I am a bit hot and miss with green tea.
I love it in ice creams and baked stuff but as a drink I only like Matcha latte.
I thought this looked interesting and thought I'd give it a try.
It isn't as bitter as Matcha and has a more mellow flavour.
I still prefer a latte and this works well because it is less 'fresh' and a bit more nutty in flavour.
The colour is duller than matcha too.
Itr makes a fabulous lot of cup cakes with icing made with Hojicha powder.
I prefer a hint of flavour rather than a heap of flavour so I use just a little in the cake mix and again in the icing.
It also makes great ice cream. I buy a nice vanilla ice cream and stir a teaspoon of this through and then pop ot back on the freezer.
I think I prefer this to Matcha because of its more subtle flavour.
I also like the fact it has less caffeine than coffee and black tea
This is a pretty unique tea: it comes as a powder, that you can simply dissolve in hot water, no need to strain it or filter it. The tea flavour is unique and pleasant, even if it might not be everybody's cup of tea (pun intended!).
The quality of the tea is good and the flavour is strong (and you can adjust by adding more or less water into it). Personally I do not find this flavour my favourite, but I am happy with the item enough that I will finish it but might try something out next time (tea choices are quite personal).
I usually have matcha and own quite the collection of different matcha powders. However, I have been itching to try something different and had tried a hojicha latte once while in Japan, and enjoyed it at the time.
With tea powders like this, they typically provide an earthy taste. What I like about this powder is it is subtle on the earthy flavour, but also provides a roasted nutty taste. There’s no strange, bitter aftertaste. Unlike matcha, it’s not as strong and provides a more soft, subtle mouth feel when drinking it.
This Hojicha powder comes in a resealable pouch that contains 100g (3.5oz). You do not need to use too much per serving. I typically use around 5g per serving meaning this bag will generate 20 drinks or so for myself.
Overall, this has become one of my new powders to use on rotation and it’s nice to switch up from my usual matcha drinks from time to time. I recommend this to anyone who also enjoys tea powders like this.
I’ve not tried to brew green tea powder before, so I'm not sure if I’m doing it right. It tastes just like the sort of tea you get with meals in a Japanese restaurant, which is just what I wanted! It's a little sandy at first but smooth once you let it settle. It seems like a heaped teaspoon to a normal mug is enough as the tea is quite strong. Boiling instead of just hot water will make it bitter.
Good packaging and instructions (I think there is a desiccant inside as well to keep it dry).
I found this hojicha powder to be stronger than I expected. The instructions recommend using 2–3 teaspoons, but I only needed 1 teaspoon to make a cup that was plenty strong for my taste.
It has a smooth, roasted, smoky flavour that reminds me a little of coffee, but without the bitterness. It's enjoyable as a drink and would also work well as a flavouring in baked goods such as cheesecakes, cookies or other desserts.
I've also been adding a teaspoon to my breakfast cereal, which gives it a nice roasted flavour and adds a different dimension to the taste. Overall, it's a versatile hojicha powder that I've enjoyed using in more ways than just making tea.
This Hojicha tea is delicious. It has a smooth, nutty flavour with hints of cocoa and chocolate. There is zero bitterness that I could detect. I like that it only has about 3mg of caffeine per serve, which makes it perfect for a relaxing afternoon or evening drink that won’t disrupt my sleep. I like to consume it as a simple tea made with 2 teaspoons of tea powder added to a cup of hot water. I note it can also be added to cold water only. used in lattes, added to baked goods etc, so it is very versatile. I’m going to try it in my sourdough bread and a banana bread.
I like that it is an authentic, single Japanese origin tea. The very finely ground, roasted tea powder is a light brown in colour and mixes readily in hot water. There is a slight residue at the end after consuming the tea drink, and even that tastes nice. It is conveniently packaged in a resealable packet. There is a little desiccant packet in the bag to help maintain the freshness and dryness of the tea.
This is my new favourite afternoon drink. I thoroughly recommend it. It really is delicious.
