What Is Hojicha? Taste, Caffeine and How to Make Hojicha at Home

Hojicha is Japanese green tea that has been roasted. Roasting turns the leaves reddish-brown and gives the tea a warm, toasty, nutty flavour with almost no bitterness. Hojicha is generally lower in caffeine than matcha, which is why it is a favourite afternoon and evening tea in Japan. As a fine powder, it mixes straight into hot water or milk, so you can make a cosy hojicha latte at home in about two minutes.

Where hojicha comes from

Hojicha (ほうじ茶, also written houjicha) means “roasted tea”. It is made by roasting green tea leaves and stems over high heat, a method that became popular in Kyoto in the early 20th century. The roast changes the tea completely: the grassy, vegetal notes of green tea give way to something closer to caramel, toasted grain and cocoa.

What does hojicha taste like?

• Toasty and nutty, a little like roasted barley or toasted rice
• Naturally sweet, with a soft caramel note
• Smooth, with very little bitterness or astringency
• Comforting, which is why it pairs so well with milk

If you find green tea or matcha too grassy, hojicha is often the Japanese tea that wins you over.

Does hojicha have caffeine?

Yes, but generally less than matcha, because roasting reduces some of the caffeine and the tea is often made from more mature leaves and stems. That makes hojicha a good choice for the afternoon or evening, or for anyone who wants a gentler cup. If you are very sensitive to caffeine, start with a small serving. For the numbers on matcha, coffee and tea, see how much caffeine is in matcha.

When to drink hojicha

• After lunch, as a calm pick-me-up
• In the evening, as a warm latte instead of a second coffee
• After dinner, as a light, toasty drink that feels like dessert
• On winter mornings, when you want something cosy rather than bright

Many people drink matcha in the morning and hojicha later in the day. Compare the two in hojicha vs matcha.

How to make hojicha at home

Hot hojicha

1. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of hojicha powder to a cup.
2. Pour in a little hot water and stir or whisk until smooth.
3. Top up with about 150 ml of hot water. Unlike matcha, hojicha is happy with hotter water.

Hojicha latte

1. Mix 2 teaspoons of hojicha powder with 30 ml of hot water until there are no lumps.
2. Heat and froth 180 ml of milk. Oat milk brings out the nutty notes beautifully.
3. Pour the milk over the hojicha and sweeten lightly if you like. Hojicha needs much less sugar than most drinks.

No frother? A jar shake or a French press works. See our latte guide for no-machine frothing methods.

Iced hojicha latte

1. Mix 2 to 3 teaspoons of hojicha powder with 40 ml of hot water to make a strong concentrate.
2. Fill a glass with ice and 150 ml of cold milk.
3. Pour the hojicha over the top and stir.

Three easy twists

• Cardamom hojicha latte: add a pinch of ground cardamom to the milk while it heats. A natural fit for Indian winters.
• Jaggery hojicha: sweeten with a little jaggery syrup for a deeper, caramel taste.
• Hojicha affogato: pour a shot of strong hojicha over a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Baking with hojicha

Hojicha powder adds a warm, toasty flavour and a soft brown colour to desserts. Try 1 to 2 tablespoons in cookies, cakes, brownies, panna cotta or homemade ice cream. Because it is not bitter, it works well with chocolate, caramel and nuts.

How to choose good hojicha powder

• Pure powder, not a mix. Many “hojicha latte” products are premixes with sugar and milk powder. Pure hojicha lets you control the sweetness.
• Made in Japan. Japanese hojicha has the clean, toasty flavour the tea is known for.
• Fine and even. A fine powder dissolves quickly without clumps.
• Warm brown colour and a roasted aroma. A dull, flat smell usually means old stock.

How to store hojicha

Keep the pack tightly sealed, away from heat, light and moisture. Hojicha loses its toasty aroma once exposed to air, so use it within a few weeks of opening for the best flavour.

FAQs

What is hojicha?

Hojicha is roasted Japanese green tea. Roasting gives it a reddish-brown colour, a toasty, nutty flavour and very little bitterness.

Is hojicha the same as matcha?

No. Both come from the same tea plant, but matcha is shade-grown green tea ground into powder, while hojicha is roasted. Matcha is bright and grassy; hojicha is warm and nutty.

Is hojicha good at night?

Many people enjoy it in the evening because it is generally lower in caffeine than matcha. If you are sensitive to caffeine, have a smaller cup earlier in the evening.

How much hojicha powder do I use per cup?

Start with 1 to 2 teaspoons per cup, and use a little more for a latte, because milk softens the flavour.

Where can I buy hojicha powder in India?

Nokū sells pure Japanese hojicha powder online, shipped across India. For cafés, see our guide to wholesale hojicha.

Try it

Our Nokū hojicha powder is pure roasted green tea from Japan, with nothing added. Pair it with our ceremonial matcha powder for a morning and evening tea ritual.