The Perfect Tea for Coffee Lovers

Hojicha — the perfect tea for coffee lovers

If you love coffee but the caffeine is getting to be too much, there's a Japanese tea that's been waiting for you for centuries.

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Not all green tea is green

This is the surprise: Hojicha brews dark amber, almost the colour of brewed coffee. One of Japan's most-loved everyday teas, and very few people outside Japan know it exists.

The secret is the roast. Hojicha is Japanese green tea that's been roasted over high heat, which turns the leaves from green to deep brown and transforms the flavour completely — toasty, nutty, mellow, almost caramel-like. Nothing grassy or vegetal.

Why coffee drinkers love it

• Rich, dark, toasty flavor — close to coffee's character without the bitterness

• Naturally low in caffeine — about half of matcha, much less than coffee

• No jitters, no afternoon crash — just calm, steady warmth

• Easy on the stomach — gentle enough for evenings

• Delicious as a latte — pours like coffee, drinks even better

How to drink it

Hojicha comes in two forms: loose leaves you steep like regular tea, or powder you whisk like matcha. for a cosy Hojicha latte, the powder is what you want.

Sift one to two teaspoons of Hojicha powder into a cup. Add a splash of hot water (about 80°C) and whisk smooth. Pour over warmed, frothed milk — oat milk is especially lovely. A small dusting of cinnamon on top, and you've got the perfect evening drink.

The lisata pick

Our Uji Kyoto Hojicha is a stronger roast than most — toasty, smoky, and earthy, but with a smooth, mellow finish that doesn't taste burnt. It's the kind of cup you'll reach for instead of an evening coffee, and never miss the coffee at all.

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Ready to make the switch? try our Uji Kyoto Hojicha — A 40g bag is the perfect way to see if it becomes your evening ritual.