I've been wanting something lower in caffeine for my afternoons and I chose this hojicha powder. It's roasted green tea, and that roasting is what really sets it apart from matcha. Hojicha has less caffeine, under 20mg a cup compared to matcha's 60-80mg. A big part of that comes down to the leaves themselves, hojicha tends to use more mature leaves and stems picked later in the season, which just naturally have less caffeine, plus the roasting process breaks some of it down too.
I make it exactly like I would matcha, whisked up in my matcha bowl, then I add frothed milk for a cosy winter warmer. Come summer I'll switch it up and have it iced instead. About 1.5 teaspoons whisked into hot water is my go to.
Taste wise it's mild, a bit nutty and more earthy than matcha, which is grassier and fresher in comparison. There's a touch of bitterness too. The only thing I wasn't too keen on is the texture, I got a bit of grittiness. I might try an electric frother next time and see if that smooths things out.
I would still recommend this premium Hojicha powder straight from Japan.
Whisking and Flavour
----
When whisked up, this powder foams up nicely with a good layer of froth on top. The roasted flavour isn't the punchiest hojicha I've tried, leaning a bit more subtle, but the toasted notes still come through well enough in a milky latte. I usually use a heaped teaspoon (around 3-4g) for a standard drink.
The Sediment Issue
----
Where it falls short is how well it mixes into liquids. When made into a latte, there's always a noticeable layer of sediment that settles right at the bottom of the cup. I did a side-by-side comparison with another hojicha powder I have at home (which is cheaper than this one), and my usual one didn't leave any residue at all.
Best Uses
----
Because of the sediment and bit of chalkiness in drinks, this is really best used in baking or cooking where the sediment won't be noticeable. It still works okay for a warm drink if you're in a pickle, but it wouldn't be my first choice for daily tea lattes.
TLDR - Foams up nicely with a subtle roasted flavour, but leaves sediment at the bottom of drinks. Great for baking, but only okay for lattes.
I ordered this mostly because I wanted to try something different from my usual coffee and green tea, and it's turned out to be a really nice change. The flavor is mellow with a toasted, almost nutty taste that's easy to enjoy. It's not nearly as strong as matcha, and I like that it has a softer, more comforting feel.
The resealable pouch is handy and seems to keep everything fresh. You also don't need very much per serving, so one bag should last a while. The brown color surprised me at first, but then I remembered that hojicha is roasted, so it actually makes perfect sense.
Overall, I'm glad I gave this a try. It's become one of those little pantry items I keep coming back to because it's easy to make, tastes great, and is a nice break from my usual drinks. I'd happily order it again.
This hojicha powder is very fragrant and has a pleasant earthy, nutty flavour. It tastes amazing on its own but also goes exceptionally well with milk when making a hojicha latte. Following the instructions, I use three teaspoons for my drink. I've found it's best to mix the powder with hot water first to get it to fully dissolve by mixing it with a teaspoon as using cold liquids can cause some clumping.
The packaging is well designed for daily use with the resealable bag keeping the powder fresh and the zipper being easy to seal. This is great as an afternoon drink since it's low caffeine, a lot lower than typical coffee or green tea drinks. I haven't had any issues sleeping compared to when I have a coffee later in the day.
This is an outstanding Japanese tea and an interesting change from the green tea I usually drink. The roasting really comes through and you can taste the difference it makes compared to a standard green tea.
What I like most is the powder format. I find it far less fuss than tea bags or loose leaf because you just add it to the water and swirl it around before drinking. The one thing to get right is the amount. Use less than you think you need or the extra powder will not fully dissolve and you end up with a paste sitting at the bottom of the cup, which is a waste of good powder.
If you already enjoy Matcha and fancy something a little different this is well worth a go. I hadn't tried Hojicha before and it has become a good option for when I want a change, so it will be staying in my cupboard.
This hojicha powder tastes great and has quickly become my go-to for a late afternoon break. It has that smooth, roasted character, and I have not noticed any caffeine buzz from it, so it does seem to sit lower on caffeine than a regular green tea.
