Green tea from Japan that is rendered brown by roasting Bancha (a summer crop tea, harvested after Sencha) tea leaves. An Adagio customer favorite, with a toasty nutty flavor and slightly mesquite note. Earthy and warm quality, soothing finish.
Customers use these reviews to describe their experience with Hojicha, including flavor, aroma, preparation preferences, strength, and how the tea fits into daily routines. Browse the full review history page by page to compare tasting notes, steeping tips, and favorite ways to enjoy this tea.
I've learned that I really love roasted green teas. This reminds me of genmaicha, though slightly different. The roasty toasty flavor just does it for me. It's hard to describe the flavor to someone who's never had it, but I will say, it has undertones of an earthy green, but it's completely different at its heart. If you like genmaicha, you'll probably like this. If you've never tried anything like it, give it a go!
A smoky roasted flavor profile. Very grassy and earthy. Not one I'd reach for every day, but good every once and a while.
What a wonderfully sweet, earthy, nutty tea. I don't have words for it, I may have fallen in love with this tea. As stated, it has a nutty sweetness, but it's smooth. To me, this would be the perfect tea to enjoy on a brisk Autumn day while watching the leaves fall.
This is an interesting tea. I was surprised at the appearance- it does look like straw! I read that this is a late harvest tea and sometimes lesser quality, often served at mealtime. I enjoyed it very much and liked the toasted flavor. It is smooth and pleasant.
As others agree, I would not reach for this on a regular basis, but I have enjoyed it today. I will go for a second steep- maybe over ice the second time.
Oct ‘24 no idea what happened but I couldn’t drink it this time- a fishy/broth my vibe that was not for me…🤷♀️
really lovely. i think i steeped a tiny bit too long but even so no bitterness. agree that it's a nice 'toasty' flavor which i associated with green teas I like, but this doesn't taste like a green tea.
Warm, and toasty—yet floral and sweet! This tea strikes a perfect balance
It's not the worst thing ever. There is that under current of sweet and bitter green tea I like present, but I can't get over that it mostly tastes like sticks. Lol.
This tea was okay. It tastes a lot like nori. It is definitely an acquired taste, but worth it to try.
Glad to have found this tea on here. Love the toasted flavor and its a great tea for when I want something lighter than black.
I love this tea. it's always my go to. has a delicious roasted flavor, far different than the standard, often astringency of many green teas. the roasted taste is smooth and very lightly smokey.
A super unique tea! I first tried this in the green tea sampler and knew I had to buy a bag. Very earthy, not at all like other green teas. This is also great iced! I can see that it wouldn't be for everyone (again, a super-distinct earthy flavor), but if that's up your alley then this is a definite buy.
This is a very good Hojicha that tastes toasty and lightly mesquite. I rated it 4 stars because sometimes I really like hojicha and sometimes not so much. I guess I have to be in the mood for it. It’s great in blends though.
Fairly smoky for a green tea, but I thought it was a nice cup.
While there were a lot of (and I mean almost nothing but) twigs in my bag, this is my new hot toddy favorite. Similarly this is my new go-to when I make tea eggs. Alone, it's smokey and a bit malty, with a flavor reminiscent of mesquite or hickory--but not in a, 'holy smokes smoke is all I can taste' sort of way, so much as a supporting note that is balanced, and even nuanced.
Even if you're not having it toddy style, my favorite way to enjoy this is with some citrus, and a healthy addition of spicy honey. Mmmmmmm. So good.
This tea is a fave! It's got a nice smoky tone that you don't usually get in green tea. And it's just as strong as the black teas.
Had to give it a try as it was everyone's favorite. First time I made it too weak so not overly impressed, then rebrewed with more leaves, and it's still not for me - I believe I'm a grassy flavored, green tea type of fan! Glad I tried it though (thanks for selling sample size bags), I've loved every other green tea I've purchased! Sorry Hojicha.
Recently tried hojicha from here and two other places and this was the winner.
Unfortunately not my cup of tea. I can't get over the nori taste of this tea. I absolutely love nori, but not in my tea. My husband does like it alot though.
I really love toasted/roasted teas. the nutty flavor that comes out in my opinion is superb !! I usually have it lightly sweetened.
A delightful tea! It is smoky in a subtle way that doesn't overpower the green tea flavor. it has become one of my favorite green teas.
I tried four different Japanese teas, this was my favorite
Liked this one more than I thought I would. It has an herbal, almost grassy taste with a nutty edge to it. If you like green teas but want something a little different, this is definitely worth a try.
The aroma is soothing and relaxing, it smells like a warm blanket on a chilly day with toasty, nutty, and earthy sent and mesquite notes. It makes me want to curl up and enjoy a cup. The flavor of Hojicha is warm, savory, hearty, and soothing. It has a smooth and mellow taste, with a hint of sweetness and a touch of smokiness. It is a tea that fills you up and nourishes you, but also calms you down and eases your mind.
