When the colder weather arrives I begin to think more about darker teas and the comfort they provide. This includes the Japanese green tea, hojicha, which isn’t actually green at all because it is roasted. This gives it a toasty and woody profile – it basically screams sweater weather! Sweater weather is my favourite and is also when I begin to crave tea lattes. As a fan of the occasional milky cup of tea, tea lattes take it to the next level. With just a tea of your choice, sweetener and frothed milk, tea lattes are ridiculously easy to make at home. I joined my two Autumn cravings and made this hojicha tea latte to indulge in all season long!
Hojicha Loose Leaf vs. Hojicha Powder
As mentioned, hojicha is a roasted Japanese green tea (“Hoji” means to roast, and “Cha” means tea). The Japanese green tea that is usually roasted to create hojicha is sencha or bancha.
There are two types of hojicha green tea – one made from leaves and one made just from stems. Hojicha made from stems is more expensive than hojicha made from leaves.
There are also two different forms of hojicha, loose leaf or powder. Much like the other Japanese green tea powder, matcha, hojicha powder is created by grinding the tea until very fine.
You can use it to make a hot tea like matcha, but more commonly it is used as an ingredient in desserts, like hojicha chocolate.
Learn more about hojicha here.
Hojicha Tea Latte
In this recipe I used the loose leaves to make the steeped tea for the latte and the powder for dusting the top of the frothed milk. The dusting part of the latte is optional, so if you only have hojicha loose, and not powder, then you can definitely still make this latte.
I didn’t always love hojicha as the flavour profile is very different from other Japanese green teas. Like any other teas though, you should prepare the tea how you think you’ll enjoy it.
Since hojicha had too strong of a taste for me at first, I decided to prepare it as a latte and that’s when I really started to fall in love with this steep.
Eventually I began to drink hojicha straight, and appreciate the flavours more. The roasted tea is quite earthy with hints of caramel throughout, and when made as a latte it is such a delightful treat!
Some compare hojicha to freshly roasted coffee, so this latte may be something you want to serve your coffee loving friends, too!
Hojicha Tea Latte
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup hot water ~90 degrees Celsius
- 1 tablespoon hojicha loose leaf
- 1 tablespoon sweetener of choice
- 1/4 cup milk
- hojicha powder for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Place the hojicha in an infuser inside a cup or teapot and pour the hot water over the leaves/stems. Allow the roasted green tea to steep for 3 minutes.
- Remove the infuser/strain the hojicha. Stir in your sweetener of choice (I really love using maple syrup!)
- On the stovetop, simmer the milk. Using a handheld frother or another device, froth the warm milk until it is thick and cloud like.
- Top the steeped hojicha tea with the frothed milk. Dust hojicha powder on top (optional) with a sifter and serve!
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This looks great! Making it now for my mom and I!
Thanks Connie! I love that you made one for yourself and your mom 🙂
Been making this ever since I stumbled upon your recipe! I’m in love with it! Thanks for sharing it! 🙂