Iced Hojicha Latte Super Delicious Asian-Inspired Recipe

This iced hojicha latte recipe was first published on June 7, 2023.

I am a coffee person through and through, but recently tea has gotten a little more interesting in my books. Matcha tea is usually my go-to, but this iced Hojicha latte has to be the new number-one drink in this household.

Of course, matcha still holds a dear place in my heart, as per all the recipes we made with it like these matcha mochi muffins, iced matcha latte with spirulina cold foam or even this matcha sponge cake. And lest we forget the matcha tiramisu of dreams, the perfect dessert for summer and the latest matcha cream puffs, imagine soft pillows filled with matcha cream, to die for!

Since moving to Italy, I have reduced my summer intake of iced coffee and had to revert to something more homemade. Of course, I am drinking iced lattes every day as is, but I also have been tempted by juices and other bits.

We have some great recipes coming for other iced drinks, but this iced Hojicha latte is the one I am currently binge drinking whenever possible. It’s easy to make and packs in plenty of caffeine too, so make sure you note this down.

I also don’t really go out for coffee anymore because it’s a very different kind of coffee culture we have here in Italy, nothing like the London or Los Angeles scene where coffee is to be enjoyed any time of the day.

Here they do seem to enjoy coffee a lot more from the comfort of their own home because coffee is a very different ritual and as such, the comfort of your home is all you need to achieve it. Nothing so recreational about it, I know, and it’s one of the things I miss the most about London.

Alas, we are talking tea today and this perfect drink, the delicious hojicha latte, will be something you most definitely find in most Japanese cafes and coffee shops. Hojicha tea has a very distinctive taste and flavour notes, and you will soon find out why I have mentioned matcha already. But forget the one hojicha latte Starbucks sells you and welcome a homemade one!

Asian-inspired Iced Hojicha Latte

This delicious iced hojicha tea is the perfect summer drink to sip on if you are a lover of iced teas! With tasting notes of cocoa and caramel, you can recognise a nutty flavor, earthy flavors and toasty caramel flavor. 

What’s Hojicha tea?

Hojicha is a type of roasted japanese green tea. In Japanese, “Houji” (焙じ) means “roast” and “cha” (茶) means tea, put them together and you get delicious Japanese roasted green tea! 

Historically grown in Uji, Kyoto, hojicha has been consumed daily by farmers from the region for the last hundred years. Hojicha is made by roasting green tea leaves in a porcelain pot over charcoal, which is unique to hojicha, as most Japanese teas are steamed.

Because of its roasting process, hojicha’s colour changes from green to brown, and its flavour from bitter to toasty and mellow sweet. It also has a low caffeine content, making it great for anyone sensitive to caffeine and perfect to enjoy at any time of the day.

Hojicha is also very high in antioxidants and in L-theanine, a naturally-occurring compound found in green tea, that promotes relaxation. Between the low caffeine levels, and the high levels of L-theanine, hojicha is the perfect drink for any relaxing moment, but also a very nourishing tea: in fact in Japan is often consumed in the evening as a relaxing tea (matchaoishii.com).

What is the difference between Hojicha and Matcha?

You have heard plenty about matcha and iced matcha latte because we love it, and have gone through all the history and benefits in plenty of our posts. But what is the difference between matcha tea and hojicha tea? And why would you drink iced hojicha latte?

First off, the colour: Matcha is bright green in colour, especially when it is of ceremonial grade. The lower the grade, the less vibrant the colour of matcha powder becomes. Unlike traditional Japanese green teas, hojicha has a brown colour and its hue slightly varies depending on the harvest time, the roasting time, and whether it is made from Sencha (unshaded green tea), Bancha (common Japanese green tea), or Kukicha (twig tea).

Then, it’s the actual appearance of the teas: both matcha and hojicha’s leaves are first steamed to stop the oxidation and fermentation process and are then dried. As you know by now, Matcha is made by stone-grinding flat dried tea leaves into a fine green powder, while hojicha is made by slowly roasting tightly rolled tea hojicha leaves, stems, stalks, or twigs.

Like matcha, hojicha can also be ground into a fine powder that can be used in food and beverage preparation. This time around, we have used loose leaf tea for our iced hojicha latte recipe, but you can find it in tea bags or powder forms alike and you can make a hot hojicha latte too.

What does a hojicha latte taste like?

Hojicha powder has a soothing, comforting aroma, earthy and smoky. But hojicha has also a natural sweetness and nutty flavour with distinct notes of cocoa. Any bitterness typically found in green tea is removed from hojicha when the tea leaves are roasted at a high temperature (hojicha.co).

While matcha has a vegetal aroma. Lower-grade matcha powder tastes bitter and ceremonial-grade matcha is slightly sweet with a savoury umami flavour. Sometimes the two are mixed to create a unique hojicha matcha drink that mixes the flavour and gives a comforting nutty, slightly sweet and umami drink.

Is hojicha tea good for me?

