Hojicha Roasted Green Tea vs Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha

Roasting a green tea drops its caffeine and changes it completely.

sweetnessaciditybitternessbodyaroma
Hojicha Roasted Green TeaShizuoka First-Flush Sencha
Measured comparison of Hojicha Roasted Green Tea and Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha
Hojicha Roasted Green TeaShizuoka First-Flush Sencha
Caffeine20 mg50 mg
Serving8 oz cup (240ml)8 oz cup
Strength (per 100 ml)8.3 mg21.1 mg
AcidityLowLow
CategoryGreenGreen
OriginKyoto, JapanShizuoka, Japan
Best forTeapot & mugTeapot & mug
Water90°C75°C
With milkEither wayEither way
Tastes ofToasted Grain, Caramel, CocoaFresh Cut Grass, Young Greens, Sea Breeze

Which one, for what

Worked out from the two records above rather than asserted, so nothing here can contradict the table.

  • A hard morning startShizuoka First-Flush Sencha

    Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha carries 50 mg against 20 mg.

  • Drinking it after sixHojicha Roasted Green Tea

    Lower caffeine wins here, and at a five-hour half-life the gap matters more than it looks.

  • A sensitive stomachToo close to call

    Hojicha Roasted Green Tea is low acidity; Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha is low. Acidity is only part of why a drink provokes reflux, but it is the part you can choose.

  • Taking it with milkToo close to call

    Hojicha Roasted Green Tea: either way. Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha: either way.

  • Something to sit and pay attention toToo close to call

    Both score similarly on aroma, so this one comes down to which flavours you prefer.

  • Making it without special equipmentToo close to call

    Hojicha Roasted Green Tea wants teapot & mug; Shizuoka First-Flush Sencha wants teapot & mug.

Axis by axis

sweetnessmuch the same
acidityFirst-Flush Sencha noticeably higher
bitternessFirst-Flush Sencha noticeably higher
bodyFirst-Flush Sencha noticeably higher
aromamuch the same
Hojicha Roasted Green TeaToasted grain, caramel and a hint of cocoa: Japanese green tea roasted brown until the grassiness is gone.Read the full page Shizuoka First-Flush SenchaCut grass, a little sea air and a sweet, savory finish: spring sencha from the tea fields of Shizuoka.Read the full page

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