Here’s the drink you’ll be sipping all summer long: Iced Green Tea Latte. Read on to learn how you can make this smooth and creamy matcha latte in just a few minutes.
I love matcha and one of my favorite drinks that I enjoy in the morning is Iced Green Tea Latte, or Iced Matcha Latte (アイス抹茶ラテ). Earthy, creamy with a happy green hue but not overly sweet, it’s just something that I am happily getting out of bed for.
Watch How To Make Iced Green Tea Latte アイス抹茶ラテの作り方
Delicious and creamy iced green tea latte is perfect to enjoy on warm days, the best part is you can easily make this drink at home in just a few minutes.
What is Matcha?
In case you are new to matcha, matcha (抹茶) is stone-ground delicate green tea powder made from shade-grown tea leaves.
Although matcha has been around for over 800 years in Japan, its popularity has recently increased globally due to its beautiful visual appeal, health benefits, and distinct flavor. These days many people enjoy green tea drinks, including Green Tea Latte (my recipe here) and Green Tea Crème Frappuccino, both which were first introduced by Starbucks back in 2007.
Matcha received even more attention when researches show matcha contains lots of antioxidants. Antioxidants are the magical nutrients and enzymes responsible for giving us younger-looking skin, boosting memory, increasing energy level, burning fat, and preventing a number of life-threatening diseases like cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions about Matcha
Since I have shared many matcha recipes, I often receive the following questions about matcha.
1. Are Matcha and Green Tea same thing? What’s the difference?
When you hear the term “Matcha” and “Green Tea”, you might think the terms can be used interchangeably.
The truth is:
Matcha (抹茶) and green tea (we call Sencha* 煎茶) are different even though BOTH are categorized as “Green Tea” (Ryokucha* 緑茶).
* Sencha is the regular green tea often served in Japanese restaurants.
* Ryokucha includes different types of Japanese green tea such as sencha, gyokuryo, hojicha, genmaicha, and matcha.
How are matcha and green tea (sencha) different? The tea leaf itself, cultivation, processing, nutrients, and taste are all very different. For more info on the topic, please check out the links below.
- Matcha vs. Green Tea (Sencha) Difference (Inforgrafic)
- Matcha vs. Green Tea (Sencha) Nutritients Comparison
- Matcha vs. Green Tea (Sencha) Process Comparison
Can I grind loose green tea leaves to make green tea powder?
By now you probably know the answer is no. Even if you grind the leaves, the powder won’t become “matcha” because the tea leaves are grown and processed differently.
Where can I find matcha for Iced Green Tea Latte?
The biggest challenge for Matcha would be finding it locally where you live. The good news is there are online shops that sell and ship green tea powder internationally, so hopefully, you’ll be able to find some. If you know your favorite shop carries excellent green tea powder, please leave a comment below and share with other readers.
If you live in the US, you can try Japanese grocery stores such as Mitsuwa, Marukai, and Nijiya. They sell one of the common matcha brands called Maeda-en (It’s about $8 for the culinary grade).
How do you know if it’s good matcha or bad matcha?
Here are several tips to help you distinguish good vs. bad matcha when you shop.
- Origin: Although matcha is also produced outside of Japan, it is generally accepted that higher quality matcha comes from Japan, especially the ones from Nishio (西尾) in Aichi and Uji (宇治) in Kyoto (source).
- Color: High-quality matcha has a really vibrant green because tea leaves are shade-grown and they are forced to overproduce chlorophyll, which gives matcha its nice bright green color. Some of my readers asked me why their matcha is yellowish or brownish color. It’s probably due to improper shading or because tea leaves came from the lower stalk of the plant which doesn’t produce as much chlorophyll.
- Price: Unfortunately, there is no “cheap” high-quality matcha. Generally speaking, a 1 oz (30 g) tin of ceremonial-grade matcha ranges between $20-30 while the culinary-grade matcha ranges between $10-15.
Also, you want to make sure the matcha you’re purchasing does NOT include sugar or other natural flavors as part of the ingredients.
Let’s Make Homemade Iced Green Tea Latte
If you love iced green tea latte, there’s a good chance you’re buying yours from Starbucks. But have you ever thought of making it at home? It’s way cheaper to make it at home than paying over $3 for a drink. The homemade version is truly easy and the fun part is making the foamy froth to the way you like it. I usually add some simple syrup to my latte for a light sweetness, but you can totally adjust the amount or leave it out as you please. Quick to put together but appropriately treat-worthy, Iced Green Tea Latte is just perfect when you crave for something a little sweet to sip on.
