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    Hojicha Latte (Hot or Iced)

    Published: February 28, 2023 | Last Modified: February 28, 2023 by Gail Ng | Leave a Comment

    JUMP TO RECIPE PRINT RECIPE
    A glass of iced hojicha latte and a mug of hot hojicha latte sitting on wood platter.
    A glass filled with milk on the bottom and hojicha on top on a wood platter.
    Speckled mug filled with hojicha and frothy milk.

    Hojicha latte made two ways - hot or iced! These drinks are so creamy and full of bold roasted green tea flavour. They're such easy recipes to utilize hojicha powder in a warm and cozy hot hojicha latte and refreshing iced hojicha latte. Both are delicious ways to start your day!

    A glass of iced hojicha latte and a mug of hot hojicha latte sitting on wood platter.
    Jump to:
    • What is hojicha?
    • Why you'll love this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • How to make an iced hojicha latte
    • How to make a hot hojicha latte
    • Tips & tricks
    • Frequently asked questions
    • More latte recipes to try
    • Recipe

    As a tea lover, hojicha is one of my favourite tea flavours to drink and use in baking and dessert recipes. It has such a bold and unique tea flavour! When combined with frothy milk and a touch of sweetener, it creates a creamy and indulgent latte that's both comforting and satisfying.

    Here are recipes to enjoy hojicha in two different ways. The ingredients are basically the same, only the preparation slightly differs when making either a hot or iced latte.

    After making it once, I encourage you to experiment with the ratios of hojicha powder, water, and milk to find a balance that you prefer. Don't forget to try out different kinds of milk and sweetener as well to find your favourites.

    What is hojicha?

    Hojicha is a type of Japanese green tea that has been roasted to create a nutty, toasty, and caramelized flavour and brown colour. The roasting process reduces the amount of caffeine in the tea so hojicha is a great mild tea to enjoy in the evening.

    Hojicha powder is made by grinding hojicha tea leaves into a fine powder. This powder acts in a similar way to matcha powder in that it dissolves in water and is a more concentrated form of its tea leaf counterpart. Hojicha powder is perfect for making lattes and in baked goods and desserts.

    Why you'll love this recipe

    • These hojicha lattes are incredibly quick and easy to make with just a few ingredients.
    • There are recipes to make both a hot drink and an iced drink, depending on what you're in the mood for.
    • It's delicious! These lattes are smooth and creamy with that unique warming hojicha flavour.
    A glass filled with milk on the bottom and hojicha on top on a wood platter.

    Ingredients

    • Hojicha powder - You can buy hojicha powder from most places that also sell matcha powder. I buy mine online from Hojicha Co. Be sure to buy a finely ground hojicha powder, not hojicha tea leaves. Hojicha powder has a more concentrated flavour and colour which is ideal for making lattes.
    • Hot water - This is for dissolving the hojicha powder. Use hot water that is around 80°C (175°F), not boiling. Boiling water can burn the hojicha powder and cause a bitter taste.
    • Liquid sweetener - Liquid sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, and agave nectar work best with lattes since they combine smoothly in the drink without leaving undissolved granules. Choose your favourite kind and adjust the amount to your taste.
    • Milk - Use any dairy or non-dairy milk. Thick and rich plant-based milks like oat milk work best for hojicha lattes because they're so creamy and froth up well.
    • Ice - You only need ice if you're making an iced hojicha latte.

    How to make an iced hojicha latte

    Whisk the hojicha powder - In a small bowl or chawan, sift in hojicha powder to break up any clumps. Add hot water and sweetener and use a bamboo whisk to whisk in an "M" motion for 10-15 seconds until frothy.

    Left to right: pouring hot water into bowl of hojicha powder, hand holding bamboo whisk in bowl of hojicha.

    Fill serving glass - Fill a glass halfway with ice. Pour in milk until about ⅔ full. Pour hojicha mixture over the milk. Stir to mix before enjoying!

    Left to right: pouring milk into glass filled halfway with ice, pouring hojicha into glass on top of milk.

    How to make a hot hojicha latte

    Warm and froth milk - Use a milk steamer/frother to warm and froth milk. If you don't have one, heat milk on the stovetop or microwave until it just begins to simmer.

    Use a handheld frother to froth the warm milk for 20-30 seconds until frothy (as pictured below). Alternatively, transfer the warm milk to a mason jar and shake vigorously for 30 seconds until frothy.

    Left to right: handheld frother in jar of milk, milk at a higher volume after frothing.

    Whisk the hojicha powder - In a small bowl or chawan, sift in hojicha powder to break up any clumps. Add hot water and sweetener and use a bamboo whisk to whisk in an "M" motion for 10-15 seconds until frothy.

