There are many Hojicha benefits that we're going to cover in detail in this article.
Hojicha tea is a special type of Japanese roasted tea.
It undergoes the same steps as a normal bancha or sencha green tea, but then it is roasted in a large pan or machine to create these warmer notes of coffee caramel and chocolate.
This tea is not only delicious, but there are also many hojicha tea benefits as well. In this article, we are going to cover 9 different hojicha benefits you should know about. 🤎
Hojicha Benefits Quick Summary
Hojicha, a type of roasted green tea, offers several health benefits.
Firstly, it has a low caffeine content compared to other teas, making it a suitable choice for those seeking to reduce caffeine intake.
Secondly, it contains l-theanine, which promotes relaxation and helps relieve stress.
Additionally, hojicha's vitamin C content contributes to anti-aging effects, lightening dark spots and improving skin elasticity.
The tea's polyphenols and vitamins A, C, and E support the immune system and have antiviral properties.
Hojicha's catechins regulate blood pressure and cholesterol, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.
It also boosts metabolism, aiding in calorie burning and fat loss. The tea's polyphenols help reduce inflammation, alleviate joint pain, and protect teeth against cavities and bad breath.
Lastly, hojicha is calorie-free and can be a healthier alternative to sweetened beverages, making it beneficial for those aiming to improve their diet.
9 Hojicha tea benefits
1-Low in Caffeine
Hojicha is one of the lower caffeine green teas and this is one of the many hojicha tea benefits. It’s typically made from the older leaves and stems of the tea plant, which don’t contain nearly as much caffeine as the younger leaves.
The tea plant produces caffeine as a defense mechanism to protect itself from insects. The younger, more vulnerable leaves need more caffeine, and the thicker leaves and stems need less. After the leaves are dried, they are then roasted to create hojicha, which reduces the caffeine content even further.
If you are trying to cut back on the caffeine, but you still want to enjoy a warm, soothing beverage, hojicha may just be your best friend. In addition to being low in caffeine, there are also plenty of other hojicha health benefits we're going to cover later!
Question, do you know which tea has the most caffeine? Our team did a ranking of the 8 teas the most caffeine in a detail article. Here is the link of the article called 👉 Which tea has the most caffeine. And if you want to know which teas have lowest caffeine level, we also wrote an article with the 8 Lowest Caffeine Teas ☕️
2-Relieves Stress
The second of the hojicha tea benefits has to do with relieving stress. Like all the other types of Japanese green tea, Hojicha has l-theanine, which can help create a calming effect on the brain. L-theanine can stimulate alpha brainwave activity, the same brainwaves stimulated during meditation. This creates a more relaxed, creative mind and helps to relieve stress.
L-theanine can also buffer some of the negative effects of caffeine. Rather than getting a rapid jolt of energy and a crash later on in the day, tea drinkers report having a longer lasting, calm alert sensation throughout the day.
In addition to the l-theanine, hojicha tea also has a very calming scent to it. The warm cup of tea is bursting with aromas of wood, chocolate and caramel. This is one of the many hojicha health benefits and another reason to start brewing up delicious cups of this special tea.
3-Anti Aging
Vitamin C can help to lighten the dark spots that form on skin as it ages, and this is another one of the hojicha benefits. Vitamin C, which is contained within hojicha, has also been known to prevent the formation of wrinkles and increase skin elasticity over time. The vitamin C content also creates other hojicha health benefits, which we will discuss next.
4-Immune Support
Green tea contains polyphenols that can have antiviral properties and assist in the killing of bacteria. Because hojicha is a type of green tea, it also can provide these benefits. Hojicha also contains vitamins A, C and E which can benefit the body when it is fighting the common cold. These compounds can even be shown to reverse the effects of a compromised immune system.
These hojicha health benefits are particularly useful in the colder months, as the common cold is more rampant. Luckily, hojicha has a very warming flavor that is perfect for a cold winter day!
5-Cardiovascular Health
The catechins in green tea can help to regulate blood pressure and cholesterol. This can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, strokes and inflammation. The tea also contains Vitamin E which can help to reduce the risk of blood clots.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in many countries, so these hojicha tea benefits are extremely important.
6-Boosts Metabolism
Green tea has been shown to increase metabolism. During one study, two groups were told to conduct moderate exercise for 30 minutes. One group drank a cup of green tea beforehand and one group did not. The green tea group was found to burn more calories and even burn more fat overtime.
Also, hojicha tea can contain healthy fibers that promote good digestion. Healthy fibers help to keep your colon healthy while also reducing your fat absorption. In addition to the caffeine, catechins and theanine, fiber also contributes to the hōjicha benefits.
7-Helps with Inflammation
If you suffer from aches and pains, one thing that can help reduce the inflammation is polyphenols. These are components that are found inside green teas, including hojicha. This can not only help to decrease the inflammation in your joints, but it also can help to prevent further joint damage.
Inflammation is such a common issue, which makes this one of the most important hōjicha benefits.
8-Protects Teeth
The antioxidant EGCG, which is also present in other types of teas, can help protect your teeth against cavities and bad breath. They can also help to prevent gingivitis and gum disease from developing.
Just like with other green teas, a lot of the hojicha health benefits come from this powerful antioxidant.
9-Improve Diet
Although hojicha is quite flavorful, it is naturally calorie free. This drink has a natural sweetness to it, but it is much better for you than a hot chocolate for example. Next time you find yourself stuck inside on a rainy afternoon, try making yourself a warm cup of hojicha rather than reaching for the hot cocoa mix. These little adjustments and substitutions can really make a difference when it comes to reaching your health goals, making the hojicha tea benefits crucial.
Hojicha Tea Benefits video guide
How hojicha benefits your daily routine
There are hojicha benefits when it comes to your daily routine. Sometimes you want a nice pick me up in the afternoon, without having too much caffeine.
4:00pm might be a bit too late for a coffee or even for a sencha, but you may find that hojicha is just the perfect thing for you! By the way, do you know all the differences between Sencha and Hojicha? If not, checkout our article 👉 Difference between Sencha vs Hojicha.
Hojicha gives you enough energy to power through the day, without keeping you up all night. Cutting back on your afternoon caffeine may have a positive impact on your habits and even how you structure your day.
Final Thoughts on Hojicha health benefits
As you can see, the hojicha benefits are everywhere, and in case you somehow needed another reason to drink this tea, it also tastes incredible. With so many different hojicha benefits, and almost no hojicha downsides, drinking this tea seems like a no-brainer.
If you are interested in trying some hojicha tea for yourself and taking advantage of the many hojicha benefits, you can browse our selection at nioteas.com. After traveling around Japan for the past few years, we have met with dozens of different farmers and sampled many different types of hojicha tea. We only work with a small handful of farmers who have committed to growing Japanese green tea without the use of pesticides or chemicals.
We selected 3 of our favorites like the Roasted Hojicha Green Tea Noike, Kuki Hojicha and Shizuoka Hojicha Kawabataen, and you're free to try whichever one you like! You can also find these teas in our mega sampler, which includes the 30 best teas we’ve found during our travels throughout Japan.
