As lovers of unique and delicious beverages, we’ve recently found ourselves enamored with a Hojicha Latte, a delightful, warm drink that combines the earthy flavors of roasted green tea with creamy, frothy milk. Whether you’re new to Hojicha or a seasoned fan, this latte is an absolute must-try.
Unlike its popular green tea counterpart matcha, Hojicha is made from green tea leaves that have been carefully roasted at a high temperature, which results in a lovely, toasted flavor with slightly sweet caramel undertones. When whisked with steamed milk, it offers a cozy and satisfying experience that will make your taste buds dance.
From discovering the history and preparation methods to exploring various recipes and pairing ideas, we invite you to join us as we dive into everything there is to know about this enticing beverage.
Please note: This article contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking a link. Of course, this comes at no extra cost to you and helps me to keep offering solid information to readers.
What is a Hojicha Latte?
We often stumble upon the term ‘Hojicha Latte’ in many cafes and menus, but what exactly is it? This is a delicious and wholesome beverage that combines the unique flavor of Hojicha, a roasted Japanese green tea, with creamy and frothy milk. It’s a perfect alternative to our usual coffee and tea beverages, offering a warm, soothing, and delightful experience.
The process of creating Hojicha begins with using either Sencha, Bancha, or Kukicha green tea leaves. The leaves are then roasted in a porcelain pot over charcoal at high temperatures This gives the tea leaves a brownish color and a distinct caramel-like roasted aroma. This process not only enhances the flavors but also reduces the caffeine content, making it a great option for those who wish to cut down on their caffeine intake.
Once these steps of the process are finished, the leaves are packaged and distributed. You can find Hojicha in powder form as well.
Note: If you need a bit more insight into tea lingo, Sencha is a tea prepared with the first leaves plucked during harvest season. This is known as the first flushing. Bancha is a tea prepared with leaves plucked during the second, third, and even fourth flushings (later during the harvest season). Kukicha is a tea prepared with both the leaves and twigs (stems) of the tea plant.
Ingredients and Tools for Making Hojicha Latte
Hojicha Tea
For a delicious Hojicha Latte, we recommend choosing a high-quality Hojicha tea. This roasted green tea is known for its wonderful fragrance, rich flavor, and low caffeine content. You can find it in loose leaf or tea bag form. To ensure the best flavor, store your Hojicha tea in an airtight container and away from light, heat, and moisture.
Alternatively, you can buy Hojicha powder. We will show you how to prepare a latte from loose leaf or powder.
Milk
Our recipe calls for your choice of milk. This can be dairy milk or a non-dairy alternative such as almond, soy, oat, or coconut milk. We recommend using milk that has a creamy consistency, as it will provide a richer and smoother texture for lattes (low-fat or skim milk may not help you achieve the consistency we are looking for).
Sweetener
While Hojicha has a naturally pleasant taste, adding a bit of sweetener can further enhance the flavor of your latte. You can use regular granulated sugar, honey, or a sugar substitute such as stevia. Adjust the sweetness to your preference.
Tools and Equipment
You will need some simple kitchen equipment such as measuring cups and spoons, a small pan (to heat water), and a heatproof cup or mug (to serve the drink). It would be nice to have a whisk or milk frother for blending the milk and tea together and creating a creamy froth.
How to Make a Hojicha Latte
It is time to share our step-by-step guide to making a delicious Hojicha Latte at home (yay!), along with some helpful tips and tricks. Let’s dive right in.
Preparation from Hojicha Powder
- First, gather the ingredients. You will need:
- 2 teaspoons of Hojicha powder
- 2 tablespoons of hot water
- 1 cup of milk (any type)
- 1 tablespoon of sweetener (honey, sugar, or syrup, optional)
- In a small bowl, whisk the Hojicha powder with the hot water until smooth and without lumps.
- Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until it reaches a light simmer. You can also heat the milk in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to let it boil over.
- If you have a milk frother, you can froth the heated milk until it’s creamy and has a nice foam on top. If you don’t have a frother, you can whisk the milk vigorously with a regular whisk. You can skip this step, but frothing the milk adds a wonderful texture to the latte.
- Pour the Hojicha mix into a cup or heat-resistant mug.
- Add the sweetener of your choice (optional) and stir until combined.
- Slowly pour the heated milk into the cup, holding back the foam with a spoon to allow the liquid to pour first.
- Gently stir the Hojicha mix and milk together until well combined. If you frothed the milk, spoon the milk foam on top of the latte.
- Your matcha latte is ready to be enjoyed!
Preparation from Loose Leaf
If you start with loose leaves (instead of powder), you must start by brewing tea. For this, follow the simple process below:
- Measure 1 teaspoon of Hojicha tea leaves per 8 ounces (240 mL) of hot water.
- Heat the water to a temperature of around 200°F (93°C), which is slightly below boiling point.
- Place the tea leaves in a teapot and pour the hot water over the leaves.
- Let the tea steep for 30 seconds to 1 minute, depending on your taste preference. Pay special attention to this step since you do not want to over-steep.
