If you’re looking to try speciality tea drinks, you’ll likely come across matcha and hojicha. While both originate from the Camellia sinensis plant, they undergo different processing.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!For instance, matcha is stone-ground and steamed to preserve its fresh umami punch, while hojicha is charcoal-roasted to achieve a nutty, toasted profile.
These distinct methods result in matcha providing a high-caffeine energy boost, whereas hojicha offers a low-caffeine, soothing alternative that’s perfect for any time of day.
What is Matcha?
Matcha is a stone-ground, green powder produced from young, shade-grown tea leaves, known for its intense umami flavour and ability to provide a sustained, calming energy boost.
Unlike standard steeped teas, this alternative involves consuming the entire leaf, which is whisked into hot water to create a frothy, nutrient-dense suspension. This specialised cultivation process maximises chlorophyll and L-theanine, making it a staple for those seeking antioxidant-rich focus.
The defining characteristics of matcha include:
- Preparation: It must be whisked vigorously with water just below the boiling point rather than steeped and removed.
- Colour: Unlike hojicha, matcha has a signature green that indicates high chlorophyll content.
- Powdered Form: The leaves are ground into a super-fine texture, ensuring you ingest all the beneficial nutrients of the plant.
- Shade-Grown: Plants are covered before harvest to boost amino acids, resulting in a brilliant green colour and a “calm alertness.”
- Flavour Profile: The taste is characteristically grassy, vegetal, and savoury, offering a bold umami experience.
- Ideal Usage: It’s best for those who need sharp morning focus, sustained energy lift without the jitters, and a dose of antioxidants to start the day.
What is Hojicha?
Hojicha is a Japanese green tea that undergoes a high-temperature roasting process over charcoal, transforming the leaves into a distinctive reddish-brown colour. Also spelt as “houjicha”, this variety is often compared to traditional Chinese tea, especially since they both possess an amber hue.
However, they differ greatly. While Chinese teas often lean toward a sharper bitterness, hojicha is crafted primarily from the Yabukita cultivar, resulting in a much smoother, mellow profile.
The defining characteristics of hojicha include:
- Roasting Method: Mature tea leaves and stems are roasted at approximately 200°C, which removes the vegetal grassiness typical of other green teas.
- Colour: Unlike the bright green colour of matcha, this tea produces a warm, earthy brown or deep amber hue.
- Flavour Profile: The taste is nutty and toasted, often revealing comforting notes of caramel or cocoa with a smoky finish.
- Preparation: Aside from being versatile and available as whole leaves or powder, it also tolerates higher brewing temperatures than delicate steamed teas.
- Ideal Usage: It is best for those looking to unwind in the evening or for individuals who are sensitive to stimulants and want a soothing, warming nighttime cup.
Which Has More Caffeine, Hojicha or Matcha?
Compared to hojicha, matcha contains more caffeine, with its potency often rivalling certain types of coffee. Because matcha involves consuming the entire stone-ground leaf, the stimulant intake is much higher than that of steeped varieties.
Conversely, the caffeine content in hojicha is low, making it a popular choice for those seeking a relaxing, low-stimulant beverage.
Why Matcha Has More Caffeine:
- Young Leaves: It is produced from young, shade-grown tea leaves, determining how much caffeine it contains.
- Whole Leaf Consumption: Since the powder is whisked directly into your drink, you ingest the entire leaf rather than just the infusion.
Why Hojicha Has Less Caffeine:
- Mature Leaves and Stems: It typically utilises older leaves and stems, which are naturally lower in caffeine.
- Roasting Process: The high-heat roasting breaks down caffeine compounds and creates a signature toasty flavour.
Customise Your Perfect Beverage Menu
The choice between hojicha and matcha ultimately rests on whether you crave an umami-rich energy boost or a toasty, low-caffeine moment of relaxation.
At Nineteen95, we offer both premium options, ensuring your mobile coffee cart service is perfectly tailored to your guests’ preferences. For those seeking even more variety outside our coffee cart menu, you can book bubble tea catering through our sister company, Frothtea Bubble Tea.
Book your next event coffee cart through Nineteen95 and include both hojicha and matcha alongside classic lattes and Americanos for the ultimate beverage diversity.
