null

Organic Hojicha Green Tea

Rich flavors of toasted grain and hay with sweet honey undertones

certified organic
Organic Hojicha Green Tea
$2.50
Orders over $60 ship free in USA
 
 
 
 
 

Organic Hojicha Green Tea

compostable-tea-packaging-1.jpg

This organic Japanese green tea is roasted to perfection to produce an amber infusion with flavors of toasted grain and stone fruit, with a pleasant buckwheat aftertaste. Our most recent lot boasts a more pronounced toasted flavor profile. Although this is truly an organic green tea (in that it lacks oxidation), the leaves are turned brown during the roasting process. According to Japanese research, Hojicha Green Tea (also spelled "Houjicha") is reputed to have lower caffeine than other green teas because of the unique roasting technique. This organic loose tea can be brewed with hotter water than most green teas and is devoid of astringency.

Ingredients: organic Japanese green tea

Origin: Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

Organic Tea from Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan

Located in central Japan, Shizuoka is known as the capital of Japanese green tea production. Though it is not the oldest producer of green tea, it is the largest: this prefecture alone accounts for 40 percent of all green tea production in Japan. However, much of the world never experiences organic tea from Shizuoka because tea is so popular in Japan that most tea grown in Japan is consumed in Japan; very little is exported. Shizuoka lines the Pacific, and runs into the Japan Alps and other mountains, including Mt. Fuji. For those concerned with the implications of the Fukushima-Daiichi disaster, we continue to have our organic teas from Japan independently tested for radiation.

Steeping Instructions

houjicha-tea-steeping-instructions.jpg

At Arbor Teas, we believe tea should be brewed to suit your personal taste. We’re happy to make recommendations to get you started, but don’t hesitate to experiment! When brewing your tea, your main considerations are tea quantity, water temperature, and steeping time. We recommend green and white teas to be steeped for 2 to 3 minutes in water heated to not-quite-boiling, just as bubbles begin to form on the bottom of the pan (approximately 170 to 180 degrees F). For the best flavor, use fresh water whenever possible. Try not to steep your tea longer than necessary, as you’ll extract undesirable bitterness from the leaves. If you want a stronger brew, don’t steep longer, just use more tea. And don’t forget to re-steep your tea leaves to get the most out of your leaf!

Looking for more info? Check out our How-To Guides and Eco-Brewing Tips!

Staff Perspectives

  • Chelsea

    "I love the honey-like sweetness with the toasty notes in this, also delicious iced!"

  • Jeremy

    "With its brown leaves and rich dark brew, I always find it difficult to believe Hojicha is actually a green tea."

  • Aubrey

    "Because of the mellow, non-astringent qualities of this tea, I like to drink Hojicha at night. I also recently found that it makes an EXCELLENT iced tea!"

Health Benefits

green-tea-health.jpg

Like all true tea, green tea offers many potential health benefits. Research has found that tea (Camellia sinensis) can have many positive effects on human health, including improved cardiovascular function, cancer risk reduction, improved immune function, improved oral health, and help with weight management. Tea is also full of polyphenols, which are a class of antioxidant that help your body maintain homeostasis and balance your stress levels.

Green tea specifically is known for its array of health benefits, which have been supported by a growing number of studies. Green tea research has demonstrated that it may be an effective anticancer agent for breast cancer, lung cancer, kidney cancer and prostate cancer, among others. Studies have shown a link between green tea and weight loss, and the ability to modulate energy metabolism, aid in body fat regulation, and possibly promote preferential loss in abdominal fat. Research has also shown that green tea may increase performance for short term memory tasks, as well as being increasing potency of antibiotics. Other peer-reviewed studies link green tea to healthy skin, help with lowering cholesterol, and regulating diabetes. It’s important to keep in mind that many of these studies monitor subjects who drink several cups of green tea per day.

For more information about the health benefits of green tea, and for direct sources of the above information, check out our Tea Health Benefits page!

Please note: the information above is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Hojicha Recipes

Customer Reviews

We always want to hear from you! Post your own review and earn 10 rewards points.
Write a Review
  • 3
    Not what I expected but OK

    Posted by Milana Peacock on 7th Nov 2023

    Hojicha is one of my favorite teas. I was surprised to see the one I bought from this store looked like roasted Kukicha. I was very curious to try it but found it… just OK. Don’t think I will repurchase it.

  • 5
    Nice in the evening

    Posted by David Wonnacott on 9th Aug 2023

    I have this in the evening, sometimes mixed with a bit of spearmint or peppermint, when I want something nice but very low caffeine.

  • 5
    A delicious tea

    Posted by Angela on 30th Aug 2022

    This was a tea I originally tried in the Japanese green tea sampler, but I loved it so much that I bought a whole bag! It has a rich, chocolate-y flavor and a low amount of caffeine -- perfect for evening!

