Hojicha

Hojicha (焙じ茶 hōji-cha, "roasted tea") is a green tea from Japan. It is set apart from other teas because it is roasted over charcoal, giving the leaves a brown appearance despite the fact that they are actually green tea leaves. This process was first performed in Kyoto in the 1920's and its popularity persists today. Hojicha is made from Bancha (番茶, "number tea"), the last pickings of the summer that are generally considered low in quality compared to other Japanese teas. Once roasted, however, the leaves make a nutty flavoured tea that is popular far beyond their mediocre beginnings. Another interesting property of this tea is that it is virtually void of food energy and caffeine due to the roasting process, making it a popular tea to drink before going to sleep.