CHOI
HOJICHA
What is hojicha?
Hojicha is made from the same tea plant as all grean teas are in japan. Instead of being steamed and kept green, the leaves are roasted at high temperatures.
Roasting process
The leaves are placed in a rotating metal drum and heated to temperatures around 150–200°C. As they roast, several things happen:
• The chlorophyll breaks down, turning the once bright-green leaves into a warm reddish-brown.
• Natural sugars caramelize, creating Hojicha’s signature notes of roasted nuts, caramel, and cocoa.
• Harsh or grassy flavors disappear, leaving a smooth, toasted, almost dessert-like profile.
• Caffeine levels drop, because caffeine degrades under high heat — making Hojicha naturally mild and calming.
Experience
Through that process, hojicha is very different to any other tea. It has a smooth, toasty, nutty, slightly sweet flavor with notes of roasted nuts, cocoa, and caramel. Because it is low in caffeine, hojicha has a very calm and easygoing energy.