Making it could not be simpler. You just mix it with hot water and it comes together nicely, no special technique needed. That ease makes it something you actually reach for rather than leave in the cupboard.
If you want a warm, toasty drink that will not keep you up later in the day, this fits the bill well. Easy to prepare, pleasant to sip, and a nice way to wind down.
This hojicha powder has a really smooth, toasted flavour that comes through nicely in drinks and desserts. It has that classic roasted green tea profile—nutty, slightly caramelised, and gently earthy—without any bitterness, which makes it very easy to drink even for people who find regular green tea too sharp. The low caffeine level also makes it a good option for an evening latte or a calming warm drink.
The powder dissolves well in milk or plant-based alternatives, so it works nicely for hojicha lattes, and the flavour holds up when you add a bit of sweetness. It also performs well in baking and desserts, adding a subtle roasted tea note to things like cakes, panna cotta, or ice cream without overpowering them. The resealable bag helps keep it fresh, and a small amount goes a long way, so it feels like good value for a single-origin tea ingredient.
This was my first time trying Hojicha or Roasted Green Tea Powder so I wasn't sure what to expect.
I'm glad I had the opportunity to try a Premium Hojicha Powder from the Japanese Green Tea Co.
I initially tried it as a hot tea. Not the most appealing colour, and a very earthy flavour quite different from normal green tea or matcha, which is what I'm used to.
However I gave it another try, and made a latte with milk and found it much more enjoyable!
I whisk 1-2tsp of Hojicha powder with a 1/4 cup of low fat milk using an electric frother, and it comes out smooth and fluffy in less than 30 seconds. Top with more milk and enjoy! Such a nice treat in winter or summer, day or night.
Like green tea, Hojicha is rich in antioxidants, lower in caffeine and is gentle on the stomach too.
En partant, je suis un fan de thé japonais. J’en bois régulièrement depuis des années. Je retrouve ici le goût qui me fait tant aimer le thé japonais. Il y a un goût un peu terreux qu’on retrouve souvent dans les thés japonais, auquel s’ajoute une note torréfiée. C’est un mélange qui surprend au début, mais qui est vraiment bon.
Le goût est moyen, ni trop doux ni trop intense. Il est assez grillé, mais je l’ai trouvé meilleur en l’utilisant en cuisine qu’en boisson.
Il se mélange bien avec de l’eau chaude, mais même en mélangeant beaucoup, il reste toujours un léger fond de poudre au fond de la tasse au fur et à mesure que je le bois.
C’est une poudre qui demande un petit temps d’adaptation. Je ne suis pas quelqu’un qui boit du matcha, mais j’ai voulu essayer cette poudre en me fiant aux thés japonais que j’aime déjà, et je ne suis pas déçu.
J’ai trouvé qu’en utilisant un peu moins que la quantité recommandée, c’était plus facile à boire. C’est vraiment une question de préférence.
Je l’ai aussi utilisée dans du riz au rice cooker pour ajouter un peu de umami, et c’était franchement bon. Dans ce contexte, je l’ai même trouvé meilleur.
Le goût devient un peu meilleur avec le temps, mais dans mon cas je l’utilise surtout pour la cuisine et parfois pour boire. Il est aussi pratique en camping, puisqu’il suffit de le mélanger avec de l’eau.
La poudre est fine et se mélange bien, mais elle ne se dissout jamais complètement. Cela peut ne pas convenir à tout le monde. Si vous cherchez une texture proche d’un thé classique, ce ne sera peut-être pas idéal. Par contre, si vous aimez quelque chose de plus dense et légèrement crémeux, vous allez probablement apprécier.
Le paquet refermable est pratique et aide à bien conserver la fraîcheur du produit après ouverture.
La couleur du thé pourrait par contre ne pas être très attirante pour certaines personnes.
Je dirais que c’est un produit intéressant pour ceux qui aiment explorer les thés japonais différents, mais ce n’est pas un thé “grand public”.
