Hojicha Powder – Zairai | 在来 – 40g

Brewing Instructions

Iced Latte
Sift 3g of hojicha powder into a bowl or cup
Add 40ml of hot water (80–90°C) and whisk until smooth
Pour 180ml of milk into an ice-filled glass, then gently pour the hojicha over the ice

Hot Latte
Sift 2g of hojicha powder into a bowl or cup
Add 40ml of hot water (80–90°C) and whisk until smooth
Add 180ml of steamed milk
We recommend sifting the powder before use to avoid clumps.
Our favourite milk: oat milk.

Learn More

What Is Hojicha Powder?

Hojicha powder is roasted Japanese green tea that has been ground into a fine powder, similar in texture to matcha. While matcha is made from shade-grown, unroasted leaves, hojicha powder comes from roasted tea — giving it a warm brown colour and a toasty, caramel-like flavour instead of matcha’s vegetal intensity.

Because the tea is already roasted, hojicha powder is naturally low in bitterness and caffeine. It dissolves easily in hot or cold liquids, making it a versatile ingredient for lattes, smoothies, baking, and desserts.

What Is Zairai?

Zairai (在来) means “native” in Japanese. Unlike modern cultivars — which are cloned from a single parent plant for uniformity — Zairai tea bushes are grown from seed. Each plant is genetically unique, with its own root system that grows deep into the soil, absorbing minerals and expressing the local terroir in ways that cloned plants cannot.

Many Zairai bushes have been growing for decades, sometimes centuries, naturally adapting to their environment. This gives Zairai teas a distinctive depth and complexity — earthier, more rustic, and less predictable than cultivar-based teas. In an industry increasingly dominated by uniform cultivars, Zairai represents something rare and irreplaceable.

Hojicha Powder vs Matcha — What’s the Difference?

Both are Japanese tea powders, but they come from very different starting points. Matcha is made from shade-grown, unroasted tencha leaves — bright green, vegetal, and umami-rich. Hojicha powder is made from roasted tea — warm, toasty, and naturally sweet with much less caffeine and bitterness.

If you love matcha lattes but want something gentler for the afternoon or evening, hojicha powder lattes are an excellent alternative. The roasted flavour pairs beautifully with milk — especially oat milk — and won’t keep you up at night.

Hojicha Powder Caffeine Content

Hojicha is one of the lowest-caffeine Japanese teas because roasting significantly reduces caffeine content. In powder form, you consume the entire leaf, so caffeine is slightly higher than steeped hojicha — but still much lower than matcha or coffee. Expect roughly 15–30 mg per serving, making it a good choice for evenings or for anyone looking to reduce caffeine intake.

How to Use Hojicha Powder

Beyond lattes, hojicha powder is excellent for baking and cooking. It adds a warm, roasty sweetness to cookies, cakes, ice cream, and chocolate truffles. It also blends well into smoothies and oatmeal. Because hojicha powder has a bolder, less delicate flavour than matcha, it holds up well in recipes where matcha might get lost.