The deep roasted aroma of smoked black tea and the vanilla and caramel notes of whiskey. These two actually have an excellent affinity. From basic hojicha highballs to elaborate arrangements featuring smoked black tea, figs, and smoke, we'll show you how to make adult hojicha cocktails.
Why smoked black tea (hojicha) and whiskey are a good match
The pyrazines (responsible for the savory aroma) produced during the hojicha roasting process have a similar molecular structure to the vanillin and lactones (responsible for sweet aromas) produced during whiskey's barrel aging. That's why, when these two are combined, they create a natural harmony that feels "as if they were meant to be together."
Furthermore, ZEN TEA BREW's smoked black tea is smoked with the same wood chips used in the manufacturing of whiskey barrels. Tea leaves and whiskey, imbued with the scent of the same wood, meet. That is the essence of their natural harmony.
How to make a basic smoked black tea (hojicha) highball
Hot style (recommended for winter)
Simply add 30ml of whiskey to 150ml of warm hojicha. The roasted aroma rises with the steam, creating a comforting drink. It pairs especially well with bourbon.
Iced style (recommended for summer)
Pour 45ml of whiskey into a glass filled with plenty of ice, then add 120ml of cold hojicha. Its refreshing taste makes it perfect for drinking with meals.
Most popular arrangement: Smoked Fig Cola
This is the most popular recipe among the four kits. The smokiness of smoked black tea and the spiciness of cola surprisingly overlap.
The reason lies in chemistry. The smoky aroma component "guaiacol" and the "vanillin" found in cola are both phenolic compounds. Because their molecular structures are similar, the brain naturally recognizes them as "the same kind," resulting in a unified flavor.
Ingredients
- Tea Infusion (extracted with whiskey) 30ml
- Cola 150ml
- Lemon 1 slice
- Plenty of ice
Instructions
- Fill a glass with plenty of ice.
- Rub the lemon peel around the rim of the glass to release its citrus oil.
- Pour in 30ml of Tea Infusion.
- Stir gently.
- Gently pour in the cola.
- Squeeze the lemon once, give it a light stir, and it's done.
Result: approx. 6% alc. (Cola Zero is also OK. Less sweetness enhances the smoky flavor.)
For more details on choosing spirits, see "How to Choose Spirits that Pair Well with Tea Cocktails," and if you want to learn more techniques, we introduce them in "10 Tips to Make Your Home Cocktails Dramatically Better."
Advanced: Infused Smoked Black Tea (Hojicha) Cocktail
Infusing hojicha leaves directly into whiskey allows the roasted aroma to transfer directly to the alcohol, creating an amazingly deep flavor. Adding dried figs and wood chips further enhances the complex taste, like a cocktail from a bar.
Alcohol at around 40 degrees has about 1.4 times the extraction efficiency of catechins and theanine compared to hot water. The appeal of the infusion method is that healthy components are also thoroughly extracted.
For easy enjoyment
ZEN TEA BREW's "Midnight Fig Smoke Cocktail" offers a blend of smoked black tea, figs, and apple in a tea bag. Simply steep it in your favorite whiskey or bourbon, and a authentic hojicha cocktail is ready in just one hour. All four arrangement recipes are introduced in "4 Arrangement Recipes Made with Convenience Store Ingredients."