Hojicha Latte

Want to make a hojicha latte at home? This simple and flavorful drink recipe features roasted green tea powder and steamed foamed milk that you can enjoy at home everyday.

What is hojicha?

Hojicha 焙じ茶 (also houjicha) is a reddish-brown tea made from roasted green tea leaves.

Green tea originated from China and has been enjoyed in East Asia for many centuries.

Roasting the tea leaves over charcoal at a high temperature gives the tea its distinct, rich colour.

You can find hojicha as a loose leaf tea, in tea bags or in ground into powder form.

Read my Beginner's Guide to Hojicha for more information on this roasted green tea.

What is a hojicha latte?

A hojicha latte is a tea-based latte made from roasted green tea and steamed, frothed milk.

A latte traditionally consists of espresso coffee and heated milk, but in this case, tea replaces the coffee.

Many coffee shops and cafes are beginning to offer hojicha tea lattes and matcha lattes on their menus.

What does hojicha taste like?

Hojicha has a mild, sweet, smoky, toasted flavor.

It does not have a bitter or astringent, grassy taste compared to matcha.

Optimal brewing temperature

The most optimal brewing temperature for hojicha is around 200 degrees F/93 degrees C.

Unlike matcha, which requires a milder brewing temperature, hojicha can withstand the hotter water temperature.

However, you can brew hojicha at a cooler water temperature if you want to avoid any bitterness.

Health benefits

Hojicha contains antioxidants and catechins that are believed to decrease cancer risk.

However, due to the roasting process, these antioxidant levels are lower than of matcha.

Another effect of roasting tea means that hojicha contains much lower amounts of caffeine than matcha.

Choosing a non-dairy milk to pair with hojicha can be beneficial as dairy milk contains casein, a protein which binds to the catechins in green tea (and limits their absorption). 

Ingredients you'll need for a homemade hojicha tea latte

• hojicha roasted green tea powder: sifted; or you can use loose leaf tea/tea bags
• hot water:
• frothed milk: it's best to use a non-dairy/dairy-free alternative such as coconut milk, almond milk, soy milk or oat milk, however you can use regular whole milk if you like
• sweetener: optional, you can use honey, simple syrup, maple syrup, agave syrup

Ways to froth milk

There are a few ways to froth or foam up milk.

The easiest and quickest way is to use a milk frother or electric whisk.

If you're making more than a few drinks, you can also use a blender to whip air into the milk.

Use a French press and give it a few pumps.

Or use a mason jar with a tightly-sealed lid and shake the milk well.

How to make a hojicha latte

Sift the hojicha powder into a large mug to remove any clumps.

Pour a little hot water into the mug.

Use an electric whisk/frother to foam up the tea.

Top the hojicha tea off with steamed, frothed milk of your choice and sweeten to your taste.

Variations

Add ice to make it an Iced Hojicha Latte.

Play around and add different syrups such as pumpkin to add a different flavor to the drink.

Try a Matcha Latte, which is the unroasted version of hojicha.

What to pair with a hojicha latte

Enjoy the hojicha tea latte on its own, or pair it with sweets or bolder flavors like coffee.

Try it with red bean mochi, mango cream mochi, cookies, mooncakes, or chocolate.

FAQs

Why are there clumps of hojicha on the bottom of my drink?

As hojicha is ground whole tea leaves, it doesn't fully "dissolve."

The tea particles are suspended in the liquid and ultimately consumed together.

It's best to give the drink a stir before consuming.

Why is my hojicha tea latte grainy?

This can depend on the quality of the tea powder.

A stone-ground powdered tea will yield a finer powder, which is less grainy/gritty.

Is a hojicha latte bitter?

No, hojicha tea is not bitter, but can be slightly earthy depending on its quality.

How many hojicha lattes can I have in a day?

Like anything else, it's best to consume hojicha in moderation. 1-2 cups per day would be a safe consideration.

Other tea latte recipes you may like

Be sure to check out these recipes:

Iced Hojicha Latte

Matcha Latte

Pumpkin Spice Hojicha Latte

Iced Matcha Chai Latte

Rose Milk Tea Latte

Matcha Rose Latte

Let me know if you try out this recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below!