Strawberry matcha lattes might be trending, but their underrated cousin—the strawberry hojicha latte—deserves the spotlight too. This cozy drink blends the deep, roasted flavor of hojicha with the sweet-tart brightness of strawberry for a combo that’s surprisingly delicious. Even better? It’s lower in caffeine, so you can sip it any time of day.

Here’s how to make this delicious strawberry hojicha latte at home!

Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Hojicha Latte

• It’s roasted, fruity, creamy, and will surprise you!
• A great alternative to a strawberry matcha latte
• A fun flavor pairing that actually works perfectly together
• Great way to use extra strawberry syrup
• An easy hojicha recipe for a cafe-style drink at home

What is Hojicha?

Hojicha (or houjicha) is a Japanese roasted green tea known for its roasted flavor and aroma. Unlike matcha, it’s made from dried green tea leaves (stem and all), slowly roasted over a charcoal fire until dark brown. The result is a roasted tea with an incredible toasty and smoky aroma with a delicious caramel-like flavor.

You can drink hojicha in brewed tea or powder form, and both are great for different drinks. Hojicha powder is best for lattes since it’s more concentrated and flavorful, while brewed hojicha is best for refreshing iced teas.

Note: Contrary to popular belief, hojicha is not roasted matcha powder. Please do not try roasting your matcha powder at home, you’ll only burn your powder!

Does Hojicha Have Caffeine?

If you’re sensitive to caffeine, then hojicha will be a game changer for you! Drinks with matcha or coffee have lots of caffeine and prevent you from enjoying them past the morning if caffeine affects you significantly.

However, caffeine burns off during the hojicha roasting process so it actually has very little caffeine in it! Hojicha has about 5-8 mg of caffeine per serving, which is the same amount that decaf coffee has. While it’s not completely free of caffeine, it’s such a small amount that it’s basically decaffeinated.

Because hojicha is low in caffeine, it’s a great tea for kids, elders, and anyone sensitvie to caffeine! On top of this, hojicha benefits include its rich antioxidant content and soothing, calming effects!

What is a Strawberry Hojicha Latte?

A strawberry hojicha latte is made with fresh strawberry syrup, milk, ice, and whisked hojicha! It’s sweet and creamy with a unique roasted aroma and flavor that makes it unique. This drink reminds me of roasted strawberries with a cool, creamy milk!

While strawberry is fruity and bright, the hojicha is caramelly and smokey, so the two flavors balance each other quite nicely.

If you’re looking for a latte that’s a little unexpected but totally addictive, this one’s a must-try.

Does Strawberry and Hojicha Taste Good?

I’ll admit—I was skeptical at first. But after just a few sips, I was convinced. Hojicha’s toasty, roasted flavor usually pairs beautifully with rich, creamy ingredients (think caramel, toasted marshmallow, or cookies and milk). So it actually makes perfect sense that it would mellow out strawberry’s tartness and bring out its natural sweetness.

Surprisingly balanced and cozy, this combo tastes like it was made for desserts. I can totally see it working in pies, cakes, or anything with cream—it ties all the flavors together in such a satisfying way.

How to Make Strawberry Syrup

For this strawberry hojicha latte, strawberry syrup is the best way to add that bright strawberry flavor. You could also use freeze dried strawberry powder or strawberry flavoring, but there’s nothing quite like the taste of fresh strawberry!

You can either macerate or cook strawberry syrup, but cooking it will be faster. For cooked syrup, add 1 cup of diced strawberries, 1 cup of water, and a 1/3 cup of sugar to a small pot. Simmer on the stove for 10 minutes, until the strawberry juices cook out and you get the desired consistency.

Once cooled, transfer to an airtight jar and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks! It’s great on pancakes, in milk, or on yogurt!

How to Prepare Hojicha

If you’re already familiar with making matcha, preparing hojicha will feel like second nature—it follows the exact same steps. All you need is a bamboo whisk, a matcha bowl, and a fine tea sifter.

Start by sifting the hojicha powder into your bowl to avoid clumps, then add water (see measurements below). Whisk briskly in a zigzag motion for 10–20 seconds until a light foam forms on top. Aim for tiny, tight bubbles that create a smooth, velvety texture.

It might take a little practice to get that perfect foam, but honestly? That just means more cozy, toasty drinks to enjoy along the way.

How to Make a Strawberry Hojicha Latte

Ingredients:

• Strawberry Syrup:
• 1 cup diced strawberries
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup sugar (depending on how sweet the strawberries are)
• Strawberry Hojicha Latte:
• 1-2 tbsp strawberry syrup
• 1½ tsp hojicha powder
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup milk

Strawberry Hojicha Latte Recipe

1. Buy or make strawberry syrup. For homemade syrup, add strawberries, water, and sugar to a small pot. Simmer for 5-10 minutes until the strawberry juice cooks out and you reach the desired consistency. Cool and store in an airtight jar in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.
2. Sift hojicha powder into a matcha bowl and add water. Whisk the hojicha tea in a zigzag motion using a bamboo whisk for 10-20 seconds until a foam forms.
3. Add ice, strawberry syrup, and milk to a glass, then top with your whisked hojicha.
4. Mix and enjoy!

Other Hojicha Recipes

Strawberry isn’t the only thing that tastes amazing with hojicha! Here are some other hojicha recipes you might like next:

• Hojicha einspanner
• Hojicha latte
• Caramel hojicha latte
• Double hojicha latte
• Corn hojicha einspanner

Tips:

Here are some tips for making this strawberry hojicha latte at home:

• Add Vanilla: Feel like something is missing? Add a little bit of vanilla to give your latte some extra dimension! Vanilla is one of those few flavors that add depth to any dessert and makes it taste creamier and more nuanced.
• Use a Handheld Frother: If you don’t have a matcha bowl or bamboo whisk, you can use an electric handheld frother to combine the hojicha powder and water. Just add the powder and water to a tall glass, then whisk until completely combined or no clumps are left.
• Use Strawberry Jam: Instead of making a syrup, you can also use strawberry jam as a quick replacement. Just add one teaspoon of jam into the milk, and adjust according to your taste.