What is a Hojicha Latte?

What is a hojicha latte?

A hojicha latte is a tea latte made from Japanese roasted green tea (hojicha), water, and milk. The easiest way to prepare a hojicha latte is with Hojicha Powder. This powdered tea is produced from finely milled roasted tea leaves, and similarly to matcha green tea, you get to consume the entire tea leaves. Our pure Hojicha Powder is made from 100% Japanese green tea without additives, so you can decide how much milk and sweetener to add to your hojicha latte.

What does a hojicha latte taste like?

A hojicha latte has a sweet and pleasant aroma with a nutty, earthy, and toasty flavor. This unique roasted tea latte has notes of cocoa and caramel, and satisfies tea drinkers, coffee lovers, and even those who typically prefer a simple hot chocolate.

Can hojicha be prepared in the same way as matcha?

Since hojicha and matcha are both Japanese green tea powders, they can be prepared in the exact same way. The only difference is that matcha needs to be sifted first to remove any clumps, while hojicha powder easily dissolves without the need for any sifting due to its lower water content.

Do you need a whisk to make a hojicha latte?

While a traditional bamboo whisk (chasen) ensures a smooth and foamy result, the original Hojicha Powder is ultrafine and especially crafted to easily dissolve in water with a whisk, an electric frother, or even a spoon. When preparing a hojicha latte, feel free to choose the tool which works best for you.

What is the optimal temperature for the water?

When preparing hojicha, the temperature of the water used should be 80°C (175°F) or lower. Since hojicha is a green tea, boiling water will burn the delicate tea powder and result in a bitter and off taste. We recommend using 80°C (175°F) water to whisk the Hojicha Powder, which will maximize the foam in a hot latte. However, room temperature water can also be used as the Hojicha Powder dissolves quickly in cold water.

Does hojicha need to be sweetened?

While a sweetener is completely optional, maple syrup makes for the best sweetener for a hojicha latte. Maple syrup enhances the roasted and earthy flavor of Hojicha Powder without overpowering the tea. Since it's a liquid sweetener, maple syrup also quickly dissolves in the hojicha latte. We recommend adding a teaspoon of maple syrup to your hojicha latte, but you can adjust this amount depending on your personal preference.

What milk is best for a hojicha latte?

The best milk for a hojicha latte is a creamy and nutty milk like oat milk. The oat milk perfectly complements the flavors of the hojicha, and has a thick texture that makes it perfect for creating luxurious hojicha lattes. When selecting a milk for a hojicha latte, be mindful that some types and brands of milk may mute the taste of tea.

Another consideration is the ability of the milk to froth. If you have difficulty frothing your favorite milk, simply add steamed milk to your latte or try adding the sweetener to the milk as this may help it froth.

How to make a hojicha latte?

When making a hojicha latte, we recommend starting with a 1:3 ratio of water to milk. After whisking the Hojicha Powder with one part water, stir in the optional sweetener to dissolve. Finally, add three parts steamed and frothed milk. If it's your first time making a hojicha latte, you may want to wait and add the sweetener at the end. This way, you'll be able to taste your unsweetened latte to better decide if and how much sweetener to add.

How to make a stronger hojicha latte?

If you want a stronger hojicha flavor, first play around with the ratio of water to milk. For example, changing the standard 1:3 ratio (60 ml water and 180 ml milk) to a 3:1 ratio (180 ml water and 60 ml milk) will result in much a stronger hojicha latte. You can also adjust the strength of your hojicha latte by simply adding more Hojicha Powder. Depending on cup sizes, a cafe may use around 5 g of Hojicha Powder (approximately 1 tablespoon) when preparing their hojicha beverages.

Can you create hojicha latte art?

Creating hojicha latte art can be made easy by eliminating the foam created when whisking the Hojicha Powder. The first way to reduce the foam is to combine the Hojicha Powder with a very minimal amount of water. Use just enough water to create a thick paste and remove any clumps, and then add any additional water without the need for excessive whisking. The second way is to swirl the whisked hojicha in the cup until the bubbles disappear. Lastly, whisking Hojicha Powder with cold or room temperature water will result in none or very little foam.

Hojicha latte recipe

Replicate the same rich and creamy hojicha latte that you've enjoyed at the cafe from the comfort of your own home. Learn how to create and then customize your tea latte with our detailed hojicha latte recipe.

Hojicha latte variations

There are endless possibilities for using Hojicha Powder to create delicious hojicha lattes. If you're looking for something new, try one of these hojicha latte recipes for a variation on the standard hojicha latte.

Kyoto Fog Latte

Kyoto Fog is a comforting tea latte latte with a hint of vanilla for when the skies are gray. Get cozy with a hot Kyoto Fog during the gloomy autumn, and enjoy the delightful combination of hojicha and vanilla again as an Iced Kyoto Fog when gentle spring rain appear.

Strawberry Hojicha Latte

Strawberry Hojicha Latte is the most popular choice after the original iced hojicha latte. Fresh strawberries are a sweet and colorful addition to a layered summer latte that's as tasty as it looks.

Hojicha Hot Chocolate

Hojicha Hot Chocolate is the ultimate upgrade to a winter favorite. Hojicha and chocolate are a delicious pairing, and this rich beverage is the easiest way to indulge when it’s cold out.