See, if you put the drink in a Starbucks’ cup, it’s just like the one you get from the store. I think it tastes much better too!
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Iced Green Tea Latte
Video
Ingredients
- 2 tsp matcha (green tea powder)
- 2 Tbsp hot water (175ºF/80ºC)
- 1 cup milk
- ice cubes
- 1-2 Tbsp simple syrup (recipe follows)
Simple Syrup (sugar to water ratio = 1 : 1)
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup water (4 Tbsp)
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
Simple Syrup
- In a small saucepan, combine ¼ cup (4 Tbsp) sugar and ¼ cup (60 ml) water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, lower the heat and let the sugar dissolve completely, about 3 minutes.
- Let it cool completely and transfer to an airtight jar (or glass and cover with plastic). Simple syrup will last up to 1 month in the refrigerator.
Ice Green Tea Latte
- Add 2 tsp matcha in a small bowl. Optionally You can sift matcha to remove any lumps. Then add 2 Tbsp. of hot water (175ºF/80ºC). Whisk briskly until there is no lump (important to avoid lumps in the latte). You can use a small flat whisk or chasen, the bamboo whisk used for the Japanese tea ceremony.
- If you add sweetener, you can add 1-2 Tbsp of simple syrup now or later (in my video I add in the serving glass). Mix well to combine.
- Pour the matcha into the glass filled with ice cubes.
- Using a frother, make a froth until foamy, about 1.5 to 2 times the original volume of milk (1 cup milk will look like 1 ½ to 2 cups milk). If you don’t have a frother, you could add milk in a big jar and shake vigorously to make it foamy.
- Pour the milk into the glass while saving the foam with a big spoon. Scoop the foam and place it on top of the drink.
- Sprinkle matcha powder on top of the foam. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
Can you tell me which brand of Matcha did you used in the Iced Green Tea Latte video? The Maeda-en or the brand from Season of spice? I love your blog. Thanks.
Hi Ann! I feel like I have responded to you but somehow the comment is not added here. I apologize if you have received my response already…
I used the golden tin of Maeda-en for this recipe. It’s higher quality than silver “culinary” level of maeda-en. I wanted to have a really good matcha latte so I bought a higher grade. 🙂
My daughter used to work at Starbucks, so she told me I should try an iced green tea latte with soy unsweetened (it’s not on the menu, but they will make it – also, you have to ask for it to be shaken because the green tea does not mix well in cold, they don’t use a hot base). The soy milk adds a natural sweetness & their matcha blend has some sugar in it already. It was delicious! It is one of my favourite drinks. I also love the hot version. Now I buy matcha & make it myself, much cheaper.
Hi Juiie! Good to hear you have tried it at Starbucks. Yeah, when we order one at Starbucks, green tea powder becomes small balls because they are not dissolved. I don’t know why they don’t premix first… maybe taking a short cut. It’s not so pleasant to drink the tiny balls of matcha. You should definitely use your favorite milk. It’s much cheaper to drink it at home (even though initial investment on buying matcha is painful. 🙂 ).
Is there a significant change of taste between high quality matcha and cheaper matcha?
If matcha is sold cheaply, is it not recommended to purchase those brands even if the ingredients say pure matcha powder? I have seen matcha powder sold on ebay that is selling at $20 for 16 oz, by Red Leaf Tea.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Organic-Matcha-Green-Tea-Powder-16-oz-1lb-FREE-1-3-DAY-EXPEDITED-SHIPPING-/221500936198?hash=item33927c1006:g:0r4AAOSwT6pV55he
Hi Huyen! If I were you, I wouldn’t buy. But I’m from Japan and have tasted the real flavor of matcha all my life and I’m used to the standard matcha flavors. There is no way you can buy matcha for cheap and if you can, I don’t know how it could be possible… The grade can’t be too good. It can be pure matcha (without sugar or any other things included) but it doesn’t mean it’s high quality.
The difference of high quality and low quality matcha is significant. I actually ordered green tea latte at an Asian cafe past weekend and I was in shocked how horrible the matcha tastes like and the color was yellow green. I feel so bad for customers who have tried it for the first time for matcha experience. It will completely ruin. There is no match flavor. It was just bitter green drink. No fragrance, not taste of matcha. They sweeten enough to hide the strong bitter taste but that makes this drink even worse. I’m sure they use cheap matcha to make this drink.
So… if you are a true matcha fan, do not buy this. If you’re new to matcha, I still say don’t buy it…. well I still can’t recommend. I’m sorry! It doesn’t have to be tea ceremony grade (that’s super expensive) but please buy decent matcha from Japan (it makes a huge difference). Starbucks uses “decent” matcha, by the way. 🙂
Is Aiya a good brand? What others do you recommend from online?
