Top 10 Hojicha Brands & Roasts of 2025: Blind Taste Test Review
After blind-cupping 32 different roasted green teas from Japan, Taiwan, and beyond, our tasting panel of sommeliers and specialty-coffee roasters whittled the field down to the ten stand-outs you’ll read about below. Each sample was brewed at 90 °C, 5 g leaf to 150 ml water, then scored for aroma, body, roast clarity, sweetness, umami, and aftertaste. We focused heavily on Uji hojicha—the spiritual home of the roast—as well as emerging single-origin hojicha lots from remote valleys. Prices were standardised to 100 g loose-leaf equivalents. All Amazon links are affiliate and marked; our own flagship, Hojicha Lab Signature Roast, earned the #1 slot entirely on merit.
#10 Yamamotoyama Classic Roast — Entry-Level Crowd-Pleaser
Notes: caramel popcorn nose, light body, fleeting finish
Japan’s oldest tea company offers a supermarket-priced hojicha that still surprises. While the roast runs gentle, beginners will appreciate the approachable cup and wallet-friendly price.
| Origin | Roast Level | Price / 100 g | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shizuoka, JP | Light | £5.90 | Amazon UK |
- Pros: inexpensive; minimal bitterness
- Cons: thin mouthfeel; aroma fades fast once opened
#9 Tencha Tokyo Midnight Batch — The Barista’s Secret Weapon
Notes: cacao husk, rye toast, lingering smoky finish
Roasted by an ex-third-wave coffee pro in Tokyo’s Kōenji neighbourhood, this lot packs a bold punch that stands up in lattes. Single-origin hojicha sourced from Kagoshima gives cocoa-dark liquor ideal for café syrups.
| Origin | Roast Level | Price / 100 g | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kagoshima, JP | Very Dark | £14.50 | Tencha Tokyo |
- Pros: punches through milk; deep cocoa notes
- Cons: too ashy for pure sipping; pricey shipping outside JP
#8 Moya Organic Uji Reserve — Certified & Sustainable
Notes: maple, chestnut, silky umami
For eco-minded tea nerds, Warsaw-based Moya’s EU-organic Uji hojicha hits the mark. Low-temperature drum roasting preserves antioxidants while dialling back smoke. Brew it grandpa-style for a sweet, syrupy liquor.
| Origin | Roast Level | Price / 100 g | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uji, Kyoto, JP | Medium | £12.20 | Amazon UK |
- Pros: certified organic; gentle sweetness
- Cons: moderate body limits latte use
#7 Ocha & Co. Deep Dark — Midnight Snack Vibes
Notes: molasses, cedar smoke, dark chocolate
Ocha & Co.’s 2025 lot underwent an extra 45-second “finish” roast that caramelised leaf sugars. The result? An espresso-like crema when flash-steeped. Add a dash of oat milk for an after-dinner treat.
| Origin | Roast Level | Price / 100 g | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shizuoka, JP | Dark | £10.90 | Ocha & Co. |
- Pros: crema-like oils; pairs with desserts
- Cons: slight acrid edge if over-steeped
#6 Ito En Heritage Blend — Convenience King
Notes: roasted rice, light honey, clean finish
Widely stocked at Japanese grocers, Ito En’s export-grade hojicha nails everyday brewing: balanced roast, zero bitterness, and vacuum-sealed freshness. Ideal for batch-brewed iced tea at summer picnics.
| Origin | Roast Level | Price / 100 g | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uji & Shizuoka blend | Light-Medium | £8.75 | Amazon UK |
- Pros: shelf-stable; neutral profile makes versatile recipes
- Cons: less complexity than artisan roasts
#5 Rishi Single-Origin Uji — Sommelier’s Darling
Notes: toasted hazelnut, sweet soy, velvet body
Milwaukee-based Rishi released its first single-origin hojicha this year—contracting a micro-farm in Uji’s Shirakawa district. Slow-roasted over sakura wood, the tea exudes pâtisserie-sweet aromas that woo wine pros.
