Buckwheat tea is a drink made from the infusion of roasted buckwheat seeds. In France, this drink is most often known by its Japanese name, sobacha (soba meaning buckwheat and cha meaning tea), but it is also consumed in Russia (under the name Kasha), China or Korea (memilcha). Despite its name of tea, buckwheat tea does not contain any theine and can therefore be consumed in the evening or by young children. Where does buckwheat tea come from, how to prepare and choose it and what are its benefits? Our brand, Maison Aimi, specializing in drinks of Japanese origin, has recently chosen to add buckwheat tea to its range of drinks: in this context, we are introducing it to you.

Summary

Origins: Where does buckwheat tea come from?

Where is buckwheat tea consumed?

How is sobacha eaten in Japan?

How to prepare your sobacha?

What does buckwheat tea taste like?

How to choose your buckwheat tea?

What are the benefits of buckwheat tea?

Buckwheat is a pseudo-cereal native to northeastern Asia (Mongolia, China, Nepal and Siberia, in the far east of Russia). It has been consumed there for centuries, as flour or seeds, but also in drinks, beer and infusion. The cultivation of buckwheat then gradually spread, as agriculture developed. In Japan, buckwheat began to be cultivated during the Jōmon era and more precisely during the first millennium BC.

Like other grain infusions, such as mugicha (roasted barley tea), buckwheat tea has gradually entered the Japanese drinking habits. Today, it is made from roasted rather than toasted or fermented grains .

Buckwheat tea is mainly consumed in its countries of origin: Russia (where it is called “Kasha”), Korea (“Memilcha”), China (“Kuqiao-cha”) and Japan (“Sobacha”).

In Europe, where buckwheat has been cultivated since the 14th century, buckwheat tea took a long time to establish itself. It has recently become a fashionable drink, particularly for its benefits: buckwheat tea is good for your health, gluten-free and without caffeine or theine.

In Japan, sobacha is drunk both hot and iced . Hot, it is a comforting drink, a great alternative to tea or gourmet rooibos. Cold, it is particularly thirst-quenching in summer. Japanese women like to drink buckwheat tea in the morning when they wake up, or at the start of a meal for its draining properties. Without theine, sobacha has no stimulating effect. It is often given to children and can be consumed throughout the day.

Sobacha is extremely simple to prepare.

All you need to do is pour boiling water over roasted buckwheat seeds and let it steep for a few minutes, at your convenience. Generally, we recommend a quantity of one tablespoon per cup and an infusion of 10 minutes: but it mainly depends on your taste!

Buckwheat tea can also be cold brewed – which saves you the trouble of refrigerating it before drinking it in the summer. To do this, simply pour cold water over your roasted buckwheat groats; however, the brewing process may take a little longer.

And to make your drink more delicious, nothing stops you from “improving” it with agave syrup, honey and/or plant-based milk of your choice to create a sobacha latte . Don’t hesitate to tell us if you want a specific recipe: we have suggested one for the mugicha latte!

Reusing seeds

Little zero waste tip: you can absolutely consume roasted buckwheat seeds once they have been used in infusion. Reuse the seeds in a porridge or muesli recipe, or to play on the textures in a salad or soups. What's more, you can also grind the grains to obtain buckwheat flour. You are then free to use it wherever you want, in cakes, buckwheat pancakes or even in making noodles, soba being a Japanese specialty!

Buckwheat tea has a discreet and comforting flavor marked by notes of hazelnut and toast linked by the slow roasting of the seeds. Buckwheat does not contain tannins, buckwheat tea has no bitterness , even if it is infused for a long time.

When choosing your buckwheat tea, we recommend that you opt for local and organic production, because it is not only more eco-friendly but also better for your health!

At Maison Aimi, we strive to offer you organic infusions made in France : our sobacha comes from buckwheat produced in France and Europe and our buckwheat seeds are hulled and roasted in Ariège, before being packaged in our workshop in Yvelines.

🇯🇵 And of course, if you have the opportunity to go to Japan, don't hesitate to treat yourself and buy some Japanese sobacha. You will find it in grocery stores, Japanese supermarkets and tea specialty stores.

Buckwheat has many benefits and this contributes to the fact that sobacha has them too .

Contrary to popular belief, buckwheat is not a cereal . It is in fact part of the Polygonaceae family, like rhubarb and sorrel. Buckwheat tea is rich in minerals, fiber, vitamins and antioxidants, including magnesium, copper, iron, manganese, zinc, phosphorus, potassium, B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6) and rutin, an antioxidant that protects the health of our blood vessels. You will also appreciate its interesting properties for protecting your intestinal flora.

Furthermore, buckwheat tea is distinguished by what it does not contain:

• Buckwheat tea is gluten-free
• It does not contain caffeine / theine
• It does not contain tannins which contribute to staining teeth and making the drink bitter.

Since buckwheat does not contain caffeine or theine , its infusion can be consumed by pregnant and breastfeeding women, children and the elderly without any risk. The only contraindication to drinking buckwheat tea is buckwheat allergy.

Consumed for several centuries in Japan and more widely in Northeast Asia, buckwheat tea is a drink that is both delicious and beneficial for your health. It is tea in name only and turns out to be a great alternative to tea because it contains neither theine nor tannins: try it without delay!