Creamy Hojicha Cappuccino (Printable)

Aromatic roasted Japanese tea meets creamy steamed milk for a warm, comforting toasty beverage perfect for any time of day.

# What You Need:

→ Tea Base

01 - 2 teaspoons hojicha loose-leaf tea or 2 hojicha tea bags
02 - 1 cup filtered water

→ Milk

03 - 1 cup whole milk or oat milk for dairy-free option

→ Sweetener

04 - 1 to 2 teaspoons honey, maple syrup, or sugar (optional)

# How-To:

01 - Bring 1 cup of filtered water to a gentle simmer. Add hojicha tea leaves or tea bags and steep for 3 to 4 minutes, then strain or remove the bags.
02 - While tea steeps, heat milk in a small saucepan or using a frother until hot but not boiling. Froth the milk until creamy and foamy.
03 - Pour brewed hojicha equally into two cups. Stir in sweetener to taste if desired.
04 - Gently pour steamed milk over the tea, holding back the foam with a spoon. Spoon remaining milk foam on top for a classic cappuccino finish.
05 - Serve immediately, optionally dusted with a pinch of hojicha powder or cinnamon.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's smoother and less acidic than coffee, so you can enjoy it without that afternoon crash.
  • The toasty roasted flavor feels indulgent but takes just 10 minutes from start to finish.
  • Works beautifully with dairy or plant-based milk, making it easy to adapt for anyone at your table.
02 -
  • Don't over-steep your hojicha or it becomes woody and unpleasant, so set a timer and stick to 3 to 4 minutes no matter how impatient you feel.
  • The temperature of your milk matters more than you'd think, because milk that's too hot breaks apart when you try to froth it, while milk that's just warm enough froths into clouds.
03 -
  • If you want a stronger hojicha flavor, add an extra half teaspoon of tea leaves and steep for the full 4 minutes, or even stretch it to 4 and a half if you're feeling bold.
  • Keep your hojicha tea in an airtight container away from light and strong smells, because it picks up flavors easily and loses its roasted character if exposed to the fridge or spice cabinet chaos.
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