Mr. CHEESECAKE “Petit Hojicha Maple” Review: An Autumnal Symphony of Roasted Green Tea, Maple & Fenugreek

October 16, 2026

Known for its innovative cheese desserts like cheesecakes and tiramisu, as well as financiers and roll cakes, “Mr. CHEESECAKE” has recently released a limited-time seasonal creation pairing hojicha (roasted green tea) with maple. I picked one up to give it a try.

Beyond hojicha and maple, this cheesecake features an unexpected, lesser-known spice: fenugreek. Here is my detailed tasting review.

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About Mr. CHEESECAKE

Mr. CHEESECAKE is a celebrated confectionery brand helmed by chef Koji Tamura, whose background includes training in Michelin-starred French restaurants. Drawing upon refined fine-dining techniques, he crafts unprecedented sweets that elevate traditional pastry boundaries. The brand’s signature cheesecake took Japan by storm thanks to its obsessive dedication to aroma, melt-in-the-mouth texture, and multi-temperature enjoyment.

The brand also frequently introduces seasonal and boutique-exclusive flavors. True to their philosophy, these releases present astonishing ingredient pairings that continuously surprise and delight dessert aficionados.

Autumn-Limited Hojicha & Maple Cheesecake

This Hojicha & Maple cheesecake is an autumn-exclusive offering. It is sold in two formats: a full 17 cm loaf cake and an individual single-serving cup called “Petit.” For this review, I purchased the cup version.

The price is 891 yen (tax included). I purchased mine at the EATo LUMINE boutique inside Shinjuku Station, though it is available at other physical locations as well (the 17 cm loaf is sold via the official online store, GINZA SIX, and Nagoya Sakae boutiques).

Crafted with Hojicha, Maple, and Aromatic Spices

Let’s take a closer look at the actual dessert.

The surface is generously crowned with delicate cookie crumbs. According to the brand, these crumbs blend maple sugar with fenugreek—a culinary spice celebrated for its maple-like aroma.

The base is a baked hojicha cheesecake crafted with both finely ground hojicha powder and whole roasted tea leaves. Combined with gentle milky sweetness, it is engineered to evoke the comforting richness of a hojicha latte. Checking the ingredient list also reveals the inclusion of real vanilla.

Tasting Impressions: Gentle Maple Harmonizes with Roasted Tea

The surface crumbs are light and delicate, crumbling softly across the tongue rather than delivering an aggressive crunch, seamlessly integrating with the cheesecake beneath. The maple flavor is distinct yet gentle, offering a soothing warmth rather than an overpowering sugariness.

The cheesecake itself is velvety and dense at the top, transitioning into a luscious, melt-in-the-mouth texture reminiscent of unbaked rare cheesecake near the bottom. The fragrant roasted tea aroma drifts gracefully through the rich milky base, striking an impeccable equilibrium. Because the maple presence is so thoughtfully balanced, it never competes with the hojicha; rather, each ingredient elevates the other.

As for the fenugreek, I couldn’t isolate its individual flavor profile with certainty—likely because its warm, maple-like nuances melt seamlessly into the maple sugar itself.

Spoon deeper past the crumb layer to taste the cheesecake on its own, and the experience shifts entirely: the deep, toasty roasted tea notes emerge with crisp definition amidst the velvety dairy creaminess.

A Masterpiece Embodying the Essence of Mr. CHEESECAKE

From incorporating fenugreek—an exceedingly rare ingredient in cheesecake baking—to orchestrating a small cup dessert that reveals distinct sensory layers from the first spoonful to the final bite, this creation is packed with culinary playfulness.

It is a shining example of what makes Mr. CHEESECAKE so remarkable: an unwavering ability to thrill the palate through innovative textures and gourmet pairings.

Also Available: Japanese Chestnut & Coffee Cheesecake

At the time of writing, they are also offering a cheesecake featuring Japanese chestnuts (waguri) paired unexpectedly with cold-steeped coffee. It is another extraordinary combination well worth exploring.