What's Actually in a Hojicha Latte?
A hojicha latte has just two essential parts: hojicha (roasted green tea) and milk. The hojicha can come in two forms — as a strong brew of the roasted leaf, or as hojicha powder, which is roasted tea ground fine, just like matcha. The powder version gives a thicker, more latte-like body and a deeper colour; the brewed version is lighter and cleaner. Either is then combined with steamed or warmed milk — dairy or plant-based both work beautifully — and sweetened to taste, though good hojicha is naturally sweet enough that many people skip the sugar.
That's the whole thing. No special ceremony, no fuss. It's one of the most forgiving warm drinks you can make at home.
What Does a Hojicha Latte Taste Like?
This is the part that surprises people. Because the tea is roasted, a hojicha latte tastes toasty, nutty and lightly sweet — with notes of caramel, roasted chestnut, even a whisper of cocoa. There's none of the grassy, vegetal edge some people dislike in a matcha latte. Against creamy milk, those roasted notes turn almost dessert-like. It's the kind of drink that tastes indulgent while being remarkably gentle.
Is a Hojicha Latte High in Caffeine?
No — and this is its quiet superpower. A hojicha latte is naturally low in caffeine, because hojicha itself is gentle: it's made from mature leaves and stems (the main reason), and roasting leaves it tasting mellow. A cup of hojicha is well under a coffee, so you can have a hojicha latte after dinner — warm, creamy, comforting — without lying awake afterward. A matcha latte, by contrast, can carry as much caffeine as a coffee. If a latte at night appeals to you, hojicha is the one to choose.
I think of the hojicha latte as a gift for tired evenings. So many people I see crave a warm, comforting drink at the end of the day but have learned (the hard way) that coffee or matcha will steal their sleep. The hojicha latte solves that exactly: the warmth and ritual of a creamy cup, with a roasted aroma that actually nudges your nervous system toward calm — and almost no caffeine to undo it. When the day is winding down and you want something that feels like a treat but behaves like a lullaby, this is it.
Hojicha Latte vs Matcha Latte
People often arrive at hojicha after loving — or struggling with — matcha lattes, so here's the honest comparison.
| Matcha Latte | Hojicha Latte | |
|---|---|---|
| Tea | Shade-grown green tea, unroasted | Roasted green tea |
| Colour | Bright green | Caramel brown |
| Taste | Grassy, vegetal, umami | Toasty, nutty, caramel-sweet |
| Caffeine | High (near a coffee) | Low (great for evening) |
| Best time | Morning, for a lift | Evening, to wind down |
Neither is "better" — they're for different moods and different hours. Matcha for the bright morning; hojicha for the quiet evening. Many people, myself included, keep both.
How Do You Make One? (The Short Version)
The quick method: whisk 1–2 teaspoons of hojicha powder with a little hot water into a smooth paste, warm and froth your milk, then combine and sweeten lightly if you like. With leaf hojicha, brew a small, very strong cup first, then top with frothed milk. It takes about three minutes. I've written a full step-by-step recipe — for both powder and leaf — which you'll find linked just below.
Ready to make one properly? Here's my full step-by-step hojicha latte recipe — measurements, temperatures, and tips for both powder and loose leaf.
How to Make a Hojicha Latte (Recipe) →Frequently Asked Questions
Is a hojicha latte healthy?
It's a gentle choice. Hojicha keeps some of green tea's antioxidants while being very low in caffeine and easy on the stomach. How healthy the latte is depends mostly on the milk and how much sugar you add — unsweetened, with a good milk, it's a comforting and reasonable drink.
Does a hojicha latte have caffeine?
Yes — lower than coffee (about a third per cup), but not tiny, and never zero. That's why a hojicha latte still suits the evening or after dinner, unlike a high-caffeine matcha latte. Stem-based or cold-brewed hojicha lowers it further.
Can I make a hojicha latte without powder?
Absolutely. Brew a small, very strong cup of loose-leaf hojicha, then top it with warmed, frothed milk. The powder gives a thicker, more latte-like body, but leaf works wonderfully and is often easier to find.
What milk is best for a hojicha latte?
Any you like. Whole dairy milk is creamy and classic; oat milk is a favourite for its natural sweetness and body, which pairs beautifully with the roasted notes. Almond and soy work too.
