You may have heard that matcha powder is a superfood that has tons of antioxidants, nutrients, and health benefits. But did you know that its roasted counterpart, hojicha, also has a ton of health benefits? So, what makes the hojicha benefits different from other green tea or matcha?
Hojicha is a roasted green tea popular for its low caffeine and relaxing properties, but how exactly does it make our health better?
Here’s everything you need to know about the benefits of hojicha!
What is Hojicha?
Here’s a quick crash course: Hojicha is a Japanese roasted green tea made from old dried green tea leaves, stems, and veins. Many think hojicha is roasted matcha powder, but that is a misconception!
To make hojicha, you slowly roast the green tea over a charcoal fire until it turns dark brown, then package it as the whole leaf or grind it into a fine powder.
Because of the roasting process, the tea takes on a delicious roasted flavor and aroma, which many find soothing. The taste is similar to a caramel, chocolate, or coffee flavor with nutty notes. Additionally, the high heat evaporates or roasts most of the caffeine out of the tea, so hojicha is also very low in caffeine in comparison to coffee and matcha.
What is Hojicha Good For?
You might be wondering what makes hojicha better than other types of green tea, like sencha, matcha, tencha, etc. Well, for starters, because it’s low in caffeine, many caffeine-sensitive people drink it as a bedtime tea, like kids and elders!
The aroma of hojicha is also incredibly toasty and roasty, which has a somewhat comforting scent, so many people enjoy it as they relax!
But what about the great benefits of green tea? Does the roasting process decrease it? Luckily, no! The chemical composition of green tea changes significantly during roasting, which gives it unique chemical properties that benefit us in different ways.
From improved skin, potential weight loss, mental clarity, and more, here are 7 great hojicha benefits you should know!
7 Great Health Benefits of Hojicha
Here are some amazing hojicha health benefits that you might not know!
Note: I will only share something if I can find scientific evidence of it through peer-reviewed science journals or trustworthy science websites. So, take it with a grain of salt! I am not a medical professional (just a science lover), so if you are experiencing a medical situation, please see a medical professional.
1. Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory
It’s no secret that green tea has a lot of antioxidants, which by definition are compounds that reduce oxidation, the process that produces free radicals, or unstable DNA that harms our cells. Specifically, green tea has polyphenols, natural compounds with antioxidant properties, with catechins being the main polyphenol in green tea.
Catechins exhibit strong neutralization of reactive oxygen and nitrogen that can harm our cells. Some studies show that it has a very high potential to be anti-cancer, including prostate, breast, lung, stomach cancer, and more. While it does not replace any medical treatments, it can serve as a great support to preventive health measures.
Now, you might wonder if roasting hojicha decreases the amount of antioxidants in it compared to regular green tea. And this study shows that it does, but it still has a high concentration of antioxidants compared to oolong or black tea.
So you can still reap the anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory benefits from hojicha!
2. Boosts Mood
Did you know that caffeine is a drug? It actually stimulates dopamine, which is the chemical that influences mood and pleasure in our brain. However, too much caffeine can lead to unsustainable levels of dopamine that your body cannot produce, leading you to rely on it for dopamine (aka addiction).
But medical professionals suggest taking it in small doses for the mood-boosting effects, as small amounts of caffeine won’t make a huge difference long-term.
As mentioned, hojicha is low in caffeine thanks to the roasting process. Caffeine breaks down in high temperatures and evaporates out of the tea leaves, leaving the roasted tea with very little caffeine (about 5-7 mg per 100 g).
So, if you want a nice, potential mood booster, you can drink hojicha! (Obviously, its effects depend on how much dopamine you need to feel a difference.)
3. Promotes Digestion
Catechins to the rescue, again!
As established, hojicha has a lot of catechins that have antioxidant properties. However, catechins are also great for digestion and boosting metabolism.
For example, this study looks at how catechins influence energy expenditure (EE), which leads to weight gain when low or decreased. After a 2-week trial of increased tea catechin intake versus a placebo, the study saw a significant increase in EE, which may help maintain long-term body weight management.
Some also speculate that the low caffeine amount also makes it easier on the stomach, but that doesn’t correlate to digestion.
