Does Hojicha Have Caffeine?
Do you need a caffeine boost without the jitteriness or crash like coffee? Hojicha could be the answer.
Hojicha is a variety of Japanese green tea that has become increasingly popular both in Japan and abroad. It’s known for its unique roasted flavor and reddish-brown color. You’ll notice that it differs from the more common steamed green teas.
If you’re thinking of trying Hojicha tea, you may wonder, does Hojicha have caffeine?
Hojicha contains 7 to 10 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce serving, much less than coffee which has 95 milligrams per 8 ounces. This makes Hojicha tea a great option that provides a calm energy boost without the crash afterward.
If you’d like to learn more about Hojicha tea and its caffeine content, look no further. This article will provide an overview of Hojicha, including its production process, health benefits, and nutritional value.
What is Hojicha Tea?
Hojicha tea is made from roasted twigs, stalks, and leaves from green tea. The tea leaves are first steamed to stop the oxidation and fermentation process.
Once the steaming is complete, the hojicha tea leaves are dried and then roasted. The roasting process also changes the color, flavor, and scent, which gives hojicha its distinct characteristics. Hojicha tea has a special taste because it is nutty, sweet, and mellow-roasted. Some would even describe the taste as earthy dark chocolate.
How Does Hojicha Taste?
Hojicha has an aromatic, earthy, woody, and nutty flavor with slightly sweetness. Plus, it has fewer tannins than other green teas making it smooth and easy to drink. The darker tea leaves also indicate a more intensely roasted flavor.
Unlike traditional green tea, Hojicha doesn’t have a vegetal flavor.
Does Hojicha Tea Have Caffeine?
Compared to traditional teas, Hojicha has lower caffeine levels. The amount of caffeine in Hojicha depends on factors like variety, amount, steeping time, and roasting time.
An 8-ounce serving of Hojicha tea contains approximately 7 to 10 milligrams of caffeine. To provide a comparison, coffee contains approximately 95 milligrams per 8 ounces. For comparison, 8 ounces of brewed black tea averages around 47 milligrams. Both have much higher caffeine content compared to Hojicha tea.
Hojicha’s low caffeine level and high L-theanine content help reduce anxiety and have a calming effect. It also has health benefits, such as improved digestion due to its polyphenol content and possible antiviral effects.
Comparing Different Teas Caffeine Level
Here’s how Hojicha compares with other popular teas.
| Type of Tea | Caffeine Content (per 8 oz cup) |
| Genmaicha | 20 mg |
| Gyokuro | 160 mg |
| Matcha | 70 mg |
| Sencha | 20 mg |
| Oolong | 35-55 mg |
| Jasmine | 15-60 mg |
| Black Tea | 40-60 mg |
| Green Tea | 30-50 mg |
| Herbal Tea | 0 mg |
In comparison, traditional green or black tea has more caffeine than Hojicha. It’s a better option for maintaining energy levels without too much caffeine if you’re sensitive or need to limit your daily intake.
Does Hojicha Have More Caffeine Than Matcha?
Hojicha and matcha are two of the most popular Japanese teas. Undoubtedly, many people will compare both teas for their taste and caffeine level.
When comparing both teas, matcha has more caffeine than Hojicha. Matcha has approximately 60 to 70 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce serving. Whereas Hojicha tea has 7 to 10 milligrams in the same serving size.
Matcha is processed into a fine powder and retains more nutrients and caffeine. Hojicha is served as a loose leaf tea. Like Matcha, there are also powder options for Hojicha too.
Matcha is the better option if you’re looking for a balanced energy boost. Although Hojicha does have a small amount of caffeine, it won’t be noticeable.
Despite both containing caffeine, they won’t create jitteriness or energy crashes like coffee because it has L-theanine. You’ll gain mental focus, clarity, and relaxation when combining L-theanine and caffeine.
How Is Hojicha Made?
Hojicha is made from Bancha tea leaves sourced from Kukicha twigs or Sencha leaves. The roasting process involves roasting tightly rolled tea leaves, stalks, and twigs at a high temperature.
During the roasting process, Hojicha reaches 200°C. Since it’s higher than the boiling point of caffeine, it significantly reduces the amount. It’s also why the tea leaves take on their reddish-brown color and more earthy flavors through the roasting process.
