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.
Watch How to Make Green Tea Latte
The bitter and sweet taste of matcha green tea mixed with warm milk for a delicious latte. Top with foam and sprinkle with matcha green tea powder.
It feels like a special treat, before diving into the hurried tasks of midday. However, the cost adds up very quickly! I soon came to realize that I can actually buy 1-2 packages of good quality matcha green tea powder at the same cost as 2 cups of Green Tea Latte at Starbucks. Now, I am embarrassed to tell you that my pantry has been stocked up with many matcha green tea powder packages already. I use the powder for many of my green tea baked goods, but it just never crossed my mind to use it for my daily cup of latte.
Once I started making a matcha green tea latte at home, I know 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.
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 version of the matcha green tea latte, it is as easy as using cold milk and adding in ice cubes.
To Make Foamy Froth for Matcha Green Tea Latte
To make nice foamy froth, I now use ZENPRO Milk Frother and I LOVE IT! I used to use this $2 IKEA frother which works great too. But if you make Green Tea Latte often, the ZENPRO milk frother is definitely nice to have!
However, if you don’t care much about the froth on top of the latte, and it still tastes wonderful without it.
Japanese Ingredient Substitution: If you want to look for substitutes for Japanese condiments and ingredients, click here.
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- 1½ 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)
-
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 having lump 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.
- Add the hot milk and foam in the cup and dust the green tea powder on the top. (Add ice for an extra cold iced latte).
My frother is from IKEA. It was $2.50 and it works great!
Recipe by Namiko Chen of Just One Cookbook. All images and content on this site are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without my permission. If you’d like to share this recipe on your site, please re-write the recipe in your own words and link to this post as the original source. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing this quick and economic recipe for a delicious green tea latte! I hardly get Starbucks for fear of the immense amounts of sugar and cream, so I’d definitely look forward to controlling the amounts myself. The green is so brilliant — I’m thinking this would be a good alternative to Christmas cocoa. =)
Hi Kimmi! It is really economic! At Starbucks, I only ask for one pump of syrup and it’s actually decent. When I first order it, I could barely finish the whole cup because it was so sweet. And that amount of sugar is very dangerous… probably it has at least 1 Tbsp of sugar is in there! Thank you so much for writing! 🙂
Hi Nami, your recipe looks so good. I’ll try it when I go home this afternoon.
Thanks for sharing your recipe so yummy
Hi Bruno! I hope you enjoy(ed) it! Thank you so much for visiting my blog! 🙂
Hey Nami! This is an absolutely delicious idea! I’m going to try it very soon as I adore green tea taste. Much love for this recipe! You’ve made my day with this <3
Hi Lina! So happy to hear you like this recipe and hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Hi there, I have a question about the green tea powder.
I love green tea dessert. I have been getting the VERY expensive (Culinary Grade) Green Tea Powder from Japan. I am wondering if the green tea powder that we can get from the store which does not say Culinary Grade can be used for baking? Can I use green tea powder for drinks for green tea chiffon cake as well?
Hi Cece! I’ve been using Maeda-en culinary grade green tea powder ($7) that I can get in Japanese supermarkets here in the US. They are great for baking and drinking (especially with milk). How much is the green tea powder (that doesn’t mention grade)? The Maeda-en’s real matcha (for tea ceremony) costs close to $20. I think the cost of your matcha costs close to that, I think it’s almost “wasteful” to use for baking and drinking (mixed with milk, etc). I think culinary grade is decent matcha for baking and drinking. Hope you can compare the price to see what grade it is. If you are in the US, Season with Spice matcha powder is around $4, but I’ve tested out and it is great quality for baking and drinking. 🙂
Hi there, thank you for answering my question. I actually got the exact same brand that you suggested. It is 1 oz and sold in a small tiny silver tin with a black lid. I can only find the Maeda-en Matcha at Amazon.com because I never thought about going to a Japanese store. It cost me $9.66. What color is your Maeda-en tin container? We don’t have many Japanese grocery in Dallas, Texas. I have no clue where to go to get the Matcha. My sister said she found some matcha powder at Daiso in Hong Kong and the package came with sugar mixed in. Do you think it is okay to use that and then minus the sugar that I am going to add to my recipe?
