Iced Hojicha Latte (Print Version)

Aromatic roasted green tea meets creamy milk, vanilla, and maple syrup in this refreshing Japanese-style iced latte.

# What You'll Need:

→ Tea

01 - 2 tablespoons hojicha loose leaf tea or 2 hojicha tea bags
02 - 1 cup hot water

→ Sweetener & Flavor

03 - 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
04 - 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Milk

05 - 1 cup milk of choice (dairy, oat, soy, or almond)

→ To Serve

06 - 1 cup ice cubes

# How to Make It:

01 - Steep hojicha loose leaf tea or tea bags in 1 cup hot water just below boiling (195°F) for 3 to 4 minutes.
02 - Strain and discard the tea leaves or remove the tea bags.
03 - While the tea is still warm, stir in maple syrup and vanilla extract until fully dissolved.
04 - Allow the tea to cool to room temperature or refrigerate for faster chilling.
05 - Fill two glasses with ice cubes.
06 - Pour the sweetened hojicha tea evenly over the ice in each glass.
07 - Top each glass with 0.5 cup milk and stir gently to combine.
08 - Serve immediately while cold.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It tastes like a café drink but takes barely five minutes, so you'll actually make it on random mornings instead of just thinking about it.
  • The roasted hojicha has this naturally mellow flavor that doesn't need much sweetness, making it feel less like dessert and more like an actual beverage.
02 -
  • Water temperature matters more than most people realize; if your water is actually boiling, the hojicha can taste harsh and bitter instead of warm and inviting.
  • Dissolving the maple syrup and vanilla in warm tea instead of cold liquid is the trick that keeps this from tasting separated or grainy at the bottom of your glass.
03 -
  • The quality of your hojicha matters more than you'd think, so try to find a brand that specializes in Japanese tea if you can, because the difference between mediocre and excellent is honestly striking.
  • Making a double batch of sweetened hojicha concentrate and keeping it in the fridge means you can have this drink ready in under a minute whenever the craving hits.
Go Back