Houjicha - Loose Leaf Roasted Japanese Tea

Drinking houjicha tea has many benefits. Firstly, since houjicha is simply roasted green tea, it contains high levels of catechins which help increase your metabolism, and reduce the risks of inflammation and heart disease.

Houjicha is also high in antioxidants, making it a great detoxifying agent and contains the amino acid L-Theanine, which is reputed to aid in lowering stress and improving your mood.

During the roasting process, the bitterness is removed from the green tea leaves giving houjicha a unique taste, often described as being nutty, earthy, or toasty.

It has a similar flavour profile to another popular Japanese green tea, Genmaicha.

Unlike traditional green tea, houjicha has very low levels of caffeine. So much so, that you can drink houjicha tea at any time of day, including before you go to bed. However, if you are very sensitive to caffeine, it’s best to avoid before sleep.

The main difference between matcha and houjicha tea is that matcha is made from young green tea leaves, whereas houjicha is roasted and comes from the mature leaves, stalks and stems.

This difference is reflected in the colour of the tea, with matcha being a bright green and houjicha being a shade of rich, earthy brown.

If you would like to try matcha, you can purchase Mura’s Matcha Adaptogen Latte Powder here.

Houjicha has significantly less caffeine than matcha, making it a more suitable fit for those who are caffeine-sensitive, don’t like the taste of matcha, or are looking to relax. Houjicha also has more calcium and is better for digestion, making it popular in Macrobiotic way of eating.

Though both matcha and houjicha contain catechines, the levels are significantly higher in matcha, making houjicha a less stimulating option. Matcha also has more L-Theanine, which means it is better for mood regulation.