If you don’t live under a rock, chances are you’ve already met the vibrant green Matcha that we all know and love. But what if we told you there’s a roastier cousin that deserves just as much attention? Enter: Hojicha. It’s toasty, it’s mellow, it’s seriously underrated and it might just be your new favourite tea.
So let’s break it down. What is the difference? And how do you choose?
Meet Matcha
Matcha is made from finely ground shade-grown green tea leaves called Tencha and whisks into a smooth, vibrant brew. The taste? Think umami-rich, and slightly sweet. It’s packed with antioxidants and gives you a calm, focused buzz thanks to its unique combo of caffeine + L-theanine which means the caffeine releases more slowly into your system, giving you a gentle uplift rather than a spike.
Did you know that high-quality Matcha is shade-grown for about 3 weeks before harvest? This shading boosts chlorophyll and L-theanine levels, giving Matcha its vibrant green colour, rich umami taste, and a calm-alert effect.
Why not try our Matcha Ceremonial Grade Kagoshima Natural Farming or Matcha Ceremonial Grade Yame Yabukita?
Best for:
- Morning rituals
- Matcha lattes
- Ceremonial tea moments
The best thing about Matcha is that it’s wonderfully versatile, too. We spend A LOT of our time coming up with new, innovative ways to enjoy it. We’ve put together some of our favourite recipes to help you explore:
Meet Hojicha
Hojicha is made from roasted green tea leaf stems so, it’s still technically green tea, but you’d never guess from the colour or flavour. After roasting, it turns a beautiful brown hue and smells like toasted nuts, or even caramel. The caffeine content is significantly lower than Matcha since the stems produce less caffeine when growing, making it a gentle beverage to sip on even later in the day.
Did you know that Hojicha is low in caffeine is low because it’s roasted? The roasting process breaks down the caffeine making it a gentle beverage to sip on later in the day.
If we’ve intrigued you, here’s our Organic Hojicha Powder to try out.
Best for:
- Cosy evenings
- Hojicha iced lattes
- People who love the taste of coffee (but don’t need the caffeine)
Wondering how to use Hojicha and what the best recipes are? We’ve got you covered:
Verdict? You don’t have to choose sides. Think of Matcha and Hojicha like yin and yang—morning and evening, focus and relaxation, green and brown. One gives you that clean, sharp lift, while the other wraps you in a warm blanket of calm. Both teas have great health perks. Matcha steals the spotlight for its antioxidants and caffeine content, while Hojicha wins for its gut-friendly roast, lower caffeine, and versatility.
From innovative Matcha drinks to rich and creamy Hojicha lattes, we supply both premium Japanese tea powders along with simple recipes, guidance, and free samples to get you started. Email us at info@avantcha.com and we’ll help you find the perfect fit. You might also like to visit our Matcha for Professionals knowledge page here >
