Uji Fog Hojicha Latte - A Specialty Drink by Prince Coffee

Prince Coffee is a woman-owned, beloved specialty cafe in Portland, OR, and one of the most vibrant to visit – especially on Saturday mornings when it seems like the whole town is there to hang out. Known for striking signature drinks, the team recently dreamed up this incredible riff on a hojicha latte. Sarah O'Malley designed the drink, and we asked her to share her inspiration. 

Uji Fog Hojicha Latte for Prince Coffee, by Sarah O'Malley. 

Whenever I create a drink recipe, my inspiration usually originates in baking. I was introduced to “Lady Grey” tea (a Twinings Tea copyrighted riff on an Earl Grey, with less bergamot and added citrus peels) by way of a sugar cookie recipe, in which the tea and lemon zest were mixed into vanilla-flavored dough.

I have been wanting to revisit these flavors in a drink for some time, initially attempting a matcha latte. I developed a Lady Grey-London-Fog-inspired syrup using Earl Grey tea, Cloudforest vanilla bean pods, and citrus oils, which I loved immediately. Yet, when I tasted the syrup in a matcha latte, the delicate complexities of the bergamot and citrus were overwhelmed. I wondered if the creamy, toasty, mellowness of hojicha would be a better base than the earthy matcha, and it was! For those who love a hojicha latte and a London Fog, this drink is their unbelievably delicious hybrid. 

Uji Fog Syrup Recipe:

• 2.5 Cups Sugar
• 2.5 Cups Water
• 1/2 cup Earl Grey tea leaves
• 1 vanilla bean pod
• 1/8 tsp lemon extract
• 1/8 tsp orange oil

Method:

1. Split the vanilla bean pod in half, and scrape out the inside of the pods. All parts should be used and added to a large pot.
2. Add the sugar, water, and Earl Grey to the pot with the vanilla bean. Combine well and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce the heat slightly, and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Allow the mixture to cool slightly.
5. Strain out vanilla pods and tea leaves using a large sieve.
6. Add lemon extract and orange oil to the strained liquid and stir well.

Uji Fog Drink Recipe:

1. Add 20 g of the Earl Grey Syrup to an empty 8 oz cup.
2. Add 8 oz of your milk of choice to a milk pitcher with 1 tsp of Mizuba Hojicha.
3. Using a steam wand, incorporate the hojicha into the milk completely, to your preferred temperature and texture.
4. Pour the steamed hojicha latte into the cup of syrup and stir.
5. Top the drink with lemon zest.

Enjoy, and taste the original for yourself at Prince Coffee in Portland!