From Our Barista to you: Yunomi.Cafe's Signature Tea Drink Recipes

In our previous blog post, we shared the iced latte recipes we serve daily at our Yunomi.Cafe in Tokyo. Today, we're delighted to introduce two of our signature crafted drinks: Na Pali Latte and Hojicha Chai Craft Cola.

Na Pali Latte
Inspired by our Hawaii-born founder, this latte reflects the breathtaking beauty of the Na Pali Coast on the island of Kauai. "Na Pali" means "cliffs" in Hawaiian, refers to the dramatic mountains rising along the sea. Layers of matcha and hojichai powder capture the deep greens of nature and the warm, earthy tones of the cliffs.

Hojicha Chai Craft Cola
Our original sparkling creation is built around hojicha—roasted Japanese green tea. Hojicha is gently simmered with spices to create a rich, aromatic syrup that forms the heart of this drink. The toasty aroma of hojicha blends perfectly with complex spices, while rich sweetness adds depth, creating a luxurious soda unlike any other.

We hope you enjoy making these refreshments as much as we enjoy serving them at Yunomi.Cafe.

Na Pali Latte

Ingredients

2g (1/2 tsp) hojichai powder
30ml hot water (60°C)
2g (1/2 tsp) matcha
30ml hot water (60°C)
160ml milk
5g citrus blue syrup

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine the hojichai powder with hot water (60°C/140°F) and whisk until smooth.
In a separate small bowl, combine the matcha with hot water (60°C/140°F) and whisk until smooth.
Fill a glass with ice cubes, milk, and syrup.
Gently pour the hojichai mixture over the edge of an ice cube so it doesn't mix directly with the milk. Slowly add the matcha mixture the same way to create distinct layers.

Notes: We offer dairy or almond milk for all iced lattes. We use a chasen (bamboo whisk) to ensure a smooth tea base. This recipe uses citrus blue syrup (Blue Curacao) from MONIN.

Hojicha Chai Craft Cola

Spiced Hojicha Syrup Recipe

Ingredients

300ml water
150g kokuto (Japanese brown sugar)
10g loose-leaf hojicha
2 star anise pods
3 whole cloves
2 cardamom pods
1 tsp black peppercorns
2 tsp cinnamon chips
2 tsp dried shredded coconut
2 tsp crushed kola nut

Instructions

Put all the ingredients into a saucepan.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the liquid reduces to 300ml.
Strain out the tea leaves and spices, and let the syrup cool.

Drink Ingredients