Ever since I discovered Dandelion hojicha hot chocolate, I’ve been curious about what it tastes like, since it’s a whopping $20 for the mix! While I haven’t tried the original, I’ve looked at the ingredients label and recreated it at home! And let me tell you, it lives up to its hype. Rich, chocolatey, and roasted, this combination is phenomenal and so cozy.

Here’s how you can make this delicious hojicha hot chocolate at home!

What is Hojicha?

Hojicha is a Japanese roasted green tea famous for its warm, toasty flavor and dark brown color with a fun origin story. A tea farmer actually made hojicha by roasting older, dried green tea leaves, stems, and veins, slowly roasted over a charcoal fire. They did this as a way to use up leftover green tea leaves and stems.

The unique roasting process reduces bitterness and also gives the tea a very toasty flavor profile and a rich, nutty aroma. It also gives hojicha its signature smoothness and makes it especially comforting as an afternoon or evening drink. Since it’s light, it’s a popular post-meal tea and has a ton of health benefits!

Does Hojicha Go With Chocolate?

Many people actually believe hojicha tastes similar to chocolate from the roasted aroma and flavor. Some hojicha powders have a slight coffee scent, which isn’t too far off from smelling like chocolate. Some might even have a slight chocolatey scent and flavor, too.

Because of its roasted profile, hojicha pairs well with anything sweet, nutty, and rich. Think caramel, nuts, cream, warm spices, juicy fruit, and lastly, chocolate. Hojicha and chocolate are quite a common dessert pairing, like a hojicha tiramisu!

Seriously, this pairing is so good. After I made this hot chocolate, I finished it in one sitting.

What Hojicha to Use

Hojicha tea comes in two forms: powder and loose-leaf tea.

Loose-leaf hojicha is great when you want a smooth, crisp, and light brewed tea, but might not have a strong flavor for hot chocolate.

However, when you grind loose-leaf tea, you make hojicha powder, which is what cafes and restaurants prefer using for beverages and desserts since it’s more potent. You get a stronger roasted and nutty flavor, which balances stronger flavors like chocolate better. So, for this recipe, I recommend using whisked hojicha powder for the best flavor.

You can use any brand you’d like, as I personally think the variance between a cheaper and more expensive hojicha powder is very similar. Peruse your local Japanese grocery store or tea store and see what hojicha powder they have!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s caffeine-free! Perfect for cozy evenings and good sleep.
• An insane flavor combination.
• A fun way to change up your hot chocolate.
• It’s fun to experiment with unconventional flavors and see what happens.
• Follow an easy recipe that makes a cafe-quality beverage at home.

Hojicha Hot Chocolate: What You’ll Need

Equipment:

• A small or medium-sized pot
• A bamboo tea whisk and matcha bowl
• A tea sift (optional)

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp hojicha powder
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cup milk
• ½ tbsp heavy cream (optional)
• 1-2 tsp sweetener (agave, sugar, etc.)
• 2 squares of chopped dark chocolate 70%+ (about 1/8 cup)

Hojicha Hot Chocolate Recipe

1. Chop Chocolate. Unwrap and chop the chocolate into very fine, small pieces.
2. Warm Milk. Add milk and sweetener to a small pot and heat over low to medium heat on the stove until it starts simmering. Then, turn your heat all the way to the lowest setting.
3. Melt the Chocolate. Add chopped chocolate to the hot milk and slowly stir until the chocolate melts. If your chocolate has a hard time melting (ie, you see small grains of chocolate), add a little bit of cream and stir until you get a smooth texture. Then, turn off the heat.
4. Whisk Hojicha. Warm your bamboo whisk by soaking it or running warm water over the bristles. Sift your hojicha powder into a bowl, then add water. Vigorously whisk the tea and water in zigzag motions until a froth forms on top. You want it to be really frothy with small bubbles, like espresso crema.
5. Add Tea. Add the whisked hojicha into your hot chocolate and stir to combine.
6. Assemble Drink. Pour or ladle the hojicha hot chocolate into a serving mug and garnish with a dusting of hojicha powder, mini marshmallows, or whipped cream.
7. Mix and Enjoy!

