What Is Hojicha? Taste, Caffeine, Tea Bags & Powder
Hojicha is Japanese roasted green tea, known for its brown color and toasted aroma. You can brew it as a clear tea using loose leaves or tea bags, or use finely ground hojicha powder to make lattes and desserts.
At Luna Matcha, we carry both formats: hojicha tea bags from Marukyu Koyamaen and Hoshino Seichaen, plus Luna Matcha Aroma Rich and Marukyu Koyamaen hojicha powders. The best place to start is with the drink you want to make.
What is hojicha?
Hojicha (ใปใใ่ถ, also spelled houjicha) is made by roasting green tea leaves, stems, or a combination of the two. Although its appearance is brown, it belongs to the green tea family.
The word โhojichaโ describes the tea, not a single preparation method. Leaf tea is steeped and removed; hojicha powder is mixed into the drink and consumed with it. Both can bring roasted tea flavor to your daily routine.
What does hojicha taste like?
Hojicha has a toasted aroma that can suggest roasted nuts, grain, caramel, or cocoa, depending on the tea and roast. These are tasting notes, not necessarily added ingredients. The products featured here are unsweetened teas.
Brewed hojicha offers a clear infusion, while powder gives a latte more body because the ground tea remains in the drink. Milk and sweetener change how you experience the roast, so compare products using the same recipe.
Hojicha tea bags vs. powder: which should you choose?
| Format | How it works | A useful starting point for |
|---|---|---|
| Tea bags or loose leaves | Steep in water, then remove the bag or strain the leaves. | Hot tea, iced tea, and an easy cup with meals. |
| Hojicha powder | Whisk or blend the finely ground tea into liquid; the powder stays in the drink. | Hojicha lattes, smoothies, baking, and desserts. |
For an everyday cup of tea: start with tea bags. For a creamy latte: start with powder. A tea-bag latte is also possible, but the tea needs to be brewed more concentrated so that milk does not dilute its flavor too much.
Hojicha powder mixes into liquid rather than dissolving completely like sugar. Some settling is normal; stir again before drinking if needed.
Does hojicha have caffeine?
Yes. Hojicha contains caffeine. Roasting does not make it caffeine-free. The amount in a serving depends on the tea material, how much you use, and how you prepare it.
As a reference, Japanโs Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries lists brewed hojicha at 20mg of caffeine per 100ml, using a specified preparation of 15g tea in 650ml water at 90ยฐC for 30 seconds. That is a reference for an infusion, not a test result for every hojicha product.
Do not apply brewed-tea figures to a powder latte. With powder, you consume the ground tea itself. The powders and tea bags below do not have verified caffeine amounts listed here, so we do not rank them by caffeine or promise that a latte contains less than a particular cup of matcha or coffee. Adding milk does not remove caffeine from the tea portion.
If caffeine affects your sleep, do not assume hojicha is caffeine-free or automatically suited to bedtime.
Hojicha tea bags at Luna Matcha
Choose the bag size for the amount you want to brew. These products use roasted tea for steeping, rather than powder for whisking. Follow the instructions on the individual package, since the recommended water volume and temperature differ.
Marukyu Koyamaen Hojicha Tea Bags
3g ร 10 sachets. A convenient option for a cup of roasted Japanese tea at home or at work. Consider this if you want to explore Marukyu Koyamaen beyond matcha.
Hoshino Seichaen Yame Hojicha Tea Bags
2g ร 12 bags. Pyramid tea bags from Hoshino Seichaen in Yame, Fukuoka. A practical choice when you want to prepare one cup at a time.
Hoshino Seichaen Yame Hojicha Large Tea Bags
4g ร 20 bags. The larger format is useful for a pot or a larger serving. Check the product page for hot and iced preparation guidance.
Hojicha powders for lattes and baking
Choose powder when you want to incorporate the tea into milk, batter, cream, or another recipe. All three options below are unsweetened, so you control the milk and sweetener yourself. Follow each product link for current sizes, prices, and availability.
