Hōjicha: why roasted green tea is even better than the regular stuff for cognitive performance

A bowl of roasted green tea, also known as Hōjicha

Credit: Getty

Strong Women


Hōjicha: why roasted green tea is even better than the regular stuff for cognitive performance

By Lauren Geall

10 months ago

3 min read

Looking for an easy way to boost your cognitive performance? A daily mug of green tea – particularly in its roasted form, hōjicha – could be the answer, according to a new study.


From ginseng to lion’s mane, there’s no shortage of supplements out there designed to boost your cognitive performance. It’s hardly surprising: when you’re trying to juggle work responsibilities, social commitments and general life admin, you want your mind to be as clear as possible.

But according to a new study, stocking up on supplements isn’t the only way to give our minds a little helping hand. In fact, there could be a simpler way – and it happens to taste great, too.

The research, published in Scientific Reports, found that even small daily servings of green tea and roasted green tea (also known as hōjicha) can improve task performance and mental wellbeing. Here’s everything you need to know. 


What did the study involve? 

To measure the impact of the two drinks, researchers recruited a group of 20 Japanese men with an average age of 23 and asked them to complete a five-minute mental arithmetic task six times across two sessions in one day. Before and after the first session they simply consumed hot water, while before and after the second session they drank either green tea or roasted green tea.

One month later, the team asked the participants to complete this process again but switched the type of tea they got served in the second session to ensure everyone had both teas.

On both days, they measured 11 different physiological responses as well as self-reported data on fatigue, stress, mental workload and workflow. They then combined these two groups of measurements to assess the impact the drinks had on the participants’ ability to complete the tasks. 

What were the results of the study? 

Green tea in a glass mug during summer

Credit: Pexels

Ultimately, the researchers found that both the green tea and roasted green tea led to a moderation in the participant’s stress responses compared to drinking hot water. They also found that task performance was “significantly” higher with tea consumption when compared to water.

But when they looked at the two teas in isolation, they found it was the roasted green tea that offered the most benefits. Only the roasted green tea appeared to help the participants feel less fatigued – despite it being lower in caffeine than regular green tea – and that the participants who drank the roasted tea had an improved response rate and task performance.

But why is this? Well, the team behind the study believe the aromatics in both green tea and roasted green tea could play a key role.

“By scrutinising various indicators, we found that aromatic stimulation of Japanese tea beverages has the potential to induce positive effects, enhance mental task performance, promote refreshment and alleviate feelings of fatigue,” they wrote in the study. 

This could explain why the roasted green tea provided a bigger boost in cognitive performance and helped to relieve fatigue – the aroma tends to be stronger due to the roasting process.

The physiological benefits associated with green tea could also explain their impact in this study, Alyssa Simpson, a registered dietitian nutritionist, told Medical News Today

“The study highlights the role of aromatic stimulation from tea, particularly compounds like pyrazines in roasted green tea, in influencing mood, relaxation and alertness by directly affecting brain activity,” she said. “Additionally, tea consumption induces peripheral vasoconstriction, potentially contributing to feelings of refreshment and increased alertness.

“The study also suggests that aromatic stimulation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to relaxation and reduced stress responses, ultimately enhancing task performance and reducing subjective feelings of fatigue.” 

What does this study mean for us? 

Before we get too carried away by the results of this study, it’s important to note that the sample size is small and limited by factors such as gender and age, so we can’t say for certain that these results could be replicated in a larger study that also involves women and people of older ages.

But that doesn’t mean enjoying a daily mug of green tea isn’t worth it. We know, for example, that green tea can support muscle recovery and it’s also full of polyphenols – a type of plant antioxidant which can offer benefits throughout the body. And roasted green tea, in particular, is also ideal for people with caffeine sensitivity due to its lower caffeine levels. 


Images: Getty

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