Hojicha Affogato Japanese Dessert (Printer-friendly)

Creamy vanilla ice cream meets robust roasted hojicha tea in this elegant Japanese dessert ready in minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ Ice Cream Base

01 - 2 large scoops premium vanilla ice cream

→ Tea Components

02 - 2 teaspoons hojicha loose leaf tea or 2 tea bags
03 - 1 cup water

→ Optional Toppings

04 - Toasted sesame seeds
05 - Crushed roasted almonds or pecans
06 - Sweetened red bean paste

# Directions:

01 - Bring 1 cup water to a boil, then remove from heat and let cool for 1 minute. Pour over hojicha tea leaves or tea bags in a teapot or heatproof cup. Steep for 2–3 minutes, then strain through a fine mesh strainer or remove tea bags.
02 - Place one large scoop of vanilla ice cream into each serving glass or bowl, ensuring portions are evenly distributed.
03 - Immediately pour half of the hot hojicha tea over each ice cream scoop, allowing the steam to rise dramatically as it meets the cold ice cream.
04 - Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds, crushed nuts, or a dollop of red bean paste if desired. Serve immediately with spoons while the temperature contrast is at its peak.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The contrast between hot roasted tea and cold creamy ice cream creates this incredibly sophisticated dessert experience that takes literally minutes to assemble
  • Hojicha's naturally low caffeine content means you can enjoy this comforting treat even on weeknights without worrying about staying up until dawn
02 -
  • I learned the hard way that pouring the tea too quickly causes the ice cream to overflow and create a mess all over your beautiful table setting
  • The tea needs to be quite hot to create that dramatic steam effect and proper melting, but not boiling which can make the ice cream curdle slightly
03 -
  • Chill your serving glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes beforehand to keep the ice cream firm longer while you pour the hot tea
  • If you're using loose leaf tea, invest in a good mesh strainer because tea particles floating in your affogato can distract from the smooth texture
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