This is the Hōjicha•Coffee Blended Latte ($9.30; less ice, little sugar) from Tea & Co, featuring a blended hōjicha and coffee latte.
The beverage presented with a gradient from the light tan hue of the latte, gradually giving way to the darker brown-grey of the hōjicha from the midpoint upwards. With the hōjicha component at the top, aroma opened with roasted, nutty notes.
Mixed well, initial contact delivered dark roasted hōjicha alongside the roasted aromatics of coffee, with both coming through in equal measure. Through the mid-palate, the combination recalled a complex mocha, developing a dark chocolate quality as the two roasted profiles converged. Towards the finish, toasted hōjicha notes became more prominent in the aftertaste, adding depth to the usual coffee aromatics while maintaining a smooth, velvety mouthfeel. Bitterness and sweetness remained well balanced despite the little sugar, allowing the roasted aromatics to remain prominent.
Overall, a unique offering in Sydney: a blended hōjicha and coffee latte with a converging roasted flavour trajectory and smooth, velvety texture, resulting in a dark chocolate-like profile with layered roasted depth. The equal contribution of coffee and hōjicha created greater aromatic complexity than either component alone, with the hōjicha providing a pronounced toasted finish.
This Hōjicha•Coffee Blended Latte was purchased from Tea & Co in Sydney, Australia in September 2026.