If you’re a big fan of the Starbucks matcha latte, you are going to love this recipe today. I decided to try my hand at making a matcha latte at home after reading about what goes in to the Strarbucks version. Plus, after my big success recreating the delicious iced London fog latte, I knew I was ready to take on a milk tea latte that was a little more complicated, like matcha.
The tricky party to making matcha lattes is that the matcha doesn’t completely dissolve unless it’s reaaaaaally mixed in. Just stirring it with a spoon is going to leave little flecks of matcha and a slightly grainier texture. I think we can all agree that this is not the kind of matcha lattes we are looking for.
So, after playing around with a ceremonial grade matcha and sweeteners, I figured out how to make a super smooth, slightly frothy, sweet, but still flavorful, matcha latte that might just be better than the Starbucks version.
Let’s check it out:
What’s in an iced matcha latte?
There’s just a few simple ingredients in an iced matcha latte.
- Matcha – This green tea powder is packed with health benefits and plenty of caffeine! There are different types of matcha, too, which points to where the matcha was made. Starbucks uses a custom sweetened matcha, which is why it dissolves so smoothly. For mine, I used a ceremonial grade matcha from a brand that I buy my blue spirulina from. They have really high quality products that are usually sold in glass jars, which helps preserve the quality and freshness of the powder.
- Milk – Any cold milk of choice will do for this one. I used oat milk, because I stay pretty dairy free. You can use whatever you have, just know that if your milk has any flavor, it will alter the taste of the matcha latte a little bit. I think oat milk is a good compliment.
- Sweetener – I used homemade vanilla syrup, which takes just 10 minutes and 3 ingredients to make. I share the entire recipe in this post. You can use a plain simple syrup (sugar and water), honey, agave, or any sweetener you like. Vanilla added a little warmth and flavor to the matcha, which I personally liked. Without any sweetener at all, you’re going to get a stronger, grassier flavor in your matcha latte.
- Ice – Gotta have the ice!
As far as tools for this one, you’ll really need some kind of mixer to really stir in the matcha. It’s going to take a few minutes to get it to dissolve fully.
I have this cordless, handheld mixer that works better than the vertical mixers, because it’s more comfortable to hold and you don’t have to hold the button down the whole time. It’s super affordable and cute, too. You can use a hand mixer or any other kind of mixer. I find that the milk frothers do not mix it in well enough, so it’s better to use a stronger mixer if you want it nice and smooth.
How To Make an Iced Matcha Latte:
The trick to getting matcha nice and smooth is to mix your milk of choice and matcha in a mixing bowl with a mixer until super smooth.
You’ll know it’s ready when all of the matcha is absorbed, it’s a nice even green color and there’s a little foam on top.
Then, add some vanilla syrup or other sweetener to your glass of ice and pour the matcha on top.
Having tried to make these a couple different ways, this has been, by far, the best. You can customize this to be as sweet as you like and add more scoops of matcha if you like an even stronger matcha flavor.
If you want this to taste as close to Starbucks as possible, you’d add 2-3tbsp of vanilla syrup and 2-3 scoops of matcha to your 12 ounches of milk.
How much caffeine is in matcha?
Whereas green tea has about 25mg of caffeine per cup, matcha has double the amount, with at least 70mg of caffeine per cup! By comparison, one espresso shot has 75mg of caffeine, so considering how much matcha is in a grande or even venti, you’re definitely not skimping on caffeine by switching to this green drink. To learn more about caffeine in coffee and tea drinks, head to this post.
What’s in Starbucks matcha?
This is one of the best kept secrets of Starbucks. Unlike their chai latte, which we know is a Tazo brand concentrate made just for them (stronger than the one they sell in stores), the exact matcha they use is not readily disclosed. They do share that it is two ingredients: sugar and Japanese green tea powder.
Some guesses have been made about the origins of their matcha, with some guessing its’ made by the brand Aiya, a reputable Japanese company, and others saying their matcha originates in the Wazuka region of Japan. Both possibilities confirm that they use a high quality matcha.
Is matcha healthy?
I know quite a few people who tout their matcha habit as being “healthier” than drinking coffee. Matcha may or may not be good for you, depending on how much you’re drenching it in sugar and sweeteners. However, matcha, just like green tea, does have some health benefits when not loaded with sugar, such as the amino acid L-theanine, which can improve brain function. Plus, it contains double the inflammation reducing antioxidants as coffee, which is good if you’re drinking it with sugar and milk, which are both inflammatory foods.
Some studies have also shown that green tea extract may actually shrink tumors and slow the growth of cancer cells in rats, but there isn’t enough research yet to show if this works for humans, too. Still, it gives you a few more good reasons to keep sipping your matcha lattes anyway.
How many calories are in Starbucks matcha latte?
A grande Starbucks matcha latte made without substitutions has 200 calories. This includes 3 scoops of matcha and 2% milk. A tall drops you down to just 140 calories and a venti is going to set you back 280 calories.
To learn more about Starbucks cups sizes and what they mean, head to this post.
What are the Starbucks matcha latte nutrition facts?
Let’s go with a grande for this one, which we already know is 200 calories.
In addition, you’ll be consuming 5 grams of fat, 29g of carbs, 28g of sugar, 9g of protein and 80mg of caffeine.
For more Starbucks drinks under 200 calories, check out this post.
Are Starbucks matcha lattes keto friendly or sugar-free?
Nope, they are not. There is no way to make them keto or sugar-free, because the matcha is sweetened. You can reduce the additional sugars or syrups that are added or request sugar-free vanilla, the only sugar-free option at Starbucks, but you cannot get unsweeteened matcha.
Customization options for Starbucks matcha lattes:
Like most of Starbucks drinks, you have a lot of choices for how you can customize your matcha latte. Here are some of the ways you can make this drink your own custom creation:
- Add syrups, including sugar-free vanilla
- Add milk of choice, such as almond, oat, soy, etc.
- Add vanilla sweet cream cold foam to the top – it’s delicious!
- Add whip to the top
- Adjust the number of matcha scoops
- Choose your size (tall, grande, venti)
- Choose temperature (iced or hot)
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Have you made your own matcha latte at home? What did you think? I’d love to hear your favorite matcha tips.
Get roasted,
A