Notes: I recommend warming up the hot chocolate on the stove because it helps melt the chocolate completely for a smooth cup of cocoa. You could also pulse the mixture in the microwave, stirring between rounds.

Tips for the Best Hojicha Hot Chocolate

• Melt Chocolate Completely: For a silky smooth texture, you really need to melt the chocolate completely. If not, you’ll see small dots of unmelted chocolate floating around. Gently stir and melt the chocolate on the stovetop on low heat; the milk has to be hot enough to melt the chocolate, so be patient!
• Use a Fattier Milk: I am a huge lover of really creamy hot chocolate, so I like to use whole milk for cocoa. I sometimes also add a little cream to make it extra luscious (and it helps melt the chocolate better).
• Use Good Quality Chocolate: You can taste the difference between low-quality and higher-quality chocolate! Ghirardelli and Lindt are popular chocolate brands that are of good quality, compared to Hershey or chocolate melts. I like using dark chocolate to balance the sweetness and richness, but you can use milk chocolate too!
• Add Salt: This hot chocolate can be sweet, so adding a little pinch of salt rounds out the sweetness. You can also use flavored sea salt, like spiced salt or smoked salt.
• Garnish With Whipped Cream: Similarly, to cut the cocoa’s richness, garnish your cocoa with a light whipped cream for a nice contrast!

Hojicha Hot Chocolate Variations

• White Chocolate: If you prefer a lighter flavor, swap the chocolate out for white chocolate! You’ll be able to taste the tea flavor much more, and it’s more similar to a whipped cream or custard flavor.
• Vegan: Swap out the chocolate and milk for your favorite vegan alternatives! You could even replace the chocolate with cocoa powder and a fattier vegan milk. I like oat milk for its rich flavor and texture, but use whatever is your favorite.
• Looseleaf Hojicha: If you use loose-leaf tea instead of powder, I recommend steeping the milk in the tea overnight and using it as your cocoa base. You can also brew a hojicha concentrate and add that in as well for maximum hojicha flavor.
• Iced: Once your cocoa cools to room temperature or below, add it to a cup of ice for an iced hojicha chocolate! The cocoa will have a much thicker consistency and mimic that of a hot drinking chocolate. It’s more dessert-like and still yummy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does hojicha taste like chocolate?

Hojicha tastes similar to chocolate! It has that same roasted, nutty, and slightly caramel flavor, although it’s not sweet nor milky. It makes sense, since both cacao beans and hojicha tea are roasted. In that same thread, hojicha also shares a similar aroma with coffee!

How much caffeine is in hojicha?

Since hojicha is made from old tea leaves, which have very little caffeine left, it is virtually decaffeinated. There’s roughly the same amount of caffeine in decaf coffee as there is in hojicha! About 7-15 mg of caffeine per serving. So it’s a very gentle and friendly caffeine-free beverage.

Can I use loose-leaf hojicha?

Of course, but you’ll want to make a concentrate or use more leaves to make up for the loss in strength. Hojicha powder is much more intense since you’re consuming the whole leaf, while brewing the leaves leaves a milder flavor. Check out the variations section for more instructions!

Can I make this in the microwave?

Yes, pulse the hot chocolate in the microwave for 10 seconds at a time, stirring in between rounds until smooth. Make sure to protect your hands as the cup or bowl can get really hot.

Other Hot Chocolate Recipes to Try

Chocolate is a great ingredient that pairs well with so many different flavors. If you like this hojicha hot chocolate, then you need to try these other hot cocoa recipes next:

• Tiramisu Hot Chocolate
• Whipped Hot Chocolate
• Bone Broth Hot Chocolate
• Earl Grey Hot Chocolate
• White Matcha Hot Chocolate