Hi Cece! Sorry about my late response. First of all, I’m pretty sure the matcha with sugar in it is meant for cold matcha drink. You just mix with ice water and get matcha drink. That’s not for baking, so I don’t recommend.
My matcha from Maeda-en is Culinary grade and it’s $6.99 at a Japanese grocery store. They also have 2 grades higher than culinary (I think) $10 something for drinking as matcha and $20 for tea ceremony grade. Those are too expensive for baked goods.
Season with Spice matcha is very good price (If you buy, use the promotional code written above this recipe). I’m not sure how long they will keep the promotional, so if you plan to buy more matcha, try theirs. I’ve been using their matcha as well and it’s pretty good. 🙂
I have never had a green tea latte before and am generally not a fan of milky drinks, but surprisingly this was really nice. The matcha flavour was subtle and I really enjoyed it. Going have to try and make a cold one too. Thanks again Nami.
Hi Alina! Aww you tried this recipe! Your comment made me very happy! Thank you! xoxo 🙂
Hi Nami the matcha green tea powder that you use here for latte can also be use for baking and icecream too? thanks for sharing because I also buy Starbucks green tea latte too cheaper this way 😀
Hi Tina! Yes, you can use this green tea powder for baking and ice cream. 🙂 Definitely cheaper and you will be very pleased! You can make a lot of latte at home with one cup of Starbucks green tea latte! 😉
Hi Nami,
Thanks for sharing this recipe! It’s very economical and I never knew it’s so easy to make.
Hi Candice! Thank you so much. Yes, it’s very easy to make!! You don’t need a frother at all and still can drink tasty green tea latte any time! 🙂
I love Matcha– anything! It’s my favorite tea and favor for wagashi:) so I bought lots of matcha powder in Japan.
I have a question. What exactly are those bamboo matcha whisks for. On the back of the matcha powder packet i bought, it says you can make matcha by shaking it in a flask. I’ve done it that way a few times and it tastes the same, but i notice that some of it doesn’t dissolve and bits float around in the tea. I’ve also tried whisking it with a spoon. Was thinking of the whisk would help with the dissolving cuz I don’t like bits floating around in the tea, but I’m not sure whether to buy one or not. Thank you:)
Hi Lava! Sorry for my late response. The bamboo matcha whisks help dissolve matcha powder. The whisk is much finer than regular whisk we use in the ktichen, so you create a nice bubbly foam after you whisk matcha with hot water. However, you can use regular whisk (especially small and shorter one that fits in the mug cup) to do the same process and it works fine too. Spoon doesn’t really give a good “whisk”. I use this small whisk 1-2 eggs or dressing etc too, so I use it all the time. 🙂 Make sure your matcha is all dissolved and nice paste before adding milk. 🙂 Hope this helps!
Does that company..Season with Spice have a 1-800 phone no. to call to inquire about
their Matcha Green Tea powder?
Hi Sharon! Their phone number is (+1) 612-401-5717, or you can email seasonwithspice@gmail.com and they will respond in 24 hours. 🙂
I have the same frother from Ikea! Anyways just wanted to say thanks for sharing these tips on how to make a green tea latte… I’m trying this out right now. Yay!
Hope you enjoy it Sandy! 🙂
Hi, Nami,
Thanks so much for posting this. I made it this morning and it was easy and fast and above all, quite delicious. I don’t like the Starbucks lattes because they are too fattening. This is such an improvement. All the people who wrote in to say it looks good, try it because it is fantastic. I will be trying more of your recipes!