Yes, hojicha is actually very good for you! And this hojicha latte might even help you get some of these benefits! Let’s find out more about some of the benefits of hojicha:

• it’s low in caffeine – hojicha contain caffeine, but less than your average coffee, tea or matcha even, which makes it perfect for kids to sip on too;
• it has relaxing effects – this roasted Japanese green tea is calming and a good option when it comes to a soothing evening Japanesse latte for adults and kids alike, or a delicious way to end the night with a cup of loose leaves and hot water;
• it’s great for your skin – because of the benefits green tea has on the skin, hojicha tea is no different and if this doesn’t give you an excuse to drink delicious hojicha lattes right, left and centre, I don’t want to hear it;
• it’s good for your immune system – packed with plenty of vitamins like Vitamin A, C, and E among others, that are known to fight against the common cold, regulate the immune system, prevent the effects of a compromised immune system;
• supports your heart’s health;
• it boosts your metabolism and supports your digestion, too!

What are the hojicha latte ingredients?

This homemade hojicha latte can be easily made with the use of 3 to 5 ingredients top. From the actual hojicha tea powder or tea bag or even loose leaf, then it’s time for the milk. When it comes to how much of a creamy hojicha latte you are going to be wanting, the choice of milk is completely down to you and your taste: with so many different kinds of milk available, why not try a few different ones? 

Soy milk is most definitely going to tick that box, but oat milk and almond milk could also work so well – just don’t forget to use cold water if it gets too thick for you! As hojicha is a type of green tea which is naturally sweeter than expected, you might not need any to get that sweet taste, but otherwise, we have gone for maple syrup in our hojicha latte or you could even try brown sugar syrup or any sort of liquid sweeteners if that’s more your cup of tea.

Whatever you go for with the hojicha latte, don’t push it too much to make that hojicha taste shine through your drink. Then of course it’s the ice, but I doubt you’ll need instructions for this particular ingredient!

How do I make this iced hojicha latte?

This iced hojicha tea latte recipe it’s as easy as it gets: you will be brewing the tea, or use a bamboo whisk if you have powdered hojicha to mix with hot water. Then let it cool down slightly, and pour it over ice, milk of choice, maple syrup and serve.

Yum, of course, and so easy to do that you have no excuse: grab your favourite glass or mason jar, a trusty milk frother or whisk (a handheld frother would absolutely work too) and start brewing to sip on your favourite iced hojicha latte!

Can I replace anything in this hojicha latte iced?

As I already mentioned, the earthy aroma of this iced hojicha latte drink can be easily overpowered by the cold milk of your choice, so you might want to make sure you pick either a non-dairy milk that can highlight the toasty flavor, or make this reddish-brown color tea a little stronger. As for whole milk, while I myself drink it, I feel it would overpower any taste this brilliant Japanese tea does have. 

The hot tea instructions were also a little vague, so we brewed our hojicha tea a little longer for the desired flavours to come through. We used whole tea leaves so that might be why, and also don’t forget each tea has a different temperature at which the water should be boiled – these hojicha tea leaves are no different. 

But you can also use hojicha powder instead of leaves, which might make it easier to balance with the rest of the flavours.

Do you have more Asian inspired recipes on the blog?

We have plenty of them on the blog, some of our favorites are:

• Korean banana milk – a delicious banana drink for any kdrama fans;
• Dalgona chocolate – no quest is required, but it’s just a delicious drink;
• chocolate milk tea – if you love boba and chocolate, this for you;
• Korean fried chicken wings – with a delicious garlic soy sauce, these are to die for;
• Ponyo ramen – a quick dish to enjoy while watching ponyo;
• strawberry milk tea – if you love strawberries and boba tea this is for you;
• boba smoothie – a delicious way to get away with another boba drink;
• iced Hojicha latte – because hojicha is not just for tea;
• taro latte – you have seen taro in desserts, but what about in a drink?
• tofu nigiri – a tasty and quick way to enjoy ‘sushi’ if vegan or just want a change of scene;
• onigirazu – tasty and versatile Japanese sandwiches to die for;
• taiwanese mushroom popcorn – tasty, crunchy and the most delicious way to have mushrooms;
• chicken tempura roll – soft outside and a crispy inside for homemade rolls you won’t forget;
• matcha tiramisu – who said tiramisu can’t be versatile?
• oreo milk tea – if you love oreos and boba, this is the drink for you;
• matcha sponge cake – soft, airy and oh so good, perfect for an afternoon cup;
• vegan rice paper rolls with a peanut dipping sauce – quick way to get summer lunch ready;
• matcha mochi muffin – soft and chewy inside like a true mochi;
• matcha cream puffs – the most delicious choux dessert you will ever make;
• miso aubergine chicken recipe with soy sauce – a quick dinner that is so tasty it will become a usual.

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If you have enjoyed this recipe for the iced hojicha latte, why not check out our other recipes for drinks? We have coffee, cocktails and mocktails too! We also have plenty of milk teas for every taste.

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