These intensely roasty leaves and stems are considered a green tea, though you wouldn't know it from either their color or flavor. Treated at a high heat, their grassiness is transmuted into notes of roasted grain, cocoa, and even a caramel sweetness. This also breaks down much of the caffeine, making hojicha a less stimulating option which doesn't lack body, and a tea gateway for those trying to switch from coffee. It also complements strong-tasting foods while cutting through creamy ones, and is as suitable at the dinner table as at the tea table.