- Strain the tea into your cup, leaving the tea leaves in the teapot.
After following these steps, heat and froth the milk (as explained in the previous section). Then, combine half a cup of tea, half a cup of heated milk, and sweetener (optional). Pour on a cup, stir, and pour foam on top. Remember that for a preparation from brewed tea, we are using equal parts tea and milk for the latte.
And there you have it! A warm and delicious Hojicha Latte, perfect for any time of the day.
Hojicha Latte Variations
We love exploring different ways to enjoy Hojicha Lattes, and we’d like to share some of our favorite variations with you.
Iced Hojicha Latte
When the weather starts to warm up, we find that an Iced Hojicha Latte is the perfect refreshment. Start by brewing Hojicha tea, and let it cool down a bit. Then, pour the tea over ice in a tall glass, leaving some room for the milk.
Next, pick your preferred milk – whole, skim, or any plant-based milk will do. To achieve a frothy texture, give it a good shake or blend before pouring over the iced tea. If you enjoy your Iced Hojicha Latte a bit sweeter, you can add some honey or agave syrup to taste.
Vegan Hojicha Latte
Our vegan friends can relish in a delicious Vegan Hojicha Latte without compromising on taste. The key to creating a creamy vegan version lies in choosing the right plant-based milk. Some of the best options for a velvety texture and rich flavor include:
- Almond milk
- Oat milk
- Soy milk
- Coconut milk
Simply brew your Hojicha tea, and warm up your choice of vegan milk. Blend the milk to create a frothy texture, then pour it into the cup with the tea. For added sweetness, use dairy-free sweeteners like agave, maple syrup, or stevia.
Hojicha Latte with Vanilla
You can add a twist to the drink by incorporating ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract. To me, vanilla makes everything better (well, almost everything) so, I love to add it to my drinks for a change.
Hojicha Matcha Latte
I prefer Hojicha over Matcha. But I have to say mixing both types of teas yields an interesting flavor combination. If you want to experience both flavors in a latte, mix 1 teaspoon of Hojicha powder and 1 teaspoon of Matcha with 2 tablespoons of hot water. Heat 1 cup of your favorite milk and pour it in a mug. Add the Hojicha/Matcha combination and mix until you achieve a frothy texture.
Health Benefits of Hojicha Latte
We love sipping on a warm cup of Hojicha Latte not only for its delicious flavor, but also for the various health benefits it offers. We discuss some of those benefits below.
Hojicha is a type of green tea, which undergoes a roasting process that gives it its distinct flavor and lowers its caffeine content. Thanks to this, we can enjoy our Hojicha Latte without worrying about excessive caffeine consumption, which makes it an excellent beverage option for our evening relaxation sessions.
Furthermore, the antioxidants present in Hojicha such as catechins and EGCG, help in protecting our cells from damage caused by free radicals. These antioxidants also contribute to strengthening our immune system, making us more resilient against common ailments.
Another significant benefit of Hojicha is its stress-reducing properties. The amino acid L-theanine, which is naturally occurring in green tea leaves, has been shown to promote relaxation and mental clarity.
In addition to its mental health benefits, Hojicha may also support our digestive system. The tannins in green tea can help with the digestion process and may even alleviate symptoms associated with acid reflux and indigestion.
Food Pairings
You know we cannot resist a good cup of tea. And, to make things better, we love to pair our tea creations with the right food. Here are some foods we enjoy pairing with our Hojicha Lattes:
- Baked goods: The buttery and sweet flavors of baked goods like muffins, scones, croissants, and cookies complement the nutty and slightly smoky flavor of a Hojicha latte.
- Dark chocolate: The bitterness and richness of dark chocolate can balance out the sweetness of the latte. You can enjoy a piece of dark chocolate with your drink, or try a Hojicha latte mocha by adding a shot of dark chocolate syrup.
- Cheese: Soft and mild cheeses like brie or camembert can complement the roasted and nutty flavor of the latte. You can also try pairing the drink with a cheese plate that includes a variety of cheeses.
- Nuts: Nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, and walnuts can bring out the nutty and roasted flavors of Hojicha.
- Japanese sweets: Traditional Japanese sweets like mochi, daifuku, and wagashi can pair well with a Hojicha latte.
Hojicha Buying Recommendations
At this point, I am pretty sure you are eager to try as many Hojicha latte variations as possible. I am providing some loose leaf and powder recommendations below.
I always recommend visiting a local tea specialist to get you tea leaves or products but realize this may not be a possibility for many readers (buying from online retailers may be the most viable option in these cases).
Jade Leaf Organic Hojicha Roasted Green Tea Powder
Kimikura Organic Hojicha Powder
It has been such a joy to write about one of our favorite tea-based beverages. Hope you have enjoyed the article. See you next time. And until then, keep sipping!
Have you tried a Hojicha Latte?
More About Hojicha
More About Tea
What Does Green Tea Taste Like?
The Process of Making Green Tea