Is Hojicha bad for you? A thorough explanation of the truth behind the rumors! We also introduce its health benefits and things to be careful about.

Introduction

"I heard that Hojicha is bad for your health...is that true?"

Have you heard any rumors like that recently?

Hojicha is a familiar tea for Japanese people, known for its fragrant aroma and mellow taste.

It has a low caffeine content and can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from children to adults, so many people probably drink it on a daily basis.

However, on the internet and social media, you may come across information that says, "Hojicha is bad for your health," or "Drinking too much Hojicha is dangerous." What is the truth?

In this article, we will examine various rumors about Hojicha and get to the truth.

We will provide a detailed explanation based on scientific evidence about the ingredients in Hojicha, its health benefits, and points to be aware of, so please read to the end.

To put it bluntly, is Hojicha bad for your health? What are the disadvantages?

To put it simply, roasted green tea is not particularly bad for your health.

Rather, like other Japanese teas, it is rich in ingredients that are beneficial to the body.

First of all, hojicha is a type of tea that has its fragrant flavor brought out by roasting tea leaves such as sencha, bancha, and kukicha over high heat until they turn golden brown.

Although you wouldn't guess it from its brown color, the tea leaves are actually green, and although the amounts are slightly different from those in regular sencha, they still contain catechins, caffeine, vitamins, and other ingredients.

Because of its refreshing taste, the perception that "hojicha does not contain caffeine" spread, and there was a time when hojicha was commonly served in kindergarten and elementary school lunches.

However, this is incorrect, and hojicha, like regular sencha, contains caffeine.

Compared to gyokuro or high-grade sencha, it contains far less caffeine, but the amount is almost the same as regular sencha.

Therefore, it is possible that people who are physically unable to tolerate caffeine or small children who drink large amounts of Hojicha, believing it to be caffeine-free, may experience health problems such as gastrointestinal upset or trouble falling asleep.

This may be the truth behind the widespread rumor that "Hojicha is bad for your health."

Why did the perception that it was caffeine-free become so widespread in the first place?

This is merely a theory and we are not sure of its veracity, but many people may have got the impression that the mild bitterness of the coffee makes it "caffeine-free."

Many people misunderstand that the bitterness and astringency of green tea is actually due to catechins, not caffeine.

By roasting the tea leaves, the catechins become less soluble in water, giving Hojicha a refreshing taste with little bitterness.

In fact, the catechin content of Hojicha is about one-third that of regular Sencha.

Additionally, roasting the tea leaves causes some of the caffeine to evaporate.

In fact, Hojicha tea leaves contain 10-15% less caffeine than regular Sencha.

Therefore, many people may have the impression that Hojicha has less caffeine. This is actually correct.

However, hojicha is generally brewed with freshly boiled water to bring out the best of its fragrant aroma.

On the other hand, regular sencha is usually brewed with water at around 75℃.

Caffeine dissolves more easily in hotter water, so even though the amount of caffeine contained in the tea leaves is small, brewing with hot water results in the same amount of caffeine being extracted as in regular sencha.

Health benefits of roasted green tea

Hojicha has a reputation for being "bad for your health," but it has the potential to bring a variety of health benefits, including a relaxing effect, improved blood flow, and improved sleep quality.

The key to this is a compound called "pyrazine" that is produced during roasting.

Pyrazine has the effect of balancing the autonomic nervous system and giving dominance to the parasympathetic nervous system, thereby leading to a relaxed state of mind and body.

Pyrazine also promotes the secretion of a neurotransmitter called GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the brain, and is expected to have the effect of relieving stress.

In addition, it promotes blood flow through its vasodilatory effect, helping to improve poor circulation and fatigue.

It is believed that drinking roasted green tea before going to bed increases the relaxing effect due to the action of pyrazines, helping you fall asleep more easily and achieve better quality sleep.

Another noteworthy substance contained in roasted green tea is melanoidin.

Melanoidin, which is produced during the roasting process of tea leaves, has extremely strong antioxidant properties and is known to remove active oxygen that has adverse effects in the body.

In addition to preventing arteriosclerosis, which is a cause of aging and lifestyle-related diseases, it also works similarly to dietary fiber, lowering cholesterol levels and slowing the rise in blood sugar levels.

In addition, it is said that improving the intestinal environment helps prevent constipation.

In this way, hojicha tea has a very high health benefit and is good for the body.

Hojicha is a good ally for those who are prone to anemia

As mentioned earlier, the amount of caffeine in Hojicha is not much different from that in regular Sencha, but on the other hand, the catechin content is only about one-third that of regular Sencha.

For this reason, Hojicha is recommended for people who are concerned about consuming a lot of catechins, such as those who tend to be anemic or have gastrointestinal problems.

Hojicha tea is made by roasting the tea leaves, which prevents the catechins from dissolving in hot water.

Because it contains less catechins, it does not interfere with the absorption of iron, so even people who are prone to anemia can safely enjoy roasted green tea with their meals.

How to drink Hojicha tea well: Tips for adjusting caffeine intake

However, some people may still be concerned about caffeine.

If that's the case, there's no need to give up. You can further reduce the caffeine content by choosing dark roasted hojicha.

Also, by extracting it for a short time (about 30 seconds) using slightly warm water (around 70°C), you can enjoy the delicious flavor of roasted green tea while reducing the amount of caffeine extracted.

By the way, the recommended caffeine intake is up to 400mg per day.

The caffeine content of Hojicha is 20mg per 100ml, which is equivalent to 20 regular cups of tea. If you enjoy it in moderation, you will not reach the upper limit, so there is no need to worry.

Finally

So, as you can see, if you drink hojicha in moderation and correctly, it is not harmful to your body, but rather has beneficial effects on your health.

Of course, excessive consumption should be avoided because it contains ingredients such as caffeine and catechins, but if consumed in moderation, you can expect a variety of health benefits, including a relaxing effect, improved blood circulation, and intestinal regulation.

The important thing is to adjust the amount you drink and the brewing method to suit your constitution and physical condition.

Please enjoy a relaxing moment with the gentle flavor of roasted green tea.