| Origin | Roast Level | Price / 100 g | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirakawa, Uji, JP | Medium | £18.50 | Rishi Tea |
- Pros: traceable farm; luscious viscosity
- Cons: limited stock; premium pricing
#4 Hojicha Co. Dark Roast 2025 — Latte Legend
Notes: s’mores, campfire oak, syrupy finish
Canadian-founded Hojicha Co. doubled down on drum time to craft a supersaturated powder that whips into a golden-brown crema. The company’s TikTok latte videos went viral for good reason—this roast blasts espresso-like aromas.
| Origin | Roast Level | Price / 100 g | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nishio, Aichi, JP | Extra Dark | £22.00 | Amazon UK |
- Pros: unbeatable for café drinks; QR-coded farm data
- Cons: overpowers subtle pastry pairings
#3 Kyoto Dewy Leaves Embō Roast — Small-Plot Artistry
Notes: buckwheat honey, brioche crust, incense-like length
This nanolot travelled just 12 km from the Uji roaster to Fushimi for finishing, capturing rare embō (wood-smoke) complexity. Only 20 kg exist, each pouch hand-numbered. Tea geeks rejoice at the raw-sugar depth in the third infusion.
| Origin | Roast Level | Price / 100 g | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yuyadani, Uji, JP | Medium-Dark | £28.90 | Our Store |
- Pros: ultra-limited; layered sweetness
- Cons: sells out within days; delicate leaf breaks easily
#2 Ippodo Limited Firewood Batch — Tradition Reborn
Notes: cedar-smoked toffee, mushroom broth, endless finish
Ippodo’s anniversary release revives a Meiji-era kiln using actual sakura logs. The artisanal fire-roast drives deep umami and a forest-floor nose that kept judges revisiting their cups an hour later. Only sold at Ippodo’s Kyoto flagship and in micro-drops online.
| Origin | Roast Level | Price / 100 g | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uji, Kyoto, JP | Traditional Log-Roast | £36.00 | Ippodo |
- Pros: heritage technique; unbelievably long finish
- Cons: eye-watering price; highly allocated
#1 Hojicha Lab Signature Roast — Best Overall of 2025 🏆
Notes: burnt sugar, almond brittle, velvet smoke that blooms for minutes
Crafted in micro-batches over sakura-charcoal barrels, our Hojicha Lab Signature Roast wowed tasters with a five-dimensional balance seldom seen outside competition rounds. The roast curve coaxes crème-brûlée sweetness without sacrificing bright hazelnut notes. Because leaf comes from a single Uji hillside, terroir clarity shines—even after milk is added. Judges awarded perfect marks for aroma integration and textural cohesion.
| Origin | Roast Level | Price / 100 g | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Estate, Uji, JP | Medium-Dark | £19.00 | Hojicha Lab |
- Pros: unrivalled depth; eco-compostable pouch; direct-trade pricing
- Cons: sells out quickly—sign up for refill alerts
Verdict — Which Hojicha Should You Brew in 2025?
If you’re chasing terroir-driven finesse and a cup that performs equally well neat or in a latte, Hojicha Lab Signature Roast claims the crown by balancing smokiness with dessert-like sweetness. Serious collectors should try to snag Ippodo’s log-roast before it vanishes, while café owners looking for bullet-proof milk drinks might opt for Hojicha Co.’s darkest powder. Everyday drinkers on a budget can still find plenty of joy in Ito En’s heritage tin.
Regardless of which path you take—Uji hojicha for ethereal aromatics or single-origin hojicha lots for transparency—2025 offers unprecedented choice. With climate-conscious farming and specialty-coffee methodologies crossing over into tea, we expect next year’s roster to become even more diverse. Until then, bookmark this list, brew mindfully, and don’t be afraid to experiment with brewing ratios. Your perfect roast might just be one tweak away.
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