Hojicha Latte

Lattes

You guys know I’ve been doing a tour of all the Orange County coffee shops. We’ve tried several places that offer these delicious Hojicha Lattes. So, I decided it was time we tried making them at home. And, I’m happy to report we’ve come up with an amazing version, one that I’m super excited to share with you!

This is definitely something different than your usual cuppa tea. We first discovered Hojicha in loose leaf tea many years ago from The Republic of Tea.

These lattes start with hojicha powder, which is basically just the roasted tea leaves ground down to a fine powder.

But wait, I think I’m getting a little ahead of myself.

What is Hojicha?

In case you aren’t familiar with it, hojicha (how·jee·chuh) is roasted Japanese green tea leaves, twigs, and branches. The hojicha powder (that’s used here) is made by grinding those roasted tea leaves into a fine powder. This powder is similar to matcha powder in that it dissolves in water and is a more concentrated form of green tea.

That roasting process mellows the tea, removes the bitterness, lowers the caffeine content, and gives Hojicha its beautiful reddish-brown color and smoky caramel flavor.

It was created in the 1920s in Kyoto, Japan, when a farmer roasted the tea leaves over charcoal.

The result is a rich and robust tea with woody toasty aromas and a slightly sweet and nutty flavor. The flavors are very similar to the flavors in a good cup of coffee, which makes it a great choice for lattes.

Btw, hojicha powder is great to use to flavor baked goods.

What is a hojicha latte?

So, a hojicha latte is simply a tea latte made with Japanese roasted green tea (or hojicha), water, milk, and sweetener.

Does it have coffee if it’s a latte? No, it doesn’t have to contain coffee, but you could certainly add some coffee or espresso and make it a dirty hojicha latte.

What does it taste like?

It’s so creamy, nutty, with lovely caramelized notes. There’s no bitterness from the tea. Mmmm, kind of like your favorite coffee latte, but with a more earthy quality.

What’s the difference between hojicha and matcha?

Both matcha and hojicha are Japanese green teas, but they differ in the type of leaves used, the color of the powder, the flavor, and caffeine content.

Hojicha powder is ground roasted green tea leaves. It has a dark brown color, very similar to coffee, and a low caffeine content.

Matcha is made from a variety of ground green tea leaves and has a vibrant green color. The flavor of matcha is slightly bitter, grassy, with a vegetal quality, and can have a very high caffeine content.

Benefits of Hojicha

Hojicha may aid in digestion, can be an effective stress reliever because it contains L-Theanine which is an amino acid that helps lower stress and anxiety, and has metabolism stimulating antioxidants called catechins.

And, its polyphenols and vitamins A, C, and E contribute to anti-aging effects and support metabolism and the immune system.

Is hojicha high in caffeine?

Hojicha has significantly reduced caffeine levels due to the roasting process as compared to other types of Japanese green tea.

If you’re looking to cut back on caffeine, hojicha is a great alternative. It tastes similar to coffee, and is a relaxing drink that you can enjoy in the evenings before bed without being too caffeinated.  

How to make

While it sounds complicated, it’s actually really quick and easy to make at home, especially if you have a handheld frother, which I highly recommend.

Mix up the hojicha powder with the water. This can be done with the frother, a bamboo whisk, or shake vigorously in a mason jar until all the lumps are gone.

Make sure to use a high-quality and finely ground hojicha powder. Here’s the powder I buy and love.

If you’re making a hot latte, you’ll want to use hot water. Avoid boiling water, because that will leave you with a bitter tasting drink.

Then, you’ll mix the milk and the sweetener. I like maple syrup for this drink, as not all sweeteners will dissolve in cold water. And the maple syrup has a nice clean flavor that balances well with the roasted flavor of the tea.

If you want a hot latte, warm the milk.

For an iced latte, pour the hojicha mixture over ice in a glass, then add the milk mixture, adding more ice if desired. Serve layered, or stir to combine.

For a hot latte, pour the hojicha mixture into a mug, and add the milk mixture. Serve layered, or stir to combine.

Do I have to use a whisk to make hojicha?

No, you don’t need any special equipment. I use a frother, which I use all the time around my house for lots of things like protein powder, coffee lattes, and tea lattes.

You can also just use a mason jar to shake the tea with the water, and a spoon to stir it all together. Though, I do find the texture to be a little grittier when I simply stir rather than using the frother.

What milk is best?

I love oat milk for this drink; it has a beautiful creamy texture and slightly sweet flavor that pairs nicely with the deep flavor of hojicha.

You can use any of your favorite milks, I recommend a thicker milk like whole milk, full fat coconut milk, or almond milk.

Changes to the recipe

The best part about making lattes at home, is that you can easily customize them to your liking.

Swap in different milks. Add more milk for a creamier drink.

Different sweeteners like brown sugar or honey, even try a homemade simple syrup (I want to experiment with my basil simple syrup). Or leave the sweetener out completely if you want.

Try adding a little more powder if you want a stronger latte.

Serving suggestions

Try these fun treats along with your latte:

• Chinese Almond Cookies
• Egg Tarts
• Chewy Almond Cloud Cookies
• Ube Doughnuts
• Peanut butter chocolate mochi
• Sticky Coconut Cake
• Sweet Potato Rice Balls