Hōjicha is a delightful roasted Bancha which is a Japanese green tea. Its appearance, aroma and flavour are like no other green tea. Bancha means everyday tea and consists of the leaves and the stalks of the tea plant which means it is not thought of as very refined. However, it makes the tea very accessible and roasting gives it a quality that makes it seem quite special.The idea of roasting the leaves was invented in Kyoto in 1920, possibly by a tea merchant who roasted a surplus stock of older green leaves he was worried would go off and did not want to waste. The result was a tea that has proved it can hold its own and the wonderful toasty smell was certainly tantalizing and popular enough to continue to be produced as a new category of tea. Its roasted aroma has been compared to coffee, though it has to be said it is not going to match an espresso in intensity! Roasting has a decaffeinating effect on the leaves which means you are not going to get a coffee buzz either. However, it does mean it works well as an after-dinner drink or for those who prefer a lower caffeine drink, without crossing over to infusions. For the occasional cup, it can be a good option for pregnant woman.
