a meal when dining out. Hojicha, often enjoyed in the evening, has the characteristic of containing less caffeine compared to other green teas. It is typically made by roasting bancha or stems, which already have lower caffeine content, and the high-temperature roasting process further reduces the caffeine, making hojicha lower in caffeine compared to other green teas.

Also, did you know that you can actually make homemade hojicha using green tea and a frying pan? If you’re interested in homemade hojicha, check out this article.

In this article, we will introduce the characteristics and delicious brewing method of hojicha, a tea that most people have likely tried at least once.

The brewed tea will look like the one shown in the photo below.

Characteristics of the tea leaves and the brewed tea.

This articleAs introduced in the article, hojicha is made by roasting (or pan-frying) green tea leaves to achieve a fragrant finish, so while it is not green, hojicha is still considered a type of "green tea." However, hojicha is characterized by its beautiful caramel brown color in the brewed tea.

Flavor characteristics

Above all, the soothing sweetness is the main characteristic of hojicha. Depending on your preference, you can extract a stronger bitterness and astringency by brewing it for a slightly longer time.

Aroma Characteristics

From the moment you take a sip, you can enjoy the roasted, toasty aroma and the sweet fragrance of the tea.

Brewing Conditions

Tea leaves amount: 5g (6 teaspoons) *Since hojicha has a larger volume, it is recommended to use a slightly heaping amount when measuring with a teaspoon.  
Water amount: 300ml  
Brewing temperature: 95°C  
Brewing time: 1.5 minutes. For a stronger body with bitterness and astringency, brew for about 2 minutes according to your preference.

Recommended tea pairings

・- Dried raisins
・- Nuts
・- Cheese fondue
・- Miso ramen
・- Sablé

The roasted aroma of hojicha pairs exceptionally well with food. Try making it iced and serving it in a wine glass to experience a slightly different, more elegant side of hojicha. Be sure to explore the pairing of hojicha with various dishes.