First-Harvest Japanese Hojicha Green Tea That Loves Your Sleep.
Slow-fired from sweet shaded Kukicha and Karigane tea stems rather than bitter leaves. Natural notes of melted milk chocolate, toasted hazelnut, and warm honey with ~8mg gentle caffeine and zero whisk clumps.
The Noon & Night Hojicha Duo
No. 01 Golden Stem (80g) + No. 02 Velvet Cacao (80g) Countertop Tins
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The Japanese Stem Hojicha Collection
Other brands sell tiny 20g tins at $1.00+/g that run out in 6 iced lattes. Every Drink Hojicha tin holds a true 80g 27-to-30 cup supply at $0.35/g on subscription.
The Signature 3:30 PM Iced Milk Swirl
- Sift or scoop 3g (1 rounded tsp) of No. 01 Golden Stem or No. 02 Velvet Cacao into a spouted bowl or small glass.
- Add 30ml (2 tbsp) warm 165F water and whisk or electric-froth for 10 seconds until glossy like melted chocolate ganache.
- Pour slowly over 8 oz cold oat or whole milk and crystal-clear ice for a layered amber-cacao ribbon.
Why Shaded Tea Stems Beat Matcha & Coarse Leaf
| Ritual Metric | Drink Hojicha (First-Harvest Stem) | Ceremonial Matcha Tins | Commodity Leaf Hojicha |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Flavor in Cold Milk | Melted Milk Chocolate, Hazelnut, Honey | Vegetal, Grassy, Umami | Smoky, Ashy, Burnt Bark |
| Caffeine per 3g Cup | ~7mg - 9mg (3 PM & 8 PM Sleep-Safe) | 65mg - 80mg (Afternoon Jitters) | 12mg - 20mg |
| Tin Size & Price per Gram | 80g Tin / 90g Refill ($0.35/g Sub) | Tiny 20g Tin ($1.00 - $1.25/g) | Kraft Foil Bag ($0.25/g, No Sub) |
| Freshness After Opening | 6+ Months (Firing Locks Aroma) | Oxidizes Dull Brown in 3 Weeks | Stales in Non-Barrier Pouches |
Crafted From Sweet Shaded Tea Stems, Never Bitter Leaves.
During spring shading in Uji and Kagoshima, the Japanese tea plant concentrates L-theanine and natural xylose sugars inside its tender stems (Kukicha and Karigane). When gently fired and jet-milled at room temperature, those stems turn into pure melted milk chocolate and hazelnut praline without a trace of smoke or astringency.
Read Our Kyoto Stem Standard ->
Signature Iced Hojicha Tea Recipes
Why Matcha & Latte Drinkers Switched
“It genuinely tastes like an iced Ferrero Rocher over oat milk with zero sugar added. My Oura sleep score jumped the very first week I swapped my 3 PM matcha for Velvet Cacao.”
“Finally an 80g tin that actually lasts all month instead of those $25 20g tins that run out in five days. Golden Stem with a splash of maple is unreal.”
“I keep the 5-Second Sticks in my work tote and travel bag. You literally pour it into cold milk at the airport and stir with a straw - zero clumps.”
Everything About Japanese Stem Hojicha
What does first-harvest stem Hojicha taste like compared to Matcha?
Unlike matcha (which uses steamed green leaves and can taste grassy or bitter), Hojicha is slow-fired Japanese green tea. Because we use shaded first-harvest Kukicha and Karigane tea stems rich in natural amino sugars, our Hojicha tastes naturally like melted milk chocolate, toasted hazelnut, and warm honey with zero bitterness and zero added sugar.
Will Drink Hojicha keep me awake if I drink it at 3 PM or 8 PM?
Gentle charcoal firing naturally sublimates caffeine down to 7mg to 9mg per 3g serving - roughly 90% less than a cup of coffee and nearly 90% less than ceremonial matcha - while preserving calming L-theanine from shaded tea stems.
Why are your tins 80g instead of the 20g or 30g tins other brands sell?
An 8oz milk tea requires 3g of hojicha powder so the rich cocoa-hazelnut notes shine through oat or whole milk. Tiny 20g tins run out in 6 cups (less than a week) and cost over $1.00 per gram. Our 80g UV-matte tin and 90g monthly refill pouch give you a true 27 to 30 cup monthly ritual at $0.35 per gram on subscription.
How do subscriptions work, and how easy is it to skip or cancel?
Subscribers save 16% on every order ($32 instead of $38 per single tin, or $54 for the Noon & Night Duo with free shipping) and receive eco-friendly nitrogen-flushed refill pouches that pour cleanly into your countertop tin. You can skip a month, swap flavors, or cancel in 1 click anytime with zero fees.