If you like matcha, you'll love this iced hojicha latte! This roasted green tea latte is toasty, sweet, and comforting. Enjoy it with some chebakia (sesame cookies) for dunking!
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Ever heard of hojicha? This roasted tea is widely enjoyed in Japan, but has yet to catch on over on this side of the pond to the same extent as matcha. Now, I did say that matcha fans will love this recipe, but I think you'll enjoy it even if you don't usually like green tea.
While matcha and green tea can sometimes have a bitter taste, this hojicha latte has a smoky, nutty sweetness reminiscent of chocolate and caramel. Personally, I think it's even better than matcha, and far more approachable.
There are many ways to enjoy a hojicha latte, but I like it sweetened with caramel and cocoa powder, and topped with cream cheese cold foam! This rendition can be enjoyed both iced and hot!
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🍵 What Is Hojicha?
Hojicha is a roasted green tea that originated in Japan in the 1920s. As the story goes, hojicha was accidentally invented by a tea merchant who roasted green tea leaves to prevent waste. Not only did roasting the tea leaves extend their shelf life, but it also allowed for the use of stems and leaves that had lost some of their freshness. These "scraps" would have otherwise been discarded, as they wouldn't have been usable in the making of higher-grade teas.
Hojicha quickly became a popular household tea, as it was affordable, accessible, and low in caffeine, which made it appropriate for drinking any time of day.
The tea's smoky, nutty flavor comes from roasting the leaves over charcoal, resulting in an approachable, pleasant taste that is less astringent than most green teas. Because it contains notes of caramel and cocoa, it's also great to bake with and can even be used in cocktails!
😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This delicious hojicha latte recipe is easy to make and ready in minutes!
- You can save money by preparing this cafe-worthy drink at home.
- Because hojicha lattes are low in caffeine, they can be enjoyed any time of day!
- You can serve this creamy hojicha latte either hot or iced!
- This tea offers a pleasant, very approachable flavor, perfect for impressing family and friends.
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
Hojicha latte Ingredients
- Hojicha powder: If you can't find hojicha powder locally, you can get it on Amazon.
- Cocoa powder: Optional, but adds some complexity.
- Caramel syrup: Store-bought is fine, or you can make this salted caramel sauce recipe in under 10 minutes. You can also use maple syrup, if you prefer.
- Milk: You can also use oat milk or your favorite milk alternative.
- Salt: I like to use smoked salt, but sea salt is just as good.
- Brown sugar: Optional for added sweetness. You can substitute with white granulated sugar or your preferred sweetener.
Cream cheese cold foam ingredients (optional)
- Cream cheese
- Heavy cream
- Milk
- Sugar
- Salt
🥣 Recommended Equipment
I recommend using a traditional bamboo whisk to make this hojicha latte, but you can use a handheld frother if you don't have one. The frother will also be used to make the cream cheese cold foam, but you can also use a mixer.
☕️ How To Make A Hojicha Latte
Step 1: In a cup, combine softened cream cheese, milk, heavy whipping cream, sugar, and sea salt. Use a milk frother to mix it for 30-60 seconds, moving it up and down until the mixture is thick and slightly fluffy.
Pro Tip: Cream cheese should be room temperature, but milk and heavy cream should be cold. The result should have a pourable, velvety consistency.
Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together hojicha powder, cocoa powder, and ½ cup hot water until slightly frothy with no clumps remaining.
Pro Tip: Whisk in an "M" or "Z" shape, starting at the bottom, to ensure all of the tea gets mixed into the water. Once properly combined, you should start to see a light foam forming on top.
Step 3: Drizzle caramel syrup along the inside of a tall glass and then add ice, milk, and hojicha mixture. Top it off with cream cheese cold foam and a light dusting of cocoa powder. Stir and sweeten with brown sugar to taste.
Pro Tip: Even without sugar, this hojicha latte is slightly sweet. I recommend trying it before deciding whether or not to add sugar.
🫖 Serving Suggestions
This hojicha latte can be sweetened with honey syrup, lavender simple syrup, or even fig syrup.
Serve alongside simsim cookies, crescent roll cream cheese danishes, matcha cake roll, matcha cheesecake cups, or this cardamom shortbread cookie recipe.
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
"Hojicha" comes from the Japanese words "hōji" (ほうじ), meaning "roast", and "cha" (茶), meaning "tea".
Hojicha originated by accident in 1920s Kyoto when a tea merchant roasted leftover tea leaves in order to keep them from spoiling.
Absolutely! Hojicha contains a small amount of caffeine, but it shouldn't impact your ability to sleep. In Japan, it is commonly enjoyed at any time of day.
👩🏻🍳 Pro Tips
- If you prefer a stronger flavor, you can double the quantity of hojicha powder.
- You can use a microwave, stovetop, or electric kettle to heat the water.
- For best results when whisking hojicha or matcha powder, the ideal temperature of the water should be right around 175° F.
- If you prefer a hot hojicja latte, you may want to heat the milk over the stove, allowing it to reach a gentle simmer, but not a boil.
🧋More Delicious Drink Recipes
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📖 Recipe
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Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a cup, combine softened cream cheese, milk, heavy whipping cream, sugar, and sea salt. Use a milk frother to mix it for 30-60 seconds, moving it up and down until mixture is thick and slightly fluffy.
- In a small bowl, whisk together hojicha powder, cocoa powder, and ¼ cup hot water until slightly frothy with no clumps remaining.
- Drizzle caramel syrup along the inside of a tall glass and then add ice, milk, and hojicha mixture. Top it off with cream cheese cold foam and a light dusting of cocoa powder. Stir and sweeten with brown sugar to taste.
Nutrition
Notes
- Cream cheese should be room temperature, but milk and heavy cream should be cold. The result should have a pourable, velvety consistency.
- Whisk in an "M" or "Z" shape, starting at the bottom to ensure all of the tea gets mixed into the water. Once properly combined, you should start to see a light foam forming on top.
- Even without sugar, this hojicha latte is slightly sweet. I recommend trying it before deciding whether or not to add sugar.
- If you prefer a stronger flavor, you can double the quantity of hojicha powder.
- You can use a microwave, stovetop, or electric kettle to heat the water.
- For best results when whisking hojicha or matcha powder, the ideal temperature of the water should be right around 175° F.
- If you prefer a hot hojicja latte, you may want to heat the milk over the stove, allowing it to reach a gentle simmer, but not a boil.
Nena Sterner says
We hope you enjoy this recipe!