  • 3
    Good for the price

    Posted by AZ on 16th Nov 2021

    Hojicha is one of my favorite teas when made with quality Bancha and roasted with skill. This Hojicha however is more of a roasted Kukicha than a Bancha because it's about 99% stems. That's not to say it's bad but to me it's not a true Hojicha because of it. The flavor is different than what you'd get when using leaf. This one is more of a slightly nutty wheat with creamy tones. Where as a true Hojicha has a heavier roasted flavor that's warming and hard to describe. Still good though.

  • 5
    Great for sensitive stomachs

    Posted by Shandra on 23rd Apr 2021

    I normally can't drink green tea first thing in the morning before breakfast without becoming nauseated. Hojicha to the rescue! Very smooth and toasty flavor. If you like the roasted grain quality of genmaicha you might give it a try - even though there isn't any rice in this one.

  • 5
    Love it

    Posted by Nick Moloney on 13th Apr 2021

    This is a great tea! I used it to make cold brewed iced tea and am really enjoying the toasted flavor of it - it's definitely different but it makes it not quite as bitter as some other green teas I've had which I really appreciate.

  • 2
    Too toasty

    Posted by Tracey on 21st Feb 2021

    I gave this a try due to reviews and suggestions that since I liked Kukicha, I should try this and Gyokuro. I found the toasty buckwheat flavor overpowering and will not finish the sample. Granted, the description did say this particular batch was toastier than prior batches but even so, I don't think I'll be trying it again.

  • 4
    Warm and Mellow

    Posted by CAKleimeier on 1st Oct 2020

    I'm usually not a big fan of green teas. Generally, I prefer strong black teas and dislike the grassy, bright, vegetal notes in green tea. This green tea, though, has won me over. Instead of grassy and bright, this tea is mellow in flavor, with notes akin to toasted grains or a late summer field rather than a freshly-mown lawn. It's warm and only lightly astringent, and seems to walk a middle ground between green and black teas. I'd recommend this to those who prefer black teas to green but are looking for something different.

  • 5
    Great surprise!

    Posted by Yen-Wen on 11th Jan 2018

    It's not the usual "green" tea! I just love the lightly toasty smell and certainly the sweet undertone is extremely pleasing for the finishing! I'm just so happy that I have tried the tea. It's a delight!

  • 2
    Will not order again!

    Posted by gracin on 12th Mar 2017

    I wanted to find a green tea without a very vegetal flavor. This fits the bill, but I find that I prefer the vegetal flavor to the toasty buckwheat taste of this tea. I have tried one or two cups, and will probably discard the remainder of the package. I strongly recommend buying a sample size if you are contemplating ordering this tea.

  • 5
    Tasty, toasty

    Posted by Lala on 26th Jul 2016

    This is a terrific tea to have with warm meals. I enjoyed it with chili this afternoon, believe it or not! To me, there is no mistaking this- it's a Japanese tea, and the toasty rice/grain comes through. It is mellow and smooth and lower in caffeine than other greens, so you could enjoy at any time of day.

  • 4
    I Really Enjoy This Tea!!

    Posted by Jason Sheets on 14th Dec 2013

    I am not a green tea fan for I have never had a cup that I could truly say I enjoyed. However that is no longer the case, for as of now this is the best green tea I have tried. I had given up on green tea and stayed with white and oolong. Aubrey told me that the taste was slightly similar to Wuyi Oolong. She was completely right! It is very similar to me yet milder. If you like Wuyi, you'll like this green tea. It will not be as strong but will have a bit of Wuyi flavor.

  • 1
    very unpleasant smell (and I'm being kind)

    Posted by KR on 27th Dec 2012

    My husband ordered this tea by mistake. He only drinks decaf tea. I tried it this afternoon and just can't get past the smell. The minute I opened the bag, it hit me. I almost thought it was spoiled but took a tentative sip. Surprisingly, it tastes ok, but it smells so bad I only managed to drink a half a cup. My husband got a whiff of the wet tea leaves and agreed that it really smells awful. I do agree that there is no bitterness or acidity.

  • 4
    Surprise!

    Posted by Phil Johnson on 15th Dec 2012

    I find this green tea to be much different relative to other Japanese varieties. I enjoy the surprising, roasted grain flavor from this dark brew. Nice aftertaste. re-steeped three times with great result. If you are looking for something different from a green tea this is a must try!

  • 4
    delightfully different

    Posted by Unknown on 13th Feb 2012

    i love the flavor. it's mellow and light, lacks any real bitterness or acidity. has a slightly sweet aftertaste. it's really good. didn't think i would like a green tea that doesn't look anything like green tea.

  • 4
    Best value

    Posted by Bill Edwards on 17th Nov 2007

    This tea brews to a deep amber color. If I close my eyes I am sitting around a campfire with hot cereal cooking. The roasting creates a unique flavor with a faint hint of a dark honey flavor. I was about to enjoy my third cup from the same leaves when my wife asked for a try and she enjoyed it also. At the price per serving this one may find a permanent home with me.

  • Show All Reviews