All you need are a few minutes and 3 ingredients to enjoy this refreshing iced matcha tea latte that also looks amazing! Not only is it a delicious pick-me-up any morning or afternoon, it’s also a health powerhouse of a drink!
The weather is warming up and iced drinks are on my mind.
Sometimes I like iced coffee.
Sometimes I like iced tea.
But one of my favorites is an iced matcha tea latte.
It’s a refreshing pick-me-up in the morning or afternoon.
And the best part is that this drink is comes together in just a few minutes, requires no special equipment, and needs only 3 ingredients.
Matcha Tea
Matcha tea is made from the same plant as green tea and in fact, matcha is green tea leaves that have been ground into a very fine powder. However, because of the different ways the two teas are grown and prepared, matcha is much more of a health powerhouse than it’s loose leaf sibling. It has a higher nutritional value and is LOADED with antioxidants.
It also contains a higher concentration of caffeine for the equivalent amount of regular green tea, so you do not need to drink as much to have the same effect. It is also known to help with inflammation, lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and boost brain function, among other things.
If you wanted to really get into learning about matcha, you could learn about the different grades of powder, like the top-level “ceremonial”, “premium”, and “culinary”. These grades differ in terms of taste, quality, and price, with the ceremonial grade supposedly being of the best quality for drinking.
However, I am not a matcha tea connoisseur. These grades can be a bit confusing, and there are also plenty of “everyday” matcha tea powders that, I think, can just as good. It’s all just a matter of trying them out and finding one that you like most. I, personally, like to find ones that have a nice rich green color as opposed to some that almost seem murky or too yellowish as I have found that color actually does have some indication as to how good it tastes, and I also like matcha tea brands that are organic like Sencha Everyday.
Turning Matcha Into A Latte
Mixing matcha tea with milk is not very traditional and most likely NOT a very ceremonial drink…but it tastes awfully good!
As I mentioned, this drink is super easy to make. All you need is some matcha tea powder, water, milk (or non-dairy milk)…and don’t forget the ice! As for a tool to make it, pull out a well-sealing jar or cocktail shaker. That’s it!
Making the matcha tea component to this drink is as simple as combining water and the matcha tea to a jar, putting the lid on securely, and shaking vigorously for a few minutes! And when I say vigorously, I mean it! Shaking it will dissolve the tea powder, add some volume and thickness to the tea, and also create a lovely foam that you definitely want for the cool layered effect.
From there, all you need to do is place ice cubes in your drinking glasses, add the milk, and gently pour in the matcha tea. And just like that, you’ve got a beautiful refreshing beverage, ready to be enjoyed!
Variations
I like this drink unsweetened as I find the milk adds enough sweetness. However, if you’d like it a little sweeter, mix in a simple syrup (1:1 sugar water solution) or honey into your milk before pouring it into the glass.
I use whole dairy milk, but it can easily be replaced with any non-dairy milk option like almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, oat milk, etc. I do find that this drink tastes the best, though, if you use a “milk” that has a higher fat content which makes it thicker. It adds to the smoothness and richness of the beverage, making it all the more enjoyable.
This drink is also similar to my Crazy Easy Triple Layer Iced Coffee which can also be whipped up in no time and is a nice alternative to tea. Add a bit of cocoa or chocolate powder to the coffee and you can turn it into an iced mocha!
If you’re looking for other iced beverage options as the weather warms up, consider Iced English Tea Latte or Cold Brew Coffee Ice Cube Latte. If you’re not in the mood for a milk-based drink, Cold Brewed Tea or Fresh Fruit Sparklers are great refreshing alternatives.
How do you like to enjoy your matcha? 😉
~ Lisa.
Iced Matcha Tea Latte
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup room temperature water
- 1 tbs matcha tea powder, heaping
- Ice cubes
- 2/3 cup whole milk, or coconut milk, almond milk, oat milk, etc.
Optional
- 1 tsp sweetener, simple syrup, honey, agave, etc.
Instructions
- In a jar with a well-sealing lid or a cocktail shaker, pour in 1/2 cup room temperature water.
- Add matcha tea powder to water, seal jar, and shake vigorously for 2-3 minutes until matcha powder has dissolved.
- Add ice cubes to two drinking glasses and pour 1/3 cup of milk into each glass.
- Give the matcha tea one more shake and then slowly pour half over the ice and milk in each glass.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- This recipe is for 2 servings, with each serving containing approximately 1 1/2 tsp of matcha powder. Adjust the amount of matcha powder depending on how strong or how much caffeine you prefer to drink in a serving.
- Substitute the whole milk with your favorite dairy alternative. Try coconut, almond, oat, soy, etc.
- You can play with the proportions of the matcha tea and the milk, depending on how much you like of either.
- If you would like to add sweetener to your drink, add a simple syrup or honey to your milk and mix well before pouring into the glass with ice.
- A teaspoon of sweetener added to the recipe will add approximately 10 calories to each serving.
- If you don't have ice cubes, you can still make this drink, but it is unlikely you will get the cool layering effect between the milk and the matcha.
- The layering effect is also easier to achieve if the milk does not go above the level of the ice cubes before you add the matcha.
Nutrition
I was looking for a good matcha latte recipe, this is perfect!
I’m
Not. A big fan of matcha, but you’ve made this look so delicious I might just have to give it a try.
I love matcha and can’t wait to try this latte!
I hope you like it, Vanessa!