Roasted Japanese tea, smooth milk, and one of the fastest-growing café drinks in the UK
A hojicha latte is a milk-based drink made using hojicha, a roasted Japanese green tea known for its smooth, nutty and lightly smoky flavour. Unlike traditional green tea, hojicha is roasted at high temperatures, giving it a darker appearance and a more mellow taste.
When combined with warm milk, hojicha creates a creamy drink with caramel-like flavour notes and significantly lower bitterness than matcha. The result is a comforting latte that sits somewhere between tea, coffee, and hot chocolate in terms of flavour and texture.
In the UK, hojicha lattes are becoming increasingly common in speciality cafés and Japanese-inspired tea shops, particularly among consumers looking for alternatives to coffee and high-caffeine drinks.
The rise of hojicha lattes reflects wider changes in UK café culture. Consumers are increasingly exploring drinks that feel premium and distinctive while still offering comfort and familiarity.
Matcha opened the door for Japanese tea drinks in mainstream cafés, but hojicha offers a softer and more approachable flavour profile. Many people find matcha too grassy or intense, whereas hojicha feels warmer, smoother, and easier to drink regularly.
Another factor driving growth is caffeine awareness. Hojicha naturally contains less caffeine than coffee and many other green teas because roasting reduces caffeine levels. This makes hojicha lattes appealing to people looking for a calmer alternative to espresso-based drinks.
Social media and café aesthetics have also helped fuel interest. Hojicha lattes have a rich brown colour that photographs well and fits into broader trends around artisan tea culture and wellness-focused drinks.
Hojicha has a distinctive flavour that differs significantly from standard green tea. Instead of grassy or vegetal notes, roasted hojicha develops flavours often described as:
Milk enhances these characteristics by softening the roasted edge and adding creaminess. This makes hojicha particularly effective as a latte base.
Compared to coffee, hojicha is less acidic and less bitter. Compared to matcha, it is warmer and toastier in flavour.
Making a milky hojicha latte at home is simple and requires very little equipment.
Start by whisking hojicha powder with a small amount of hot water until smooth. This helps avoid clumps and creates a more even flavour.
Heat milk gently in a saucepan or using a milk frother. Avoid boiling the milk as this can affect taste and texture.
Combine the hojicha mixture with warm milk and stir thoroughly. Sweeten if desired and serve immediately.
Both dairy and plant-based milks work well with hojicha due to its roasted flavour profile.
Oat milk is one of the best options because its creamy texture complements hojicha�s toasted flavour notes.
Whole milk creates the richest texture and enhances caramel-style flavours.
Adds additional nuttiness and works particularly well in iced hojicha lattes.
Creates a richer, sweeter variation with a more tropical flavour profile.
Hojicha and matcha are both Japanese tea drinks, but they deliver very different experiences.
| Hojicha | Matcha |
|---|---|
| Roasted flavour | Grassy flavour |
| Lower caffeine | Higher caffeine |
| Brown colour | Bright green colour |
| Smooth and nutty | Earthy and intense |
Many UK consumers who find matcha too strong are now moving toward hojicha as a more approachable alternative.
Hojicha lattes fit naturally into the wider brewed milk movement, where milk is used as the primary infusion base rather than simply being added to tea or coffee afterwards.
This category includes chai lattes, turmeric milk drinks, and matcha milk drinks, all of which focus on flavour integration and creamier textures.
Discover chai lattes, matcha milk drinks, turmeric lattes and the wider UK brewed milk trend.
Visit Main GuideMilky hojicha lattes are one of the most interesting developments in the UK café scene. Their smooth roasted flavour, lower caffeine content, and comforting texture make them highly accessible compared to stronger tea and coffee drinks.
As consumers continue exploring alternatives to traditional espresso-based drinks, hojicha is well positioned to grow beyond speciality cafés and into mainstream awareness.
For anyone interested in brewed milk drinks, hojicha offers a distinctive and highly drinkable alternative worth exploring.