This recipe shows you how to make a creamy and frothy cup of Matcha Green Tea Latte. Enjoy this delicious drink at home by mixing bittersweet matcha green tea with warm milk.
One of my guilty pleasures was to swing by Starbucks in the afternoon to get their Matcha Green Tea Latte (with just one pump of syrup) before picking up my kids. Usually, by the afternoon, I’ve already had a few cups of coffee/tea/chai, so I need something with a mild sweetness for my midday pick-me-up. A smooth cup of matcha green tea latte is just perfect.
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Making Matcha Latte At Home
Getting a cup of matcha latte from Starbucks or local coffee shop is a special treat! However, the cost adds up quickly! I soon realized that I can actually buy 1-2 packages of quality matcha powder at the same cost as 2 cups of matcha latte from Starbucks.
Once I started making matcha latte at home, I am onto an afternoon ritual that will last for a long time. Stirring the lovely green hue in a cup has the effect of calming my mind, allowing me to take a mental break on a busy day. It’s therapeutic almost. Unlike espresso, you don’t need any special machine to make the latte; all you need is milk and matcha green tea powder.
Here, I’m sharing a homemade matcha latte recipe that you can easily make at home!
What is Matcha
Matcha (pronounce: “ma(t)-CHA” 抹茶), literally “powdered tea,” is a fine powder made of ground green tea leaves.
Unlike regular green tea, matcha is made from shade-grown tea leaves to prevent direct sunlight, which slows down growth and stimulates an increase in chlorophyll level, which turns the leaves into a darker shade of green.
While green tea is an infusion of tea leaves, matcha incorporates the entire leaf, resulting in a more concentrated source of nutrients and caffeine.
Matcha has a slightly bitter vegetal taste with an umami aftertaste. Depending on the quality and production, the flavor can range in bitterness, smoothness, and umami.
How to Make Matcha Latte
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Matcha (Green Tea Powder)
- Water
- Your choice of milk (cow’s milk, almond mik, soy, etc)
- Sweetener such as sugar, honey, or maple syrup (optional)
The slightly bitter and sweet taste of matcha, when blending in with milk and a tiny bit of sugar, it makes the perfect cup of drink. On a chilly day, the warm latte tastes extra good as I take slow sips from the cup.
If you prefer the iced matcha latte, it is as easy as using cold milk and adding in ice cubes.
Where to Buy Matcha Powder (Best Brands)
As matcha becomes a mainstream beverage to make and enjoy at home, you’ll find countless varieties and brands of matcha out there. I recommend buying matcha imported from Japan as the processing is more consistent.
You can find it at Japanese grocery stores like Mitsuwa, Marukai, and Nijiya. I recommend the green tea brand from Japan called Maeda-e, also available on Amazon.
My favorite tea shop Ippodo Tea Co. (一保堂), also sells matcha in different grades. They also have an online store. I like their Hojicha and Genmaicha too.
Matcha is also available at specialty tea stores, Asian grocery stores, or gourmet stores. If buying online, please be careful and check the labels first.
Tools to Make Foamy Froth for Matcha Latte
To make nice foamy froth, use a milk frother. You can get one from IKEA as well! However, if you don’t care much about the froth on top of the latte, and it still tastes great without it.
Our Popular Matcha Recipes You’ll Enjoy
- Iced Matcha Latte
- How to Make Matcha
- Matcha Marble Pound Cake
- Matcha Green Tea Cookies
- Matcha Basque Cheesecake
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Matcha Green Tea Latte
Video
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tsp matcha (green tea powder)
- 1 Tbsp water (hot water but not boiling water)
- 1 cup milk (cows, almond, soy, etc)
- 1 tsp sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
- Sift green tea powder into the cup to get rid of the lumps in the powder.
- Add hot (not boiling) water and whisk briskly until powder is all dissolved. This prevents the tea from having lumps in it so do not skip. The green tea paste should be smooth and foamy. I use a frother but you can also use a small regular whisk or chasen (bamboo whisk used for Japanese tea ceremony).
- Add milk and sugar in a small saucepan. Heat the milk over medium heat until small bubbles start to appear around the edge of the saucepan. Do not bring the milk to full boil. Turn off the heat. (Or use cold milk for iced latte)
- Froth the milk until foamy, about 10 seconds with a frother. If you don’t have a frother, you can skip.
- Pour the hot milk and foam into your mug and dust the green tea powder on the top. (Add ice for an extra cold iced latte).
