Hojicha Ice Cream — roasted-tea ice cream with deep caramel notes
Hojicha ice cream is made by infusing the eggy custard base with hojicha — the Japanese roasted green tea whose leaves are toasted over charcoal until they turn from green to red-brown. The infusion gives the ice cream a deep caramel-tan colour and a flavour that is far less astringent than matcha, with a smoky, almost-coffee depth.
i. Origin & history
Hojicha was reportedly first roasted in Kyoto in the 1920s, when a tea merchant tried roasting older, slightly stale leaves to extend their life. The roasting drove off bitterness and caffeine and created a quietly distinctive tea. Hojicha ice cream is a modern application — popular in Kyoto tea shops since roughly the 1990s.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 8 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 400 ml whole milk
- 20 g hojicha leaves
- 300 ml double cream
- 120 g caster sugar
- 5 egg yolks
- 1 pinch salt
iii. Method
- Warm milk with hojicha leaves to just below simmer. Off heat, steep 15 minutes. Strain through fine sieve, pressing leaves.
- Whisk yolks with sugar until pale. Whisk in the hojicha milk and the cream. Cook over low heat to 82 °C / 180 °F, stirring constantly. Strain.
- Chill at least 4 hours.
- Churn until thick. Freeze 3 hours to firm.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Steep, don't boil. Boiling hojicha leaves makes the infusion bitter.
- Strain through fine cloth. Fine tea dust slips past a sieve.
- Pair with milk chocolate. Hojicha's caramel notes go well with milk chocolate; less so with dark.
v. Variations
Matcha ice cream uses unroasted powdered tea for a green, vegetal version. Sencha ice cream uses standard green tea. Hojicha also pairs beautifully with vanilla, miso caramel, or roasted black sesame.
vi. Common questions
What is hojicha ice cream?
Hojicha Ice Cream is roasted-tea ice cream with deep caramel notes, from japanese cuisine. The infusion gives the ice cream a deep caramel-tan colour and a flavour that is far less astringent than matcha, with a smoky, almost-coffee depth
Where is hojicha ice cream from?
Hojicha Ice Cream is from the japanese dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does hojicha ice cream keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: 2 weeks frozen.