Hojicha Latte Recipe: Hot, Iced and With Loose Leaves

A hojicha latte tastes like a cozy cross between green tea and toasted grain: nutty, a little caramel-like and much less bitter than a matcha latte. Below are three easy ways to make one at home: a hot latte and an iced latte with hojicha powder, and a milk tea made from loose leaves or tea bags if you don't have powder. New to hojicha? Start with what is hojicha?

Before you start: hojicha tips

• Powder or leaves. Hojicha powder is finely ground roasted tea and whisks straight into a latte, like matcha. Loose leaves and tea bags need to be steeped and strained first.
• Sift, then make a paste. Like matcha, hojicha powder does not dissolve, so whisk it into a little hot water first to avoid lumps.
• Adjust the strength. Start with 2 teaspoons of powder per drink and use more for a deeper roasted flavor or less for a milder one.
• Go easy on the sweetener. Hojicha is naturally mellow and slightly sweet-tasting, so many people need less sweetener than for a matcha latte.

Hot Hojicha Latte

A cozy, toasty café-style latte made with hojicha powder and steamed milk. Prep 5 min | Total 5 min | Makes 1 drink (about 10 oz).

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp (about 4 g) hojicha powder
• 1/4 cup (2 oz) hot water, just off the boil
• 3/4 cup (6 oz) milk or unsweetened plant milk
• 1 to 2 tsp maple syrup, honey or brown sugar (optional)

1. Make the hojicha paste. Sift the hojicha powder into a mug or small bowl. Add the hot water and whisk with a bamboo whisk or small frother until smooth, with no lumps.
2. Heat the milk. Warm the milk in a small saucepan or the microwave until steaming, but not boiling, then froth it with a frother or by shaking it in a sealed jar.
3. Combine. Stir the sweetener into the hojicha, if using, then pour in the frothed milk, holding back the foam with a spoon and spooning it on top at the end.

Iced Hojicha Latte

A refreshing, layered iced latte with a nutty, roasted tea flavor and little bitterness. Prep 5 min | Total 5 min | Makes 1 drink (about 12 oz).

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp (about 4 g) hojicha powder
• 1/4 cup (2 oz) hot water, just off the boil
• 3/4 cup (6 oz) cold milk or unsweetened plant milk
• 1 to 2 tsp maple syrup or simple syrup (optional)
• Ice

1. Make the hojicha shot. Sift the hojicha powder into a small bowl, add the hot water and whisk until smooth. Stir in the syrup, if using.
2. Fill the glass. Fill a tall glass with ice and pour in the cold milk.
3. Pour and stir. Slowly pour the hojicha over the milk for a layered look, then stir before drinking.

Hojicha Milk Tea With Loose Leaves or Tea Bags

No powder? Make a strong hojicha concentrate from loose leaves or tea bags and top it with milk. Prep 5 min | Total 10 min | Makes 1 drink (about 10 oz).

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp (about 4 g) loose hojicha leaves, or 2 hojicha tea bags
• 1/2 cup (4 oz) water
• 3/4 cup (6 oz) milk or unsweetened plant milk
• 1 to 2 tsp honey, maple syrup or brown sugar (optional)

1. Brew a strong concentrate. Bring the water to a boil, take it off the heat for a moment, then pour it over the leaves or tea bags. Steep for 3 minutes, which is longer than for a plain cup, to make a strong base.
2. Strain. Strain out the leaves, pressing them gently to get all the liquid, or squeeze and remove the tea bags.
3. Add the milk. Warm and froth the milk, or use it cold over ice. Combine with the hojicha concentrate and sweeten to taste.

Flavor variations

• Maple cinnamon: sweeten with maple syrup and add a pinch of cinnamon to the hojicha paste.
• Vanilla: add 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract to the milk.
• Brown sugar: stir dark brown sugar into the hot hojicha paste until it dissolves.
• Prefer matcha? Try our matcha latte, or an iced NeuroMatcha latte. NeuroMatcha has 17.64 mg of caffeine per 2-tablespoon serving and also contains Alpha-GPC.

Does a hojicha latte have caffeine?

Yes. Hojicha is often called a low-caffeine tea, but Japan's official food composition tables list brewed hojicha at about 20 mg of caffeine per 100 mL, the same as brewed sencha (MEXT Japan). The milk tea above uses a stronger concentrate, so it will have more than a plain cup. A latte made with hojicha powder contains the whole ground leaf; we could not find reliable lab measurements of hojicha powder, so we don't list a number for it.

Either way, a hojicha latte is not caffeine-free. Count it toward your daily total; the FDA cites 400 mg a day as an amount not generally linked to negative effects in healthy adults (FDA). If you are sensitive to caffeine or drinking it in the evening, use less hojicha. For more, see what is hojicha?

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What is a hojicha latte?

A hojicha latte is roasted Japanese green tea, usually made from hojicha powder, mixed with steamed or cold milk. It tastes toasty and nutty, with less bitterness than a matcha latte.

Does a hojicha latte have caffeine?

Yes. Hojicha contains caffeine. Brewed hojicha has about 20 mg per 100 mL in Japan's food tables, and a latte made with powder contains the whole ground leaf. It is not caffeine-free.

Hojicha latte vs matcha latte: what's the difference?

Both are Japanese green tea lattes. Matcha is unroasted green tea powder with a grassy, savory and slightly bitter flavor and a bright green color. Hojicha is roasted, so it is brown and tastes toasty and nutty, with little bitterness.

Can I make a hojicha latte without hojicha powder?

Yes. Steep loose hojicha leaves or tea bags in a small amount of hot water for about 3 minutes to make a strong concentrate, strain, and top with milk.

What milk is best for a hojicha latte?

Any milk works. Whole milk gives the creamiest result, and oat milk pairs well with hojicha's nutty flavor. Choose an unsweetened plant milk if you want to control the sweetness.

Is hojicha powder the same as matcha?

No. Both are powdered Japanese green tea, but hojicha powder is made from roasted tea leaves, while matcha is made from unroasted, shade-grown leaves. They taste very different.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Check with a qualified healthcare professional about caffeine or supplements if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or managing a health condition.

Learn more: read what hojicha is and how it compares with matcha, learn how to make matcha, or try our strawberry matcha latte.