Delicious, full, smoky. My favorite green tea. No need for honey or other flavors, plenty on its own.
Great taste. Highly recommend. Pleasant fragrance.
Pretty good, though I would love it to be a little more nutty. Has a nice toasted flavor that's very earthy. Try not to oversteep this one so it doesn't become too earthy and dry - it only needs two minutes, which I didn't realize the first time I tried it. But this is a nice deviation from other green teas.
This is the first green tea I enjoy drinking. It’s so good I look forward to making a cup. Delicious.
My partner and I enjoyed hojicha on our honey moon and had been trying to find a good blend we enjoyed. This one was wonderful and is a great tea staple to have around.
Insanely good, even when I overbrew it (which is often, I have the brain of a chipmunk). Easy to drink, smoky, earthy and delicious. Will probably order a couple pallets if I come into an inheritance.
Delicious earthy tea, little less “green” and more bitter and delicious
This is a very different green tea with a bit of a toasted flavor. I liked it more than I though after smelling it first.
I've had quite a few different hojichas, most of them imported straight from Japan, and I would rank Adagio's offering as 'okay'. The aroma is not quite as nice and it's not as full-bodied as others I've tried, but the flavor is still decent. It did, however, develop an off taste on the second steep, something I don't experience with other hojichas I've had. I'd unfortunately have to recommend passing on this one.
I was hesitant to try this since I strongly dislike Adagio’s lapsang souchong and was worried this would have a similar smoky flavor. But I do love Adagio’s genmai cha and matcha genmaicha, and some reviews indicated hojicha might have a similar toasty (not smoky) taste — and they were right!
I think this does have a lovely toasty, almost popcorn, flavor very similar to genmai cha, without any actual smoke flavor. I would recommend trying this if you like genmai cha, or if you want to try a green tea but are not a fan of the strong grassy or vegetal flavor some green teas have.
Really delicious, toasty flavor. Very nice aroma. Definitely a contender for my new fav green tea. Leave are really only good for one steep
Hojicha was a surprise for me. I wasn't expecting much from a 'roasted green' but it immediately turned into one of my favorites. To date, it's the only tea I've bought a full 8 ounce bag of, and I fully intend to blow through it.
If you like the toasted rice notes from gen maicha, you'll love hojicha. Instead of toasted/burned rice, the leaves are toasted directly. All-over not as many grassy notes as gen maicha.
The taste grew on me as I finished the bag. The toasty notes are a bit deeper/harsher than the Genmai Cha from Agagio, for example. I typically added oat milk and sugar. I wouldn't turn down a cup if offered one, but I probably wouldn't purchase it over other options.
I've had this tea before from a sampler and remember enjoying it. This is a decent winter or spring brew, but a bit too earthy and bitter for a summer tea.
This is one of my favorite teas. It has a very unique taste for green tea. This is not nearly as smoky as lapsang. I would definitely order this again
Appealing nutty taste. Received as a sample and will definitely order along with my other favorites.
I've never tried a roasted green tea before. It's a nutty tea that somehow reminds me of corn silk. A deeper color than I'm used to. Very earthy.
A roasted, almost nutty taste to this tea. Just enough caffeine to perk you up in the morning without leaving you too wired.
My new favorite tea. I usually make a few batches and refrigerated later. This tea is amazing iced or hot
The smell before brewing was a little offensive. The taste was not bad.
Update CT 6/9/23. Way to grassy today. Just not my choice.
I am learning to appreciate green teas more, but still not my top choice. This one is darker than most - and as stated by others has a smoky flavor to it. Probably not my first choice in flavors, but it is tolerable. I steeped 180 degrees for 2:30 - split the time. Would drink again, but not likely purchase.
I was really hopeful for this green tea after reading some reviews as I love malty, nutty, and overall the 'darker' tastes you can find in a majority of black teas. Green has rarely tasted beyond grassy to me, even when carefully prepared [by myself or a green tea fanatic] or honeyed up.
This tea still largely tasted vegetal, but maybe like someone had roasted grass whilst thinking about nuts. Though it's not for me, I still recommend those on the fence about greens try it.
This tea was a nice one to get to experience. I have been wanting to try it for some time. I enjoyed the toasty flavor and that it wasn't as grassy but it seemed a bit underwhelming to me. I just wish there was more flavor or umph to it.
This tea looks like tiny sticks and has an aroma of toasted brown rice. It reminds me of a tea I had while in South Korea but it's not as sweet though. While I enjoyed thinking back on my travels while sipping, I prefer genmai cha for that. I don't see myself ordering this one.
This is a fantastic toasty green tea. Great for multiple steeps.
This is definitely a different kind of tea. I like it for something different to try but I wouldn’t reach for it on a regular basis. It has a nutty, woodsy flavor and I feel like it comes close to tasting like coffee. I would like to try it with some honey if I have a chance to drink it again.