As the name of this tea, it is manufactured with the roasting process. That is why the color of the powder is brown and its flavor is different from normal green tea.
Houjicha is commonly made with Green tea. The basic process consists of roasting the loose leaves at about 200 degrees celcius, followed by a quick cooling. This process lowers the catechin and caffeine content of the leaves. Why is this important? Because the catechin is the main source of astringency and caffeine an important source of bitterness in the tea. Houjicha is a mild tea that is easy to drink and on top of that has very little caffeine.
