A light yet decadent drink, this creamy hojicha latte is for those who enjoy a hot beverage without the caffeine. Made from Japanese roasted green tea leaves, this latte is sure to give you tones of caramel, smoky nuttiness and a hint of sweetness.
Why We Love This
Love coffee but trying to reduce your caffeine intake? Hojicha tea lattes are a perfect alternative to coffee.
You can equally enjoy sipping this low caffeine milk tea as a refreshing pick-me-up during the day or as a calming beverage in the evening after dinner.
Related: Matcha Cookies / Matcha Latte
What is a Hojicha Latte?
The name Hōjicha (written as 焙じ茶 or ほうじ茶) comes from a Japanese verb which roughly translates as ‘to roast’.
It’s a style of Japanese green tea that originated in Kyoto, which is usually made from bancha tea leaves, kukicha twigs or sencha tea leaves.
Where Japanese teas are usually steamed before being dried, hojicha is roasted to give it its classic reddish-brown colour and toasty, nutty flavour.
A hojicha latte is hojicha tea that is blended with milk. It can be served hot or iced. There are two popular methods to make it:
- Frothed Milk – This is where tea is brewed separately while the milk is steamed and frothed, similar to a cappuccino.
- Simmered with Milk – This is where the hojicha tea leaves or powder are simmered in the milk, more like a homemade simmered chai latte.
What You’ll Need
- Hojicha – We use loose leaf hojicha tea leaves, but you can also use hojicha tea bags or hojicha powder. Premium quality tea will give you more intensity and a smoother flavour. Sub for matcha powder if you prefer – but note it will be higher in caffeine if you do!
- Milk – Go with your favourite milk – we use dairy at home but feel free to sub with oat milk, almond milk or soy. Each will give a slightly different flavour profile to your homemade hojicha latte. Feel free to experiment!
Wandercook’s Tips
- Filtered Water – For the best flavour use filtered water.
- Top with Spice – Cinnamon works well with the smoky flavour profile of hojicha.
FAQs
Hojicha powder is made from loose leaf hojicha that is ground into an ultra fine powder. It can be used as an ‘instant-tea’ powder or in cooking, as it infuses quickly and doesn’t need to be steeped to bring out its flavour like loose leaf hojicha.
Hojicha is naturally lower in caffeine than most other kinds of green tea – around 7.7mg – so it’s perfect for those who are sensitive to caffeine or just like to enjoy a hot drink in the evenings.
Unlike black tea which is brewed at 100˚C / 212˚F, hojicha is best steeped at 80˚C / 175˚F to allow all the rich flavour to develop without becoming bitter.
Liquid sweeteners are great for lattes because they dissolve quickly and easily. Maple syrup or honey both complement the roasted earthy flavours of hojicha nicely. You can also use condensed milk or regular sugar if you prefer.
Variations
- Make It Vegan – Use soy milk, almond or oat milk instead of dairy.
- Cold Brew – Add 1 tbsp hojicha per 1 cup water. Steep 6-8 hours or overnight in the fridge to fully develop the flavour.
- Iced Hojicha Latte – Serve over ice for a refreshing summer drink. For bonus points, serve it with small chunks of coffee jelly instead of boba.
- Make it Fancy – Serve topped with whipped cream, or whip the hojicha itself for a dalgona style latte.
More amazing Southeast Asian drink recipes to try next:
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tsp hojicha loose leaf tea sub 1 tsp hojicha powder
- 1/4 cup boiling water 60ml / 2fl oz
- 3/4 cup milk warmed
Optional sweetener
- sugar add to your liking, sub condensed milk, maple syrup or honey
Instructions
- Place hojicha leaves into a tea strainer, and pop into a coffee cup. Pour in the boiling water and allow to steep for around 3 minutes, until nice and dark.2 tsp hojicha loose leaf tea, 1/4 cup boiling water
- While the tea steeps, warm your milk in the microwave for 45 seconds.3/4 cup milk
- Optional: Froth milk if you would like a light and airy latte.
- Remove the tea strainer from your cup, and pour in your warmed milk.
- Optional: Add your sweetener here if you like!sugar
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
- Filtered Water – For the best flavour use filtered water.
- Top with Spice – Cinnamon works well with the smoky flavour profile of hojicha.
- Make It Vegan – Use soy, almond or oat milk instead of dairy.
- Cold Brew – Add 1 tbsp hojicha per 1 cup water. Steep 6-8 hours or overnight in the fridge to fully develop the flavour.
- Iced Hojicha Latte – Serve over ice for a refreshing summer drink.
- Make it Fancy – Serve topped with whipped cream, or whip the hojicha itself for a dalgona style latte.
Nutrition
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