    Fill serving mug - Pour the hojicha into a mug. Add the steamed and frothed milk on top. Stir together before enjoying!

    Left to right: pouring hojicha into mug, pouring frothy milk into mug.

    Tips & tricks

    Use a high-quality and finely ground hojicha powder. A finely milled hojicha powder will dissolve easily in water and produce a smoother taste in your latte. The taste should be a strong, nutty, tea flavour that's not bitter.

    Use a thick and creamy milk. Whole milk or thick plant-based milk like oat milk makes the best hojicha lattes. I personally love using oat milk because it's so creamy and froths well.

    Add more hojicha powder for a stronger taste. Use 2 teaspoons of hojicha powder insetad of 1 for a stronger, bolder taste. Once you know what you like, you can adjust the ratio of hojicha and water to milk.

    Speckled mug filled with a latte with frothy milk.

    Frequently asked questions

    What does hojicha taste like?

    Hojicha tastes earthy and nutty with mild toasty and caramelized notes. It tastes like a strong roasted tea with little to no bitterness.

    What's the difference between hojicha and matcha?

    Hojicha is made with roasted green tea leaves from the last harvest of the season, also called 'bancha' or 'common tea'. Matcha is made with a different variety of green tea leaves that are grown in the shade and harvested early in the season. The flavour and colour of both are very different. Hojicha is brown in colour and tastes deep, toasty, and nutty. Matcha is vibrant green in colour and tastes sweet, grassy, and fresh.

    Is there caffeine in hojicha?

    Due to the roasting process, there is only a small amount of caffeine left in hojicha. As such, it's often enjoyed in the evening after dinner or before bed.

    Do I have to use a special sift, whisk, or bowl to make hojicha?

    You definitely don't need to use any special equipment. Sifting hojicha powder is optional as it doesn't clump as much as matcha powder and it also dissolves better in water than matcha. You can use any small bowl or even add the hojicha directly to your serving glass. Use a handheld frother, whisk, or spoon to mix the hojicha and hot water together.

    More latte recipes to try

    • Strawberry Matcha Latte
    • Mango Matcha Latte
    • Iced Coconut Amarula Latte
    • Whipped Matcha Latte

    Recipe

    A glass of iced hojicha latte and a mug of hot hojicha latte sitting on wood platter.

    Hojicha Latte (hot or iced)

    Author: Gail Ng
    Hojicha latte made two ways - hot or iced! This drink is so creamy and full of bold roasted green tea flavour whether you're in the mood for an iced hojicha latte or a hot one!
    5 from 3 votes
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE
    Prep Time 3 mins
    Total Time 3 mins
    Yield 2 servings
    Category Drinks
    Cuisine Japanese

    Ingredients
      

    Iced Hojicha Latte

    • 1 teaspoon hojicha powder
    • 2 oz hot water
    • 1 teaspoon liquid sweetener
    • 10 oz milk
    • ice

    Hot Hojicha Latte

    • 10 oz milk
    • 1 teaspoon hojicha powder
    • 2 oz hot water
    • 1 teaspoon liquid sweetener

    Instructions
     

    Iced Hojicha Latte

    • In a small bowl or chawan, sift in hojicha powder to break up any clumps. Add hot water and sweetener and use a bamboo whisk to whisk in an "M" motion for 10-15 seconds until frothy.
    • Fill a glass halfway with ice. Pour in milk until about ⅔ full.
    • Pour hojicha mixture over the milk. Stir to mix before enjoying!

    Hot Hojicha Latte

    • Use a milk steamer/frother to warm and froth milk. If you don't have one, heat milk on the stovetop or microwave until it just begins to simmer. Use a handheld frother to froth the warm milk for 20-30 seconds until frothy. Alternatively, transfer the warm milk to a mason jar and shake vigorously for 30 seconds until frothy.
    • In a small bowl or chawan, sift in hojicha powder to break up any clumps. Add hot water and sweetener and use a bamboo whisk to whisk in an "M" motion for 10-15 seconds until frothy.
    • Pour the hojicha into a mug. Add the steamed and frothed milk on top. Stir together before enjoying!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 213kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 426mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 659IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 351mg | Iron: 1mg
    Keywords hojicha latte, iced hojicha latte
    Tried this recipe?Leave a rating & comment to let us know how it was and tag your Instagram posts with @teakandthyme!

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    Hi, I'm Gail! I'm a Chinese-Canadian girl with a major sweet tooth. I make desserts, baked goods, and drinks inspired by French pastries, twists on classics, and flavours from my Asian background. I hope your second stomach is hungry!

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