Does hojicha have less caffeine than green tea?

Usually yes. The high-heat roasting breaks down much of the caffeine, and hojicha is often made from lower-caffeine mature leaves and stems.

Can you drink hojicha before bed?

Most people can. It is low enough in caffeine to work as an evening drink, though it is not caffeine-free, so very sensitive drinkers should keep it early or ask for it weak.

How Much Caffeine Is in Hojicha?

Q: How much caffeine is in hojicha?

Roughly 7 to 25 mg per cup, depending on the leaf and the brew. That is far less than coffee (around 95 mg) and less than matcha or regular green tea.

by hoji ben

Hojicha has very little caffeine: roughly 7 to 25 mg per cup, depending on the leaf and how it’s brewed. A cup of coffee is around 95 mg. That low number is the whole reason people drink hojicha in the afternoon.

Why hojicha is low in caffeine

Two reasons. First, hojicha is roasted over high heat, and the roasting breaks down a lot of the caffeine in the leaf. Second, it’s usually made from bancha: older leaves and stems, which start out lower in caffeine than the young shade-grown leaves used for matcha.

How it compares

Rough per-cup numbers. They vary by brand and brew:

Hojicha: 7 to 25 mg.
Brewed green tea (sencha): 20 to 50 mg.
Matcha: 30 to 70 mg. You drink the whole leaf, so it adds up.
Coffee: 80 to 100 mg.

Latte vs straight

A straight, brewed hojicha sits at the low end. A latte can run a little higher if the cafe uses a strong concentrate or hojicha powder, but it’s still far below coffee.

Can you drink it before bed?

Most people can. It’s low enough to work as an evening drink, which is most of its appeal. It isn’t caffeine-free, though, so if you’re very sensitive, keep it earlier or ask for it weak.

New to it? Start with what hojicha is, or see the ranked list.