A hojicha latte is a creamy drink made from roasted Japanese green tea and warm milk. To make one, whisk 3 grams (about 1½ teaspoons) of hojicha powder with 60 ml of 80°C water, then add 180 ml of milk. The whole thing takes about five minutes, and you do not need a cafe to get it right.
This hojicha latte recipe covers the exact ratio, both the hot and iced methods, the ingredients and tools you need, the best milk to use, honest caffeine numbers, and the small mistakes that make a latte taste bitter or clumpy. It works as your go-to latte recipe whether you want it hot in winter or iced in summer.
- What is a hojicha latte?
- What does a hojicha latte taste like?
- What you'll need
- The ratio that matters
- How to make a hot hojicha latte
- How to make an iced hojicha latte
- Best milk for a hojicha latte
- How much caffeine is in a hojicha latte?
- Hojicha latte vs matcha latte
- Hojicha latte vs coffee
- Ways to customize your latte
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Where to buy hojicha powder
- Frequently asked questions
What is a hojicha latte?
A hojicha latte is roasted green tea whisked with water and milk. Hojicha is a Japanese green tea that is roasted over high heat, which turns the leaves from green to a warm reddish-brown and gives the tea its toasty, mellow character.
It is usually made with finely milled hojicha powder, though you can also brew loose-leaf hojicha strong and use that instead. The powder version is faster and gives a fuller, creamier cup.
One thing worth clearing up: hojicha is not "roasted matcha." Matcha is made from shade-grown tencha tea leaves. Hojicha is typically made from later-harvest bancha tea leaves and stems, then put through a high-heat roasting process. They are different teas with a different taste and a very different caffeine level.
What does a hojicha latte taste like?
A hojicha latte tastes toasty, nutty, and lightly sweet, with none of the grassy edge you get from matcha. The roasting brings out notes that people often describe as caramel, chestnut, or toasted grain.
Because the flavor is naturally smooth, hojicha rarely tastes bitter even when you are still learning to make it. Milk rounds it out further, and the drink leans cozy rather than sharp. That makes it an easy first Japanese tea latte for most people.
What you'll need
You only need a few ingredients and tools to make a hojicha latte at home. Most of them you may already own.
- Hojicha powder. Finely milled roasted green tea. This is the one ingredient worth buying good quality, since the hojicha powder sets the whole flavor of the recipe.
- A bamboo whisk or frother. A bamboo whisk works well, but a handheld electric frother is faster and dissolves the hojicha powder just as smoothly.
- A fine sieve. A quick sift breaks up any clumps in the powder before you whisk.
- Milk of choice. Oat milk and whole dairy milk are the most popular for their body, and oat milk froths especially well.
- A sweetener (optional). Maple syrup or honey, if you like your latte sweet.
- Water at 80°C (176°F). Hotter than that can flatten the roasted flavor.
With these ingredients ready, the recipe comes together in about five minutes.
The ratio that matters
The ratio is what separates a silky latte from a weak or gritty one. As a reliable starting point, use this.
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hojicha powder | 3 g (~1½ tsp) | Weigh it for accuracy |
| Water | 60 ml (2 fl oz) | 80°C / 176°F, not boiling |
| Milk | 180 ml (6 fl oz) | Steamed for hot, cold for iced |
| Sweetener | Optional | Maple syrup or honey to taste |
The single most useful rule is to whisk the powder with the hot water first, then add the milk. Dissolving the powder in a little water prevents the small clumps that make a latte feel gritty. For a stronger latte, add more powder rather than less milk.
How to make a hot hojicha latte
This is the cozy version of the recipe, best for mornings and slow afternoons. It takes about four minutes.
Step 1: Sift the powder
Sift 3 g (about 1½ teaspoons, though weighing is more accurate) of hojicha powder into a bowl or cup. This removes clumps before they can form in the drink.
Step 2: Whisk with hot water
Add 60 ml of 80°C water and whisk briskly until smooth. A bamboo whisk or an electric frother both work. You are looking for an even, lump-free concentrate.
Step 3: Warm the milk
Steam or gently warm 180 ml of milk. If you have a frother, a little foam adds a nice texture on top.
Step 4: Combine and serve
Pour the warm milk slowly over the hojicha concentrate, stir gently, and serve right away while it is hot.
How to make an iced hojicha latte
The iced version is light and refreshing, and it is the one most people search for in warm weather. This iced latte recipe uses almost the same steps as the hot one, with one key difference.
Step 1: Make the concentrate
Sift 3 g of hojicha powder, add 60 ml of 80°C water, and whisk until smooth. Whisking with hot water first is what stops the powder from clumping once it hits cold milk.
Step 2: Sweeten while warm (optional)
If you want it sweet, stir a little maple syrup or honey into the warm concentrate now, while it dissolves easily. Maple syrup pairs especially well with hojicha's toasty aroma.
Step 3: Build the glass
Fill a tall glass with ice and pour in 180 ml of cold milk. Oat milk works especially well over ice.
Step 4: Pour and stir
Pour the hojicha concentrate over the milk and ice, then stir. For a layered cafe look, pour slowly over the back of a spoon and stir just before drinking.
Best milk for a hojicha latte
Hojicha's roasted, nutty flavor pairs well with fuller-bodied milks. Here is how the common options compare, with rough calories for an 8 oz (about 1 cup) pour. Dairy and almond figures are unsweetened; barista oat is a formulated blend and varies by brand. Your latte uses a little less milk, so expect slightly lower numbers.
| Milk | Approx. calories (8 oz) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Whole dairy | ~150 | The richest, creamiest cup |
| Barista oat | ~120 to 140 | Best vegan option, froths well, mild sweetness |
| 2% dairy | ~120 | A lighter everyday option |
| Unsweetened almond | ~30 to 40 | Lowest calorie, thinner body |
The hojicha powder itself adds only about 10 calories or fewer, so most of the drink's calories come from the milk. A tablespoon of sweetener adds roughly 50 to 65 more (maple syrup about 52, honey about 64). These figures are approximate and vary by brand, so check the label if you track them closely.
