Your matcha era had a good run, but another Japanese tea is starting to steal the spotlight.

Now everyone’s talking about hojicha. This roasted green tea from Japan is appearing on more UAE café menus, but is it worth the hype? If you love discovering trending drinks before they go everywhere, now’s the time to order one.

Let’s take a look at what makes hojicha special and where you can try it in the UAE.

What is hojicha?

Hojicha is a Japanese roasted green tea with a warm, nutty aroma and a naturally smooth taste. Unlike matcha, it is roasted at high temperatures, giving it toasted notes and very little bitterness.

The tea first appeared in Japan in the 1920s, most likely as a way to make use of leftover tea leaves and stems. Today, it has become a favourite for people who enjoy soft, more mellow cup of tea.

One of hojicha’s biggest draws is its lower caffeine content. In a cup of 250 ml, hojicha contains about 7 to 20 mg of caffeine. Here’s how it compares with other popular drinks of a similar size:

  • Black tea: 40-70 mg
  • Matcha: 60-80 mg
  • Drip coffee: 95-200 mg

Where to find hojicha in the UAE

1. CHAWA Japan

If you’d like to experience hojicha in a Japanese tea-focused café, CHAWA Japan is a great place to start. Alongside freshly prepared hojicha drinks, you can also pick up organic Master Roast Hojicha tea to recreate the drink at home.

The dessert menu is just as tempting:

  • Signature Matcha Tiramisu
  • Matcha Fondant Chocolate
  • Chocolate and Matcha San Sebastian Cheesecake

2. KOI Thé

KOI Thé has added hojicha to its menu with the Premium Double Hojicha Latte. The drink combines deeply roasted Japanese hojicha with silky sweet cream foam for a rich yet smooth finish.

Locations in Dubai:

  • Mall of the Emirates
  • Dubai Mall
  • JLT Cluster X

3. The Matcha Tokyo UAE

For an authentic experience, The Matcha Tokyo is hard to beat. Founded by Japanese tea lovers who work directly with tea farmers in Uji, Japan, the brand keeps everything true to its roots.

Try a classic Hojicha or an Iced Hojicha latte, and save room for the selection of matcha-based desserts.

Locations:

  • The Beach, JBR (Dubai)
  • Al Khawaneej (Dubai)
  • Yas Mall (Abu Dhabi)

4. Matcha 16

The menu at Matcha 16 features a creamy Hojicha Latte, available hot or iced, as well as the Iced Hojicha Maple Nut, made with creamy oat milk, premium maple syrup, and a pinch of sea salt for a smooth, caramel-like finish.

Location: West Beach, The Palm

4. AVANTCHA Tea

Want to make your own hojicha latte at home? AVANTCHA Tea sells organic hojicha powder, making it easy to whisk up the drink in your own kitchen.

Is Hojicha Worth the Hype?

If you’re always on the hunt for the next café trend, hojicha is definitely worth a spot on your must-try list. The roasted, nutty flavour offers something completely different from your usual tea or coffee, and the lower caffeine content is a nice bonus.

Whether you order a creamy latte at one of the UAE’s cafés or whisk it up at home, there’s only one thing left to do: take your first sip and see what all the buzz is about.

Finished your hojicha checklist? Here’s another trend waiting to be explored. Here are 5 Cafes in Dubai with the Best Ube Lattes & Desserts, and this purple trend is definitely worth a try.

You can also check out Where to Find the Viral Dot Cake in UAE Right Now.