Thank you so much for your kind comment! So happy to hear you liked this recipe! It’s quite simple to make. Starbucks one is a bit too sweet for me (even though I ask for just one pump of syrup)… Really glad you enjoyed this. Thank you! xo 🙂
Hi, Thanks for the recipe, i just tried out, and it’s AWESOME! 😀
Hi Jane! I’m glad to hear you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for your feedback! 🙂
I did try it…Great result 🙂 Super thanks to you.
Thank you Koy! So glad it came out well. Thanks so much for your feedback! 🙂
I just tried a Green Tea latte at Starbucks the other day. So good! I don’t know why I didn’t try it earlier. It was later in the day I remembered this recipe. Yay! Now I don’t have to pay for it. 🙂
Hi Patty! We tend to drink the same drink(s) and I also stick with the ones I like… Glad to hear you tried Green Tea Latte! Hope you enjoy homemade ones. It’s not as sweet as Starbucks one (even with one pump!). They must put tons of sugar… 🙂
Nami: can you give us a lesson on preparing “bubble tea”? Thank you
Hi Karen! I love bubble tea too! I put it down on my list of recipes to try. Thank you for your request!
i bought my green tea powder at daiso, so i made green tea latte using it. sadly, it tasted awful tho 🙁
Hi Dianna! Do you always like your Green Tea Latte to be sweet like Starbucks? Then you need to add more sugar. As I mentioned in my post, I only ask for 1 pump of syrup (they put like 3???) when I order my green tea latte at starbucks. This is less sweet green tea latte. Please adjust to your level of sweetness.
If you have never tried green tea latte or green tea powder (matcha) before… well I guess the flavor is personal taste. The powder itself doesnt’ taste “delicious” – it’s very bitter and earthy… but when you flavor the food/drink with matcha, it adds wonderful flavor (only if you like green tea flavor though)….
Hope this helps!
Thanks so much for the recipe. I just returned from Tokyo where I had the Starbucks Macha Latte. I fell in love with it. While I had previously purchased Macha at Teavana, I brought home two packets.
I will peek in on your page often to see what else is enticing such as the truffles.
Thanks again.
Hi Sherry! I hope you had a great time in Japan and enjoy this recipe! Thank you so much for your comment! 🙂
Hi Nami!!
This is so perfect on a rainy day in Milan…cheers! <3
thanks so much for posting all this for us..it means so much to me!
xxx
Catt
Hi Catt! Hope you enjoy this latte! 🙂
Hai.. Love yr greentea latte..oh and Where do you buy the whisk?
Hi Phanyla! Thank you! I actually bought as a prop so it’s a very cheap one from Daiso (Japanese $1 store)… 😀
Hi. Well noted your writing that you have been receipe various. Thank you.
Thank you Rich! 🙂
Oh my gosh! It was me swung by Starbucks for Green tea latte a couple of days ago. I didn’t know that they use only few drop of syrup. I just tried to make one for myself with your recipe and I am really delightful to enjoy this. I can’t say thank you enough.:)
Hi Joanne! I’m so glad to hear you liked the recipe, and thank you for your kind feedback! 🙂
Your green tea latte looks sooooo yummy. I had to make a cup immediately. I also put 1/2 tsp. of kinako (roasted soybean flour) in mine, which gives it a slightly nutty tast.
Hi Andrea! Oh kinako is a great addition! I usually make kinako mochi and when I have leftover sweeten kinako, I also add to my matcha! So good! I’m happy you tried this recipe. Thank you!!!
I was skeptical bc the ingredient list seemed too simple. but I tried it and it’s absolutely perfect. I substituted the sugar with honey and I used almond milk. Never have to go to a boba or coffee shop to get my fix anymore. Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Josey! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for your kind feedback. 🙂
I tried this and it just tasted like plant flavored milk, no matter how much sweetener I added. I ended up putting at least twice as much sweetener in this 8oz cup as I ever put in my coffee (which may be about a teaspoon for 14 oz coffee). It just tasted vaguely of peas with a bitter finish. I don’t know what brand matcha I used as it’s all in Japanese.
