What is Hojicha?
Roasted Green Tea Lattes — Low-Caffeine and Toasty — in Waikiki
What is Hojicha?
Hojicha (ほうじ茶) is a Japanese green tea that has been roasted over charcoal or high heat, which turns the leaves a reddish-brown color. Unlike grassy green teas, hojicha tastes nutty, toasty, and caramel-like, with almost none of the bitterness people associate with green tea. The roasting also makes it naturally low in caffeine, so a hojicha latte is a perfect afternoon or evening drink. In the cup it pours a warm reddish-amber color rather than the vivid green of matcha.
The History of Hojicha
From a 1920s Kyoto Tea Shop to Cafés Around the World
Hojicha was first created in the 1920s in Kyoto, Japan. As the story goes, Kyoto tea merchants were looking for a way to use up leftover leaves, stems (kukicha), and lower grades of green tea that had not sold. Rather than throw them away, they roasted them over high heat — and discovered that roasting transformed the humble leftovers into something warm, toasty, and delicious.
Roasting changed the leaf completely. The high heat turns the green leaves a reddish-brown, mellows the grassy notes, and develops deep nutty, caramel-like aromas. Just as importantly, roasting burns off much of the caffeine, making hojicha gentle enough to drink late in the day. In Japan it quickly became a comforting everyday tea — served after meals, offered to children and the elderly, and poured in homes across the country.
Decades later, hojicha found a second life as a café latte flavor. Baristas discovered that the toasty, caramel character of roasted green tea pairs beautifully with steamed milk, creating a creamy latte that tastes a little like toasted nuts and brown sugar. Hojicha lattes, soft-serve, and desserts spread from Kyoto tea houses to modern cafés, joining matcha as a signature Japanese tea drink.
From there, hojicha crossed the Pacific. Hawaii — with its deep Japanese-American roots and love of tea — embraced the toasty roasted flavor, and today you can find hojicha lattes in Waikiki just steps from the beach. For visitors who already love matcha, hojicha is the next Japanese tea to try.
Hojicha vs Matcha vs Coffee
How Does a Hojicha Latte Compare?
Hojicha, matcha, and coffee are three very different ways to get your café drink. Here is how a hojicha latte stacks up:
| Feature | Hojicha | Matcha | Coffee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Process | Roasted green tea leaves | Ground green tea leaf (stone-milled) | Roasted coffee beans |
| Caffeine | Low | Moderate | High |
| Taste | Nutty, toasty, caramel-like | Grassy, vegetal umami | Bitter, roasty |
| Color | Reddish-amber | Vivid green | Brown |
| Best time | Afternoon or evening | Morning to midday | Morning |
| Who it's for | Anyone wanting a cozy, low-caffeine drink | Fans of bright, earthy green tea | Those who want a strong caffeine kick |
The key takeaway: hojicha is the lowest-caffeine of the three and the only one with a roasted, caramel-like flavor — which makes a hojicha latte the easy choice when you want something cozy without the jitters.
Ways to Enjoy Hojicha & Pairings
Five Easy Ways to Try Roasted Green Tea
Hot Hojicha Latte
$8.95 · hot
The classic way to taste hojicha. Roasted green tea is whisked and poured over steamed milk, giving you a warm, creamy cup with toasty, caramel-nut flavor and almost no bitterness. Our Hojicha Latte is $8.95 and is the best introduction to roasted green tea.
Iced Hojicha Latte
iced
The same toasty roasted flavor, served over ice — perfect for a warm Waikiki afternoon. Iced hojicha keeps its smooth, nutty character while being wonderfully refreshing, and the reddish-amber color over milk looks beautiful in the cup.
Hojicha + a Mochi Donut
pairing
Hojicha's caramel and toasted-nut notes are made for our chewy mochi donuts. Order a hojicha latte alongside a chocolate or ube mochi donut for a cozy afternoon treat — the roasted tea cuts through the sweetness perfectly.
Hojicha vs a Matcha Latte
side-by-side
Not sure which to choose? Try a hojicha latte next to a matcha latte and taste the difference: matcha is bright, grassy, and a bit more caffeinated, while hojicha is toasty, mellow, and low-caffeine. Many guests order both to share.
Hojicha for Low-Caffeine Afternoons
low-caffeine
Because roasting removes much of the caffeine, hojicha is the drink to order when you want something warm and comforting later in the day. It is gentle enough for the afternoon or evening without keeping you up at night.
Why Try Hojicha in Waikiki
A Toasty Flavor Most People Haven't Tried
Almost everyone has had matcha or coffee, but far fewer have tried hojicha. Its nutty, toasty, caramel-like flavor is a genuinely new experience — the kind of drink you order on vacation and then go looking for back home. Waikiki is the perfect place to discover it.
Low Caffeine = an Anytime Drink
Roasting removes much of the caffeine, so hojicha is gentle enough to enjoy in the afternoon or evening without disrupting your sleep. It is the ideal drink for anyone winding down their day or sensitive to caffeine.
Pairs Perfectly with Mochi Donuts
A toasty hojicha latte and a chewy mochi donut is one of our favorite combinations. The caramel notes of the roasted tea balance the sweetness of the donut, making it a perfect afternoon pick-me-up in Waikiki.
About 5 Minutes from the Beach
Kona Coffee Donut? sits right on Kalākaua Avenue, about a 5-minute walk from Waikiki Beach. Grab a hojicha latte and a mochi donut on your way to or from the sand — it is the perfect island treat.
Where to Get a Hojicha Latte in Waikiki
If you are craving a hojicha latte in Waikiki, Kona Coffee Donut? is your destination.
Kona Coffee Donut?
2142 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Located in the heart of Waikiki on Kalākaua Avenue, Kona Coffee Donut? pours hojicha and matcha lattes alongside 100% Kona coffee and chewy mochi donuts. Our Hojicha Latte ($8.95) is roasted, toasty, and naturally low in caffeine — the perfect afternoon or evening drink, about 5 minutes from Waikiki Beach.
- Toasty, low-caffeine Hojicha Latte ($8.95)
- Also serving matcha lattes and 100% Kona coffee
- Pairs perfectly with our mochi donuts
- About 5 minutes from Waikiki Beach · open daily 7AM–9PM
How to Enjoy Hojicha
Tips for Your First Hojicha Latte
Try It Hot First
For your very first hojicha, order it hot. Steamed milk brings out the roasted, caramel-nut character beautifully, and a warm cup is the best way to appreciate why hojicha tastes so toasty and comforting compared to grassy green teas.
Go Iced for the Heat
On a warm Waikiki day, an iced hojicha latte is incredibly refreshing while keeping all of that smooth, nutty flavor. The reddish-amber tea swirling into cold milk is as pretty as it is delicious.
Pair It with a Mochi Donut
Order your hojicha latte with a chocolate or ube mochi donut. The toasty caramel notes of the roasted tea balance the sweetness of the donut perfectly, making an ideal afternoon treat.
Save It for the Afternoon or Evening
Because hojicha is naturally low in caffeine, it is the perfect drink for later in the day. Order one when you want something warm and cozy without the caffeine keeping you up at night.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hojicha
What is hojicha?
What's the difference between hojicha and matcha?
Does hojicha have caffeine?
What does hojicha taste like?
Where can I get a hojicha latte in Waikiki?
Try a Hojicha Latte in Waikiki
Visit Kona Coffee Donut? at 2142 Kalakaua Ave and try our toasty, low-caffeine hojicha latte — paired perfectly with a mochi donut.