In case you haven’t noticed, we’re on a hojicha kick lately! I’ve enjoyed this roasted Japanese green tea in cold brew and iced latte, and in desserts. Today, I’ll show you how to make a warm cup of Hojicha Latte (ほうじ茶ラテ) at home. During chilly months, this hojicha latte makes a perfect drink to start your day or enjoy during your afternoon break. My family still absolutely loves our Matcha Latte, but it’s been so much fun to have another drink option that we get to enjoy at our ‘home cafe,’ as my daughter calls it.
What is Hojicha?
Originated in Kyoto, hojicha (焙じ茶, ほうじ茶) is a type of roasted Japanese green tea that has been enjoying its moment as a popular beverage in Japan. The tea leaves are first steamed before undergoing a roasting process that gives hojicha its reddish-brown color and imparts a caramelized note. The roasting also significantly reduces its caffeine levels without impacting its health benefits, such as antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E. Many people enjoy hojicha for its distinctive toasty and mildly sweet flavor, as well as its soothing effect. I love both its versatility and its allure, and I’m looking forward to crafting more interesting recipes with the tea. You can find hojicha in loose tea or in powder form. Since we’re making a latte, I use hojicha powder so we can easily whisk it with hot water and steamed milk.
How to Make Hojicha Latte
The Ingredients You’ll Need
Hojicha (roasted green tea) powder – You can buy ready-made powder, or make your own from hojicha tea leaves. Hot water, about 176ºF or 80ºC Milk of your choice – Whole milk is best but I use 2% lactose-free milk in this recipe. For vegan/vegetarian, you can substitute with oat or almond milk Sweetener of choice – I used granulated sugar in this recipe but I usually make a batch of Homemade Simple Syrup for a week so I can make different beverages (mostly Matcha Latte or Iced Matcha Latte) at home. You can also use other sweeteners.
The Preparation
Recipe Tips
Remove hojicha powder lumps: If you’re not using a chasen (bamboo whisk), sift the hojicha powder and make sure there are no lumps before adding hot water. Use 2% (that’s what we use) or whole milk for a richer latte. I don’t recommend using skim milk as there will be no foam. Froth the milk to 140-155ºF to get the frothy foam. If you are not using an espresso machine, microwave or heat the milk on the stovetop or microwave using the food thermometer.
Vegan Variation
Want to make a vegan hojicha latte? Oat milk would be the best choice; it froths well, just like dairy milk. Compared to almond milk, it has a nice creamy, neutral flavor. However, you might not get as thick a foam as dairy milk.
“Dirty” Variation: Dirty Hojicha Latte
A dirty latte is blended with two-thirds of fresh, cold milk topped with a double shot of espresso. The espresso shot must be poured slowly and with care. This ensures the coffee flows through the low-temperature milk, allowing you to enjoy the two visibly separated layers when served in a clear glass.
Where to Buy Hojicha Powder
I get my hojicha powder from Hojicha Co. The tea is roasted in small batches in Kyoto and packaged in Japan for optimal freshness and taste.
Can You Make Hojicha Powder?
Yes! I included the instructions in the recipe card below. You will need a small-capacity food processor or spice/coffee grinder (I used the Nutribullet). The grinder doesn’t grind the tea leaves into superfine powder; therefore, you will need to grind it further with a mortar and pestle. If you don’t grind hojicha into superfine powder, your latte will have big black specs from the tea leaves and you will taste it in your mouth.
Recommended Tools to Make This Recipe
If you make beverages with matcha or hojicha powder, I highly recommend getting these two tools.
A bamboo whisk – To minimize clumps, it’s worth getting a bamboo whisk called chasen. It blends tea powders and liquid really well, introducing air to the mixture to create foam and froth. Alternatively, you can use a flat whisk, which works great for whisking small amounts of dry and wet ingredients. A spouted matcha bowl (optional) – Called katakuchi, a spouted bowl is specially designed to make whisking and pouring much easier. I use this beautiful katakuchi from Only Way Is Up. Milk frother – You can get this handheld milk frother. We use Mr. JOC’s espresso machine, which comes with a steaming wand. You can skip frothing the milk if you like, but you will miss out on the airy mouthfeel of the latte’s warm milk foam.
What to Serve with Hojicha Latte
Cherry Blossom Madeleines Pear and Almond Tart Madeleines (French Butter Cakes) Miso Butter Cookies Black Sesame Cookies Pon de Ring Donut Recipe
Hojicha Recipes To Enjoy
Cold Brew Hohicha Iced Hojicha Latte Hojicha Jelly
Let me know if you have other hojicha recipes you’d like to see on the blog. I’ll add them to our recipe request list! Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
