Hojicha is a type of roasted green tea from Japan. With its unique flavour, brown colour and low caffeine content, it's unlike any other green tea. You may probably be familiar with all this, but what you may not know is that it goes really well with milk. This means, it's perfect for making boba tea. This Hojicha Bubble Tea has a unique topping too – a homemade matcha milk jelly.
How do they taste together?
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Absolutely super delicious! Matcha milk jellies give a perfect chewiness and flavour to this bubble tea and just the right dose of sweetness – they come as a sweet surprise. This bubble tea is absolutely refreshing and light, and just perfect for warmer spring and summer days.
What is hojicha tea?
Hojicha tea is a type of Japanese green tea. Tea leaves are roasted to achieve a beautiful golden-brown colour and unique roasted, nutty flavour. Hojicha can be lightly or heavily roasted, which also influences the colour and flavour of the tea. It's usually made from bancha tea leaves that are already lower in caffeine, but it can be made from sencha, kukicha and even tencha – a tea that's ground into matcha.
Which hojicha is the best making Hojicha Bubble Tea?
You can use any hojicha tea for making hojicha bubble tea, but the darker the colour, the stronger the flavour it will be. This also means that it will go really well with milk. Hojicha doesn't have grassy notes, so it's a great green tea type for tea drinkers that prefer oolong and black teas over green tea.
What are matcha milk jellies?
A topping for this hojicha bubble tea is sweet and grassy homemade matcha jelly. These jellies complement the flavour of hojicha amazingly well. To make them, you'll need a Japanese matcha powder, agar agar powder, milk and sugar. You can replace sugar with a sugar alternative, for example, erythritol. You can make them a night before and store in the fridge. A good thing about agar agar is that it will settle fast. You can have these jellies ready in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients for making Hojicha Bubble Tea
Hojicha Tea – any hojicha tea will be great for making this bubble tea, but if you can choose, opt for heavily roasted hojicha. It will give more flavour and depth. Hojicha usually won't get bitter, which makes it really amazing for bubble teas that are not overly sweet.
Milk – Although you can use any milk, creamers with a very high fat percentage will be a much better option. Coffee creamer, half-and-half, canned coconut milk or vegan coffee creamer will be perfect for this bubble tea. You will need only 5-10 ml of creamer. Another great thing is that this will also reduce the calorie content of this boba tea significantly. Also, you can serve this tea with no milk or creamers. It will still taste absolutely delicious and refreshing.
Sugar – Matcha milk jellies will add enough sweetness to this drink and hojicha is not bitter, so you won't need to use any additional sugar. However, if you prefer your boba tea sweet, a teaspoon of brown sugar or honey will be a brilliant choice. Both will complement the flavour of hojicha tea well.
Ice – This is an iced boba tea, so make sure you have enough ice. Since ice may make drinks watery, you can also make hojicha in advance and allow it to cool in the fridge.
Ingredients for making Matcha Milk Jellies
Matcha green tea – use an authentic and fresh tea powder with deeper and sweeter flavour. Sift it before adding it to milk to prevent lumps and get a clear green milk jelly. Ceremonial grade or cooking grade are both fine.
Agar agar powder – agar agar is one of the must-have powders if you love drinking homemade boba teas with different toppings. It settles faster than regular gelatine and is vegan-friendly.
Sugar – 1 or 2 teaspoons of sugar will be enough to make these jellies sweet. White sugar or sugar alternative such as erythritol are the best options that won't impact the flavour of matcha tea, but will add enough sweetness. Avoid stevia in this part of the recipe.
Milk – whole milk will work the best, but milk alternatives with a neutral or milk-like flavour are great too.
How many calories in Hojicha Bubble tea?
Some boba teas are infamous for their high calorie content. While the ingredients that are adding calories are also adding deliciousness, those same calories may be a reason you want to keep boba tea times to a minimum. Amazing thing about this recipe is that unless you are using additional sweeteners, this is actually a very low-calorie drink. One serving will have only around 70 calories and still lots of flavour.
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Hojicha Bubble Tea with Matcha Milk Jelly
Equipment
- small saucepan
- Precise kitchen scale
- Matcha sifter
- electric hand frother
- Strainer or an infuser
- cup
- Serving glass
Ingredients
For Matcha Milk Jellies
- 100 ml of whole milk
- 1 gram of agar agar powder
- 1 teaspoon of matcha powder
- 1-2 teaspoons of sugar
For Hojicha Bubble Tea
- 3 heaped teaspoons of hojicha tea 2 if you are using heavily roasted hojicha
- 250-300 ml of water
- 1 teaspoon of coffee creamer (about 5 ml) optional
- 1/2 glass of ice
Instructions
For Matcha Jellies
- Sift matcha powder into a tall glass.
- Add milk and use a hand frother to froth it well until there are no clumps left.
- Pour it into a small saucepan.
- Turn on the heat and simmer until hot, but not boiling.
- Add 1 gram of agar agar (about 4 teaspoon handle tips).
- Stir well while simmering until it dissolves. You will see when it starts to thicken. To test if you have added enough agar powder, use a very cold oil and drop one drop of hot jelly into a cold oil. After a couple of seconds, take it out with a teaspoon and check the consistency. If it's still soft and mushy, add a tiny bit more agar agar powder.
- Pour the milk jelly into a silicone tray and put it in the fridge for 30 minutes.
For Hojicha Bubble Tea
- Bring fresh water to a boil and let it cool to 90 degrees Celsius.
- Steep 3 teaspoons of hojicha tea in 300 ml of water for 5 minutes.
- Add ice into a serving glass.
- Pour the tea into a serving glass and wait until it cools. If you are adding honey or sugar, add it when the tea is still hot.
- Add matcha milk jellies and stir.
- Serve with a straw. Matcha milk jellies are firm but not as firm as tapioca pearls, so you can use any type of straw.