It’s similar to how drinking green tea after a meal also helps improve digestion!
4. Alleviates Stress (More Relaxation)
You may have heard of this amino acid called L-theanine, famous in matcha for boosting relaxation and alleviating stress. But hojicha actually has a very little amount of it due to the roasting process (L-theanine doesn’t do well with drying or heat), so I’m not sure it has a significant impact on our bodies.
However, what could promote relaxation in hojicha is actually its distinctive roasted and nutty aroma, which is thanks to a compound called pyrazine, which potentially relieves fatigue and relaxes the body. Hojicha has a lot of pyrazine, which is a component made from the Maillard reaction (the process of browning in cooking).
Aromatherapy is a huge practice of using aromatic materials to soothe or balance the body, and in a way, it’s similar to when you smell hojicha! But scientifically, it promotes. GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps relax the brain and reduces anxiety.
5. Boosts Metabolism and May Help in Weight Loss
You’ve guessed it, catechins, again.
This study heavily suggests that catechins help promote fat oxidation, which helps you burn more fat. It also stimulates thermogenesis, the process of generating body heat, which burns calories to create heat. Now, while the reigning champion for weight loss aid is green tea (un-roasted), hojicha is a great alternative, especially if you are sensitive to caffeine.
You still benefit from the catechins in hojicha, which can help you expend more energy and aid you on your weight loss or body composition journey.
However, I feel like I need to add another disclaimer that hojicha (or any tea for that matter) will not guarantee or cause you to lose weight; it is merely a tea aid that may help stimulate or improve your weight changes.
6. Better Blood Flow (Great Tea for Anemics)
We know that hojicha is rich in pyrazines, which stimulate relaxation, but it’s also great for blood flow!
Pyrazines induce vasodilation, or the widening of blood vessels, which increases blood flow. Certain pyrazine derivatives also prevent platelet aggregation, which promotes blood flow to organs, which helps prevent anoxia (lack of oxygen).
It’s usually recommended that people who have anemia stay away from tea, since tea with high tannins (green tea, black tea, etc.) blocks iron absorption. However, since hojicha is roasted, most of the tannins are burned off.
So, hojicha is great for blood flow and good for anemia.
7. Lower Cholesterol Levels
Last, but not least, catechins in hojicha and green tea help inhibit cholesterol absorption by the blood, which helps lower cholesterol levels. Therefore, protecting people from hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol).
Specifically, it helps prevent triglyceride absorption, which is the fat your body uses for extra energy. An excess of triglycerides can raise your risk of heart problems, as well as stroke.
So, you can be heart-healthy by drinking hojicha!
Is Hojicha Healthier Than Matcha?
It depends on what you want to get out of your tea! If you’re looking for a healthy, antioxidant-rich tea that is primarily calming and soothing, then hojicha is the perfect tea for you.
If you’re looking for an antioxidant superfood that’s packed with anti-inflammatory and anti-fatigue properties, then matcha is the better tea for you. It has much more caffeine and antioxidants in it since it is not roasted, and the caffeine lasts for much longer compared to coffee.
But honestly, you can’t go wrong with either tea as they’re both quite beneficial.
How to Drink Hojicha
Now, on to the fun part!
You can either brew hojicha tea leaves and drink it as a brewed tea, hot or iced, or consume the powdered form, similar to how you prepare and drink matcha.
For lattes, the hojicha tea powder is better since it’s more concentrated, which is more flavorful with milk compared to a brewed tea concentrate. To prepare it, simply sift it into a matcha bowl and add water.
Then, using a bamboo whisk, vigorously whisk the tea in a zigzag motion until you get a nice froth on top. Make sure you break up any clumps in the bowl so you get a smooth liquid.
My favorite way to drink hojicha is as an iced hojicha latte with a little bit of agave for a touch of sweetness. But it’s super versatile, and you can add different flavors or use different milks to tweak it to your taste.
Hojicha Recipes to Try
Now, you’re probably inspired to start drinking more hojicha—welcome to the club! Hojicha is a smoky and roasted tea that goes well with many flavors, like maple syrup, brown sugar, strawberry, and more. So, here is some hojicha inspiration for your next drink:
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