Easy Homemade Matcha Latte Recipe

This homemade matcha latte recipe is easy and quick. It requires very little equipment for those without fancy milk frothers or matcha whisking kits. Stunning in color, and healthy to drink, this latte is one of my favorites.

Matcha Powder Quality

Matcha latte is a drink I make when I need an afternoon pick-me-up but am not committed to a cup of coffee. For this matcha latte recipe, I used Aiya matcha powder. It is ceremonial-grade powder, which means that it is the highest quality available (and is quite pricey). However, since you will be adding milk to this drink, I would suggest using something not as expensive, such as culinary-grade matcha. I do recommend you find matcha powder made from Japan. Read more about matcha powder grades here.

Equipment for Matcha Lattes

Traditionally, matcha powder is scooped with a bamboo spoon, also known as a chasaku. However, feel free to use a teaspoon you already have. Once the matcha powder is placed into a cup, a chasen, or a bamboo whisk, is used to dissolve the powder in hot water. If you do not have a bamboo whisk, any small whisk, or even chopsticks will work well.

Finally, heat and froth the milk. As an adult, I’ve developed an intolerance to lactose so I substituted regular milk with Oatly oat milk, but any milk (almond, soy, etc) will do! If you do not own a milk frother, you can either whisk the milk in a pot while it is warming up, or pour the milk into a sealable jar and shake until many bubbles form.

After you pour the milk into the matcha mix, you’ll notice the top will be very white, hiding the beautiful deep-green color of the rest of the drink underneath the milk (see photo below). Therefore, you can sprinkle some more matcha powder on top for added decor. If you have stencils, you can use the matcha powder to create some latte art!

Benefits of Matcha

In addition to energy boosting properties, there are many other benefits of matcha. Matcha is ground from green tea, which means that it contains antioxidants that strengthen the immune system. Studies show that the antioxidants protect against maladies such as cancer, heart disease, neurological disease, and many more. This magical powder has been studied to decrease hunger, aiding weight loss, and it also lowers cholesterol.

Matcha has been consumed as early as the Sui Dynasty (581-618) in China and the ground green tea powder was later popularized in Japan in the 1190s. Even then, the health benefits were not lost on the consumers and matcha was often used a medicine. The fact that matcha is still enjoyed today, over a thousand years after its introduction, shows just how beloved matcha is to the health conscious, foodies, and traditional ceremonialists alike.

 

Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1.5 tsp matcha powder
• 1 tbsp of hot water (176 F)
• 1/2 tbsp of honey (or sugar, maple syrup, other sweetner)
• 1 cup of warm (150 F) oat milk  (or any milk / milk substitute)

Directions:

• Scoop and sift matcha powder into a small bowl to break up any clumps.
• Add the tablespoon of hot water into the bowl.
• Whisk until the matcha is dissolved and bubbles form on the surface.
• Pour into a cup and add the honey, or sweetner of choice.
• Heat up the milk in a small pan and whisk until many bubbles form. Or, you can pour it into a sealable jar and shake vigorously until you see bubbles.
• Pour the warm milk into the whisked matcha
• Gently sprinkle some matcha powder to the top for decoration. Or, if you have a stencil, you can create matcha art with the powder.