Relax with the aroma! The surprising relaxing effects of roasted green tea and how to brew it deliciously

Hojicha is actually a type of green tea.

Am I the only one who feels a sense of nostalgia when I smell roasted green tea?

Hojicha, which is characterized by its fragrant aroma and light taste, is actually a type of green tea. Written as "hojicha" in kanji, it is made by roasting the most representative green teas, such as "sencha" and "bancha," over high heat until they turn golden brown.

When you pass a tea shop, you may smell a fragrant aroma. That is because roasted green tea is made using tea leaves. The true identity of the nostalgic smell I feel is the aroma that wafted from a tea shop on my way to elementary school.

In fact, this hojicha tea became popular for some reason around 2015, and many products such as hojicha pudding and hojicha lattes were created. The boom has further heated up due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the overall sales of hojicha beverages has increased more than 20 times compared to 2005.

However, even though people may buy convenience store sweets or bottled drinks, there are still not many people who drink hojicha at home.

The reason why I feel relieved and calm

As mentioned above, hojicha is made by heating (roasting) sencha or bancha, but its greatest appeal is its light taste and aromatic fragrance. It has a soothing aroma that is different from the fresh, herbaceous aroma of sencha.

The source of that fragrant aroma is an aromatic compound called "pyrazine" that is produced when the amino acids and sugars contained in bancha tea are heated at high temperatures.

Hojicha improves blood flow!

A characteristic effect of pyrazine is its effect of improving blood flow. Pyrazine is said to have the effect of expanding blood vessels and improving blood flow. This is especially useful in the summer, when the body tends to become dehydrated and blood tends to become thick, which helps reduce the risk of stroke.

It is also known that roasted green tea has a relaxing and calming effect on the brain. So it's not just our imagination that drinking roasted green tea makes us feel relaxed, but there is a good reason for it.

The secret behind the refreshing taste

Hojicha has a light taste and little bitterness, which is because when the tea leaves are heated, the catechins, which give the tea its astringency and bitterness, become insoluble in water.

Compared to Sencha, the amount of catechins that dissolves in hot water is far less, so it can be safely consumed by people who don't like the bitterness of tea, small children, as well as people who are prone to anemia and those who are concerned about iron deficiency and are avoiding catechins.

Furthermore, because some of the caffeine in roasted green tea evaporates when heated, the caffeine content is lower than in sencha, and the diuretic effect is reduced.

Therefore, it is ideal not only for everyday meals, but also for daily hydration. *Please note that the caffeine content will be the same as that of Sencha if steeped for a long time at high temperature.

Tips for brewing delicious Hojicha

The fragrant aroma unique to Hojicha is further enhanced when brewed with hot water. Therefore, prepare hot, boiling water. Unlike Sencha, there is no need to cool the water. The amount of tea leaves per serving is approximately 3g, and the amount of water is approximately 130ml.

The steeping time should be short, about 30 seconds. If the steeping time is long, it will extract a lot of bitterness and caffeine. Try to brew it quickly with hot water.

What did you think? I think the most attractive thing about Hojicha is the relaxing effect that comes from its fragrant aroma.

Hojicha is a tea that is different from sencha and gyokuro, and is enjoyed for its aroma. Why not spend a relaxing moment with the nostalgic aroma?