The Health Benefits of Hojicha Tea
Hojicha tea has numerous health benefits, such as better digestion, enhanced detoxification, and weight loss. It also has anti-aging properties and a calming effect on those who drink it often.
Its low caffeine content makes it a great option for those seeking to reduce stress without upping their caffeine intake. Studies suggest that consuming one cup of Hojicha daily can reduce stress and improve sleep quality.
It’s also an anti-inflammatory agent that helps eliminate metabolic waste in the body and cuts inflammation in several organs, such as the liver and bowels. Studies show that Hojicha may help raise blood sugar levels while furnishing energy due to its natural caffeine content.
The health benefits include:
Increases metabolism and burns calories: Hojicha has catechins which boost metabolism and burn calories faster. It’s a great tea to add to a healthy diet when trying to lose weight.
Reduce inflammation: Green tea is a powerful source of polyphenols, flavonoids and antioxidants, which can reduce inflammation and protect against free radicals. It may also have anti-cancer properties.
Lowers Cholesterol: Green teas such as Hojicha can help improve heart health by lowering LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels and potentially reducing blood pressure.
Hojicha provides all these great substances without excessive caffeine. An ideal alternative for those seeking flavor without too much caffeine.
FAQs About Hojicha Tea
Can you drink Hojicha at night?
If you are looking for a beverage to enjoy before bedtime that is both calming and has low caffeine, then Hojicha is a good choice. Hojicha is a roasted Japanese green tea with only 7 to 10 milligrams of caffeine.
It has less caffeine than traditional green or black tea, making it an ideal option for evening drinking.
The calming effects of drinking Hojicha tea can last up to 3-4 hours after consumption.
Which is healthier matcha or Hojicha?
Matcha and Hojicha are two types of green tea that taste differently due to the processing method. They can both be enjoyed hot or cold and offer many health benefits.
Since both Matcha and Hojicha are sourced from green tea leaves, they’ll share many of the same benefits. But their health benefits do differ when it comes to potency.
Matcha has many health benefits, such as higher antioxidants, anti-inflammatory benefits, and healing properties than Hojicha. It’s widely known as a very special type of tea due to its antioxidant levels being many times greater than other types of tea.
Matcha comes in powder form, made from shade-grown leaves that must be de-stemmed and de-veined before the tea is ground into a fine powder.
Hojicha differs from matcha because it has stems and stalks and only has smaller parts of the leaf remaining. This results in much lower caffeine content than matcha. It also has much lower catechins, which gives Hojicha much lower antioxidant capacity than matcha green teas.
Can Hojicha cause insomnia?
Due to the low amount of caffeine in Hojicha, it’s generally not believed to be a risk factor for insomnia.
Hojicha is made by roasting green tea leaves, which lowers the amount of caffeine. A standard cup of Hojicha contains approximately 7 to 10 milligrams of caffeine. This means that even if someone drinks multiple cups daily, the total amount consumed will likely be much lower than what could cause insomnia.
Drinking Hojicha can also be beneficial for relaxing before bedtime. It has antioxidants known as catechins, which can help improve overall health and reduce inflammation. If you’re looking for tea before bedtime but want to avoid caffeine, Hojicha may be the perfect drink.
Can I drink Hojicha on an empty stomach?
When deciding whether or not to drink Hojicha on an empty stomach, you should consider your individual needs.
For some individuals more sensitive to caffeine and its effects on digestion, we recommend eating food before drinking caffeinated beverages such as Hojicha. This allows for more gradual absorption of the stimulant effect rather than overwhelming your stomach.
On the other hand, if one is not particularly sensitive to caffeine or looking for an extra boost first thing in the morning, drinking Hojicha on an empty stomach may be perfectly fine without any adverse side effects. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference, as everyone’s body reacts differently, so always listen carefully to your own body’s cues.
If you’re intermittent fasting, you’ll be happy to know that Hojicha or any green tea doesn’t break a fast.
Final Thoughts
Hojicha can be a great choice if you’re reducing your daily caffeine consumption but still love the taste of tea. It’s produced by roasting tea leaves, twigs, and stalks through high temperatures, producing less caffeine.
Hojicha is also loaded with nutrients that provide many health benefits, such as improving the immune system, reducing inflammation, and burning calories. Give Hojicha tea a try if you’re looking for an earthy and nutty flavor.
