Dubai’s always known for mastering the world’s cult-favourite beverages – and this time it’s Hojicha.
What is Hojicha?
This roasted green tea from Shizuoka Prefacture, Japan boasts a deep umami character with tasting notes of nori seaweed, roasted hazelnut, and delicate smoke. It’s rich and woody tannins make it an ideal match for sushi or mushroom risotto, enhancing savoury flavours with its smoky elegance.
What are the benefits?
Known for its lower caffeine, this now cult-favourite drink is also rich in antioxidants: Like other green teas, hojicha contains antioxidants, such as catechins and polyphenols, which help protect the body against damage from free radicals and may reduce the risk of certain diseases. Also, Hojicha’s low caffeine and potential anti-inflammatory properties may help soothe digestive discomfort and promote healthy digestion.
So, if you’re looking to try this drink, Emirates Woman has narrowed the best spots to give this beverage a shot.
Maison Cha Cha
Situated in Downtown Dubai, the Hojicha Latte is a warm, roasted indulgence that blends smoky depth with delicate caramel notes, made from premium Shizuoka-sourced tea. Served hot or iced in a sun-drenched, design-forward space that fuses New York energy with Japanese calm, it’s a low-caffeine sip that feels both grounding and luxurious. With a focus on clean ingredients, unsweetened plant milks, and optional functional boosts like ashwagandha or cacao, Maison Cha Cha turns this traditional Japanese brew into a modern ritual, perfect alongside their wholesome tartines or matcha-infused desserts.
Terra Eatery
The Hojicha Latte here delivers a smooth, nutty alternative to matcha, made from roasted green tea leaves for a mellow, toasted finish. Overall, Terra’s calming, nature inspired vibe, picturesque courtyard feel, and wellness led ethos, pairing a herbal or refreshing mocktail with one of their signature light Mediterranean plates might offer a similarly grounding experience.
For more information visit terra-eatery.com
Pekoe Tea & Bread Bar
Situated in Alserkal Avenue, the Hojicha Latte is a quiet luxury, crafted from premium Yabukita leaves, gently roasted to evoke warm, nutty notes with a hint of caramel sweetness. Served hot or iced, starting at Dhs30 it’s the kind of drink that invites you to slow down. Inside, sunlight filters through a minimalist, neutral-toned space filled with the scent of freshly baked sourdough and over 100 loose-leaf teas lining the walls. Whether paired with a slice of their signature bread or savoured solo, the hojicha here is where Japanese tradition meets Dubai’s understated sophistication.
AVANTCHA Tea Bar + Shop
At this welcoming space in Al Quoz, the Kuki Hojicha offers a refined, slow-luxury experience, crafted from roasted tencha stems sourced from Shizuoka and Kagoshima, it delivers rich, smoky notes of pecan and caramel with minimal caffeine. Served in a minimalist, lava-stone space that feels equal parts serene and sensory, each cup is brewed to order by in-house tea experts, inviting guests to pause and savour. Whether enjoyed at the bar or taken home in their sleek packaging, this is hojicha at its most elegant, a modern tea ritual rooted in Japanese precision and Dubai’s mindful sophistication.
For more information visit avantcha.com
The Matcha Tokyo
At The Matcha Tokyo in JBR, Dubai, hojicha takes center stage for those craving something calming yet complex. This roasted Japanese green tea, served hot or iced, delivers a smooth, smoky profile with subtle hints of caramel and cocoa, all without the jitters. With its chic, minimalist setting and a focus on premium-grade matcha, the café’s take on hojicha feels both elevated and grounding. Perfect for a midday reset or an after-dinner wind-down, this is where wellness meets indulgence, the Tokyo way. Prices start at Dhs33.
For more information visit @thematchatokyo.uae
OTAKU
Here the Hojicha Latte steals the spotlight with its gently roasted, caramel sweet aroma and deep earthy flavor, starting at Dhs39, depending on the variant from their Hojicha Latte to a richer Hojicha Crème at Dhs42. In a café known for its minimalist industrial vibes, popping anime murals, and signature soufflé pancakes, this tea based gem brings a moment of mellow indulgence. It’s creamy, subtly smoky, and just a touch sweet, perfect for winding down or sharing over conversation in Otaku’s stylish Dubai Design District setting.
For more information visit otaku.eatery
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Images: Supplied & Feature image: Instagram @oumaymaboumeshouli
