Hojicha is a Japanese green tea with a soft yet distinctly roasted character. The flavour is rounded and nutty, with warm notes of cocoa and a natural sweetness that sets it apart from greener teas such as matcha.

Through the roasting process, hojicha develops its deep colour and gentle expression. Bitterness is almost entirely removed, and the caffeine content is naturally reduced. The result is a calm, balanced tea, equally suited to both day and evening.

Hojicha Powder: A Warm New Chapter in Japanese Tea

Hojicha powder is a gently roasted Japanese green tea that is beginning to find its place within Scandinavian tea culture. It offers a soft, warming flavour with roasted notes, a hint of cocoa, and a natural sweetness. Its character differs clearly from matcha, which is brighter and greener in profile. For many, the first cup of hojicha feels both comforting and intriguingly new.

What hojicha traditionally is

Hojicha is most often enjoyed as whole roasted tea leaves. The leaves are exposed to high heat until they take on a deep chocolate-brown colour and develop a rounded, mellow taste. This roasting process reduces much of the bitterness and naturally lowers the caffeine content, making traditional hojicha a favoured evening tea in many Japanese homes.

When brewed in the usual way, hojicha yields a warm amber-brown infusion with a gentle, roasted aroma and a calm, soft mouthfeel.

What makes hojicha powder distinctive

In hojicha powder, the same carefully roasted leaves are finely milled, much like matcha. This simple transformation makes it notably more versatile and easy to use.

• Quick to prepare and effortless to whisk
• Ideal for lattes and contemporary tea drinks
• A softer alternative to matcha, with deeper roasted notes
• Well suited to baking and cooking, as it dissolves easily

When whisked with a small amount of hot water, the powder forms a smooth, chocolate-brown paste that carries the tea’s full roasted depth.

How to prepare a classic hojicha latte

Sift one to two teaspoons of hojicha powder into a bowl. Add a small amount of hot water, around eighty degrees, and whisk until a smooth paste forms. Add the remaining water and continue whisking until lightly frothy. Warm your preferred milk, pour it in, and sweeten if desired.

The result is a soft, comforting cup with gentle roasted cocoa notes.

How to prepare a stronger hojicha latte

For a deeper expression, prepare the same chocolate-brown paste but omit the additional water. Strain the paste directly into warm milk. This method enhances the roasted character, resulting in a fuller, more concentrated cup.

Creative ways to use hojicha powder

Thanks to its smooth texture and softly roasted flavour, hojicha powder lends itself beautifully to a variety of recipes.

• Stir a teaspoon into cake or biscuit dough for a subtle roasted cocoa note
• Fold into cream or white chocolate for delicate dessert flavours
• Use in homemade ice cream or smoothies for a warm, rounded depth
• Sprinkle over porridge or yoghurt, or blend into warm milk for a gentle start to the day

A tea for modern rituals

Hojicha powder brings a sense of warmth and quiet to everyday tea moments. Its lower caffeine content, roasted character, and naturally soothing profile make it an easy choice for slow mornings, unhurried afternoons, and calm evenings. For those new to tea, it is immediately approachable; for the experienced, it offers something quietly different while remaining rooted in tradition.