How much caffeine is in a hojicha latte?
A hojicha latte is low in caffeine, but it is not caffeine-free. A cup made with a 2-gram serving of powder has roughly 9 to 13 mg, and a stronger latte made with a full 3-gram serving lands closer to 14 to 20 mg. The exact caffeine content depends on the brand, the leaf, and how strong you make it.
Hojicha is naturally gentle mainly because it is usually made from mature, later-harvest leaves and stems, which start with less caffeine than the young leaves used for other teas. The high-heat roasting may play a smaller role, though caffeine is fairly heat-stable, so the leaf and stem base is the bigger factor.
That low level is why many people enjoy hojicha in the afternoon or evening. If this is your main concern, our guide on the best caffeine-free teas is a helpful next read, though note that low-caffeine and caffeine-free are not the same thing.
Hojicha latte vs matcha latte
Is hojicha or matcha better? Neither is better overall; they simply suit different moods. Hojicha is toasty, mellow, and very low in caffeine. Matcha is grassy, vivid green, and much higher in caffeine, at roughly 38 to 70 mg per serving.
If you want a calm, cozy drink you can have late in the day, hojicha wins. If you want a stronger morning lift and a brighter flavor, matcha is the pick. Hojicha is also usually more forgiving to make and gentler on the wallet.
Already a matcha fan? Compare the method in our how-to brewing guides, browse the matcha collection, or read the full genmaicha vs hojicha comparison for another toasty-flavored angle.
Hojicha latte vs coffee
Is a hojicha latte healthier than coffee? It depends on what you are after, but for caffeine-sensitive drinkers hojicha has a clear edge. A hojicha latte carries a small fraction of coffee's caffeine, since brewed coffee averages around 95 mg per cup.
Hojicha has a naturally smooth, low-bitterness flavor that many people find easy to sip without sugar. It will not give you the same jolt as coffee, so it is less of a wake-up drink and more of a steady, comforting one. Many people simply keep both and choose based on the time of day.
Ways to customize your latte
Once you have the base recipe down, the drink is easy to make your own. These simple variations are some of the most popular choices.
- Sweetener. Maple syrup and honey both suit hojicha's caramel notes. Add your sweetener of choice to the warm concentrate so it dissolves.
- Spices. A small pinch of cinnamon on top plays nicely with the roasted flavor.
- Strength. For a bolder cup, add more powder rather than cutting the milk.
- Dessert recipes. A slightly sweeter, stronger version makes a lovely base for hojicha desserts, ice cream, and affogato-style treats.
Small changes like these turn one basic recipe into a whole set of hojicha latte recipes you can rotate through.
Common mistakes to avoid
A hojicha latte is forgiving, but a few habits can spoil the recipe. These are the ones worth knowing before your next cup.
- Using boiling water. Water above 80°C can make the powder taste harsh. Let a boiled kettle rest for a minute first.
- Adding powder to cold milk. Hojicha powder will not dissolve straight into a cold glass of milk, and you will get clumps. Always whisk it with hot water first.
- Skipping the sieve. Even good powder can clump in the bag, so a quick sift is the easiest fix for a gritty latte.
- Expecting a green drink. Unlike matcha, hojicha is tan to brown in the glass. That color is normal and comes from roasting the tea leaves.
- Over-dosing the powder. Too much powder can taste ashy. If you want a stronger latte, build up your amount by choice, a little at a time.
Avoid those and your hojicha lattes will come out smooth almost every time. Once you are comfortable, these lattes become one of the easiest tea recipes to make by choice on any given day, whether you reach for powder or loose tea leaves.
Where to buy hojicha powder
A good latte starts with good powder, so this is the ingredient worth choosing carefully. Look for a finely milled hojicha with a fresh, toasty aroma and a warm brown color.
Our curated hojicha collection brings together roasted green tea powders and blends from several Japanese-style brands, so you can compare options in one place. You can also explore the wider Japanese tea collection if you want to branch out.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hojicha latte?
A hojicha latte is a drink made from roasted Japanese green tea whisked with water and milk. It has a toasty, nutty flavor and is naturally low in caffeine.
Is hojicha or matcha better?
Neither is better; they suit different needs. Hojicha is mellow and very low in caffeine, while matcha is grassy and much higher in caffeine. Choose hojicha for a calm, late-day drink and matcha for a stronger lift.
What does a hojicha latte taste like?
It tastes toasty and lightly sweet, with caramel and roasted-grain notes and no grassy bitterness. Milk makes it smooth and cozy.
Is a hojicha latte healthier than coffee?
For caffeine-sensitive people, hojicha can be an easier choice, since it has far less caffeine than coffee and typically lower perceived bitterness. Whether it is "healthier" depends on your milk and sweetener choices.
Does a hojicha latte have caffeine?
Yes, but only a little. A typical latte has around 9 to 20 mg of caffeine depending on how much powder you use. It is low-caffeine, not caffeine-free.
Can you make a hojicha latte without powder?
Yes. Brew loose-leaf hojicha or a tea bag at double strength, then add steamed milk. The result is lighter than the powder version but still tasty.
What milk is best for a hojicha latte?
Whole dairy and barista oat milk give the creamiest results and pair well with the roasted flavor. Almond milk is the lightest option but has a thinner body.
How do you pronounce hojicha?
It is pronounced "ho-jee-cha," with a soft "j" sound. It is sometimes spelled houjicha.
Behind the Cup