Luna Matcha Aroma Rich Hojicha Powder
Our organic hojicha powder from Kagoshima, made with a two-stage roasting process. Its profile emphasizes toasted aroma and mellow flavor. A starting point for homemade lattes and baking, with a 30g can option for trying it at home.
Marukyu Koyamaen Hojicha Powder A
100g bag. Finely powdered Japanese roasted green tea for drinks and sweets. Marukyu Koyamaen recommends Type A for applications including baking and whipped cream; we also offer it for hojicha lattes.
Marukyu Koyamaen Hojicha Powder B
100g bag. Another unsweetened Marukyu Koyamaen option for lattes, desserts, and baking. Compare it with Type A using the same amount of powder and the same recipe to find the balance you prefer.
Choosing between A and B: Both are hojicha powders, and both can be used in milk drinks and recipes. Choose using the product information, package price, and your own taste comparison. The letters are product designations, not a tea-bag-versus-powder distinction.
How to make a hojicha latte: hot or iced
Here is a starting ratio for a small homemade latte. Different powders and milks taste different, so adjust after your first cup rather than assuming one ratio suits every product.
Ingredients for one latte
- 3g unsweetened hojicha powder
- 50ml warm water, around 175ยฐF / 80ยฐC
- 150ml milk of your choice (about 5 fl oz)
- Sweetener to taste, optional
- Ice for an iced latte
For an iced hojicha latte
- Sift the powder into a bowl if it is clumpy.
- Add the warm water and whisk until evenly mixed, with no large clumps.
- Add ice and cold milk to a serving glass.
- Pour in the hojicha mixture, sweeten if desired, and stir.
For a hot hojicha latte
Prepare the powder and water in the same way, then combine with warm milk. Froth the milk separately if you like a foamy finish.
Adjusting the flavor: For a stronger tea taste, try a little less milk first. For a milder drink, add more milk. A scale helps you repeat the ratio you enjoy. This recipe is a suggested starting point, not a manufacturer-specific recipe for all three powders.
Hojicha vs. matcha
Matcha is a finely ground green tea made from tencha, often described with vegetal and umami notes. Hojicha is roasted tea, with a brown appearance and a toasted aroma. Hojicha powder may be prepared with a whisk in a similar way, but it is not simply another grade of matcha.
Choose hojicha for roasted flavor and matcha for its green tea character. If you are choosing based on caffeine, compare product-specific information and serving sizes rather than color or flavor alone.
Frequently asked questions
Are hojicha and houjicha the same tea?
Yes. They are different English spellings of ใปใใ่ถ. You may see โhoujichaโ on Japanese product packaging.
Can I make a hojicha latte with tea bags?
Yes. Brew a concentrated tea, remove the bags, then add milk. Start with less brewing water than you would use for a plain cup, while following the packageโs temperature guidance. Powder is convenient when you want the ground tea to remain in the latte and provide more body.
Is hojicha powder sweetened?
Aroma Rich and the Marukyu Koyamaen A and B powders featured here are unsweetened. Some other products sold as hojicha latte mixes contain sugar or milk powder, so check the ingredients.
How much caffeine is in a hojicha latte?
There is no single amount that applies to every latte. It depends on the powder and grams used, or on how a tea concentrate is brewed. The caffeine figure for a brewed hojicha infusion cannot establish the amount in a powder-based latte.
How should I store hojicha?
Follow the package instructions. Keep opened tea and powder tightly sealed, dry, and protected from heat, light, and strong odors. Use a clean, dry utensil when measuring powder.
Choose your way to enjoy hojicha
For a simple cup of roasted tea, explore the Marukyu Koyamaen and Hoshino Seichaen tea bags. For lattes and desserts, compare Aroma Rich and Marukyu Koyamaen powders. Start with the format that fits your routine, then explore the flavors within it.
Sources and product information
- Japanโs Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: caffeine reference values and brewing conditions
- Marukyu Koyamaen: Hojicha Powder Type A
- Hoshino Seichaen: tea-bag range
Package sizes and product descriptions were checked against the individual Luna Matcha listings. Prices and availability are shown on those product pages.