If you’ve been seeing hojicha lattes pop up next to matcha on café menus, you’re not imagining it. Both are Japanese green teas, both come as a fine powder, and both make a beautiful latte. They taste and feel quite different, so here’s the simple version.
The quick answer
Choose matcha if you want a bright, grassy, slightly sweet cup with a steady lift of energy. Choose hojicha if you want something toasty, smooth, and cozy that’s gentler on caffeine and easy to enjoy in the afternoon or evening. Plenty of people keep both.
What is matcha?
Matcha is made from tea leaves that are shaded before harvest, then steamed, dried, and stone-ground into a fine powder. You whisk the powder into water or milk, so you drink the whole leaf. That’s why matcha is so vivid green and has a stronger flavor than a typical cup of green tea.
Taste: fresh, grassy, savory-sweet, with a creamy finish in good grades.
What is hojicha powder?
Hojicha is green tea that has been roasted at high heat, then ground into a fine powder. The roasting turns the leaves from green to reddish-brown and changes the flavor completely. It also softens the bitterness and astringency people sometimes find in green tea. Like matcha, you whisk it into water or milk, which makes it perfect for lattes, iced drinks, and baking.
Taste: toasty, nutty, a little caramel-like, very smooth.
Hojicha vs matcha at a glance
| Matcha | Hojicha powder | |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Bright green | Warm brown |
| Flavor | Grassy, umami, lightly sweet | Roasted, nutty, caramel notes |
| Caffeine | Higher | Lower |
| How it’s made | Shaded leaves, stone-ground | Roasted green tea, ground |
| Best time of day | Morning or early afternoon | Afternoon or evening |
| Prep | Whisked | Whisked |
Which has more caffeine?
Matcha typically does. Roasting reduces caffeine in hojicha, so the powder is usually the gentler of the two. Since you’re drinking the whole ground leaf, both powders carry more caffeine than a regular steeped cup of tea, but if you’re sensitive to caffeine or want something warm in the evening, hojicha is the easier fit.
How to make each one
The easiest way to get a consistent cup every time is a 1:10 ratio: one part powder to ten parts water by weight. It makes a concentrated base that you then top up with water, milk, or ice. A small kitchen scale makes this simple.
Matcha (1:10 base)
- Sift 2 g of matcha (about one teaspoon) into a bowl.
- Add 20 g (20 ml) of water around 175°F.
- Whisk in a zigzag until smooth and frothy. It will be thick and rich at this point.
- Pour in 4 to 6 oz of water or steamed milk. For iced matcha, pour the concentrate over milk and ice.
Hojicha powder (1:10 base)
- Sift 2 g of hojicha powder (about one teaspoon) into a bowl.
- Add 20 g (20 ml) of hot water, around 175 to 185°F.
- Whisk until smooth with no clumps.
- Pour in 4 to 6 oz of steamed milk for a latte, or water for a lighter cup. For iced hojicha, pour the concentrate over milk and ice.
Sweeten hojicha with honey or a little maple if you like. The roasted notes pair beautifully with both. A 1:10 base is strong on purpose, so add a little more water or milk if you want a lighter cup.
Which one is right for you?
- You want an energy boost without coffee: matcha
- You want a cozy, caffeine-light evening drink: hojicha
- Matcha tastes too grassy or bitter to you: try hojicha
- You love a classic café latte flavor: either works, and hojicha is especially good with oat milk
- You can’t decide: matcha in the morning, hojicha at night
FAQ
Is hojicha healthier than matcha?
Both come from the same tea plant and both are enjoyable as part of a balanced routine. The bigger practical difference is caffeine, so the better choice depends on when you’re drinking it.
Can I drink hojicha every day?
Yes. Its lower caffeine makes it an easy daily drink.
Can you make hojicha iced?
Absolutely. Whisk the 1:10 base and pour it over milk and ice for a smooth, naturally sweet iced hojicha latte.
Does hojicha taste like matcha?
No. Matcha tastes fresh and grassy. Hojicha tastes roasted and toasty.
Can I use hojicha powder in baking?
Yes, it works well in cookies, cakes, and ice cream.
Do I need a bamboo whisk?
It helps, but a small electric frother works well for both.
Ready to try them? Shop our matcha collection and hojicha powder.