Hi Heather! First of all have you tried Green Tea Latte or matcha before? Can you send me a picture of your matcha via email or tweet me? This recipe is consist of matcha, milk, and sweetner and it has to be the matcha quality… Matcha has been pretty popular these days and there are a lot of not-so-good quality out there…
To clarify, I’ve drunk brewed green tea and made a nice latte with strong brewed green tea and honey. I could only get a few sips into the matcha latte. Maybe I’ll try next time with only 1tsp. Very sad to waste my milk and honey :o(
Hi Heather! Oops, sorry I didn’t see your new comment. What do you mean by “brewed green tea”? You just need to mix matcha (green tea powder) and small amount of warm water… No “brewing” like we do for green tea (NOT matcha, the tea that serves at restaurant etc).
Matcha – powdered green tea, NOT green tea that we drink by brewing.
Hello! Thank you for the recipe! Where did you buy your matcha?
Hi Nate! Usually I use this matcha:
https://www.justonecookbook.com/pantry_items/green-tea-powder-matcha/
Just made this and I love it! It’s absolutely delicious! Instead of one tsp of sugar, I did a little less than one tablespoon because I have a sweet tooth 😉 Works well without a frother too!
Hi Kirthi! I’m so happy to hear you liked it! Thank you for your kind feedback! xo 🙂
Just tried it at Starbucks today. Reminded me to a creamy soup. How about really making a less sweat and more spicy soup with matcha and maybe grinded spinach?
Matcha powder is very expensive (very labor intensive to create the powder) and to keep the fragrance and unique flavor, it’s better not to mix with strong flavored foods. It’s very bitter by itself (Have you had a chance to taste the matcha tea served at Japanese tea ceremony?), so it’s often served with sweets or mix with sweetner to enjoy.
My best friend who lives in Tokyo introduced me to green tea lattes last Thanksgiving when we drank them in the middle of Japan’s first snowstorm in November in 53 years. When I came back to the States, I went to Starbucks but was so disappointed in their green tea lattes because they taste nothing like the ones in Tokyo. I discovered the difference is that Starbucks uses a green tea concentrate (blech, mostly sugar) instead of real Matcha.
I use a similar technique to yours at home with a few differences. I do not bother to add water to the Tea. I place the Matcha and a spoon of sugar in a teacup. I then heat the milk as you do and froth it with the same whisk from Ikea. I then pour a little bit of the hot milk into the teacup to dissolve the tea and sugar. I then add the rest of the milk and top it with foam -once in awhile, I add a drop of almond extract because Matcha and almond is a marriage made in heaven.
Hi Mary! Yeah starbucks matcha latte is so sweet. If I drink it, I have to ask less syrup. It’s best to make it at home, and I agree, matcha and almond is a good match! 🙂
I buy Matcha from http://www.ocha.com. it comes in a week’s time from Japan. It is far superior than anything you can buy in the United States and it is reasonably priced. They sell all different grades but the best stuff is from the city of Uji near Kyoto. I make lattes with this but also matcha brownies and cheesecake and ice cream ????
Do you and most Japanese drink matcha latte? As I heard green tea with milk spoils the health benefits. Or shall we stick with using matcha for baking?
Hi El! No, most Japanese drink green tea for health benefits. We don’t really consume matcha every day. 🙂
Good to know. Thanks.
I just made this. Matcha is my favorite so I wasnt doubtful this would be good. I always thought that adding sugar to green tea was an abomination to the Japanese people. I added one pack of monkfruit stevia sweetner. I hacked my espresso machine to steam the milk. Thank you for this delicous treat.
Hi Sedi! Thank you so much for trying this recipe! Haha, don’t worry, we do add sugar to matcha to make all kinds of matcha-related recipes… but big no no for making matcha (the traditional matcha tea). 🙂 Thank you for your kind feedback! xo
My uncle is married to an amazing Japanese woman, and ever since then I have loved everything about the people and the country from her love and kind heartedness. It is a very unique mix of Arab and Japanese.