When talking about Japanese green tea, many people may think of Matcha first. But there is another type of green tea that is equally popular, which is Hojicha. Although they are both green teas.
Hojicha and Matcha are clearly different in their production processes, taste, aroma, and color menu.
Matcha: The Powdered Green Tea of the Tea Ceremony
Matcha is a green tea that has gone through a special cultivation process. สมัคร UFABET The tea fields are covered to protect from sunlight for about 20 days before harvesting. This results in the tea leaves having a high chlorophyll content, a deep green color, and a unique umami flavor. After harvesting, the tea leaves are steamed, dried, and the stems and fibers are removed, leaving only the tea leaves called “Tencha”. Then, they are ground with a stone mill into a fine powder.
- Color: Bright green, emerald green
- Scent: Fresh and seaweed-like (Umami)
- Taste: Rich, umami, slightly sweet, and may have a slight bitter aftertaste in lower-quality matcha.
- Caffeine: It has more caffeine than other types of green tea because it is made by drinking whole, finely ground tea leaves.
- Brewing method: It is usually brewed with hot water and beaten with a bamboo brush (Chasen) to create fine foam. It is popularly drunk in tea ceremonies or mixed in various drinks and desserts.
Hojicha (Hojicha): Roasted green tea with a burnt aroma.
Hojicha is a special green tea that is made by roasting green tea leaves (most commonly bancha or sencha) over high heat, which breaks down the chlorophyll in the leaves and creates a unique aroma similar to roasted nuts or caramel. This roasting also greatly reduces the amount of caffeine, making hojicha an easy-to-drink tea that is perfect for an evening or bedtime drink.
- Color: Light brown to orange-reddish brown, similar to the color of coffee.
- Smell: Aromatic, roasted, nutty or caramel-like, with a warm, earthy aroma.
- Taste: Smooth, mellow, not bitter, not astringent, no prominent umami taste like matcha, easy to drink.
- Caffeine: Very low in caffeine due to the roasting process.
- Brewing method: Easy to brew with hot water. Can be brewed as a regular tea or used to make lattes and various desserts.