I have never tried that brand so I can’t tell. Maeda-en brand is always good. 🙂
http://maeda-en.com/matcha/167-matcha-green-tea-powder.html
You can find them on Amazon as well.
Oh! What is the best way to store matcha? Keeping in a cool place in the cupboard? Keep it in the refridgerator? In the freezer?
Cool place in the pantry, or you can freeze it as well. 🙂
There’s a great deal going on for ceremonial grade matcha on Amazon by uVernal. They’re selling 2 oz tins for $24.99, but you can get Buy 2, Get 1 Free
Thanks for sharing!
Can this be made without the simple syrup? What about using honey instead?
Hi Mai! Sure! You can use honey instead (but will taste honey in the latte). 🙂
HI, do you have a picture of a good matcha to buy in Japan?
Hi Lety! I like Ippodo. 🙂
http://www.ippodo-tea.co.jp/en/index.html
For those of you in the San Mateo, CA area – Suruki market on 4th Ave has culinary grade matcha.
Thank you Linda! Nijiya in San Mateo has it too (if I didn’t take all of it… ????????).
Love the recipe! I tried to do by myself and arghhh, wasn’t good. But now I can try again! Thank you Nami! Always inspiring me! xoxo
Hi Denise! Hope this recipe will work out for you! Get good matcha – it’s the key. 🙂 It shouldn’t go wrong, especially if you have tasted matcha and like it (since the first timer might think matcha is strange). 🙂
Can you use honey rather than simple syrup for this or would that be strange
Hi Paolo! You can, to be healthier option. Honey has the fragrance and taste, so as long as you’re okay with that combination with matcha. 🙂
Hi Nami,
I have been addictive to Matcha for a while and I am confused about the difference between “料理用抹茶” http://www.marukyu-koyamaen.co.jp/catalog/chamokuroku/HTML5/pc.html#/page/8 and “食品用抹茶” http://www.marukyu-koyamaen.co.jp/catalog/chamokuroku/HTML5/pc.html#/page/10 as shown on the website of Marukyu-Koyamaen. Could you help me with it please?
Regards,
Xue
Hi Xue! They do seem similar, but from the way they describe, 料理用抹茶 is for cooking – it can be for matcha ice cream, matcha pound cake, anything that you would use matcha to cook something. 食品用抹茶 is basically for food product. I assume it’s like matcha candy, matcha latte (as in product), you know the food product that requires matcha, so in a way, it is more commercialized use, as we don’t make 食品 at home. Hope that makes sense. 🙂
Hi Nami,
Thanks for your comprehensive explanations~~~:)
There, I guess I would be better to choose 料理用抹茶 for my homemade treats~~~
Regards,
Xue
Because I got addicted with matcha, within 2 years I gain weight almost 30kilos. I bought any drink matcha, especially matcha red bean smoothies 5 times a week. And now I try my best on diet program, but still I can’t deny matcha temptation. What should I dooooo ????
Hi Damara! Matcha itself is not sweet, but I think the sugar added to those drinks and smoothies can be too much. Here in the US, we can control how much sugar goes into the drink, like 20%, %50 etc. Maybe that will help. 🙂
This reply is for Genus above, from a tea lover: I sometimes get a bit of an upset stomach after consuming matcha too. I am quite sensitive to caffeine and I would wager that it’s actually the caffeine upsetting your stomach after consuming matcha. The caffeine concentration is higher since you are consuming the whole leaf (and all the caffeine in it) instead of a brewed tea where only some of the caffeine comes out of the leaf when you brew it (the exact amount can vary a lot depending on how strongly you brew it). Tea leaves also have 10 types of naturally occurring acids in them (including common ones plants like oxalic and citric acid), which in combination with caffeine can make your stomach feel sour in higher concentrations. Try using less matcha (even as little as half the amount would probably still be good, but milder), or try drinking it more slowly over a longer period of time, or consume it alongside a meal, and you will probably see an improvement in how it makes your stomach feel.
Lion, you’re wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing your tip! That’s true; matcha has high in caffeine. I take a lot of caffeine during the day (coffee, tea, all day long), so I’m probably too immune to the effect of caffeine to notice. 😀
I love love love matcha and can’t wait to try this recipe! I was wondering if I could substitute the simple syrup with honey instead to make it a tad bit healthier?
Hi Dee! Sure you can do that. 🙂 Hope you enjoy the recipe!