Iced Matcha Latte

Why You Should Make Your Own Iced Matcha Latte at Home

• An alternative to your morning coffee. Matcha is caffeinated, so it’s one of my favourite ways to enjoy a latte in the morning. It’s earthy and soothing, and super refreshing when iced.
• Budget-friendly. While you’ll need to make an initial investment to buy the right matcha-making tools, it’s a small one. And it will pay for itself in all the money you’ll save making iced matcha lattes at home!
• Better than Starbucks. Here’s the thing: Your barista at Starbucks is unlikely to be using a real matcha whisk and bowl, which makes all the difference in an authentic matcha latte. One more reason it’s better homemade.

Notes on Ingredients

These are the simple ingredients you’ll need to make an iced matcha latte, in addition to the ice, of course. Please note that this is important information on the ingredients and instructions, and the full recipe with amounts and details can be found down below (scroll to it) in the recipe card.

• Ceremonial grade matcha ⁣– The kind of matcha you use matters. See my notes below.
• Hot water – Matcha is best made with 180ºF water.
• Maple syrup or agave⁣ – Or any other liquid sweetener you like.
• Vegan milk ⁣– Any kind you have on hand will work. Use vanilla-flavoured plant milk for a subtle hint of vanilla.

Ceremonial Grade Matcha Powder is Key

There are two types of matcha powder: ceremonial-grade matcha and culinary-grade matcha. When you’re using matcha powder in a drink, you want to buy ceremonial-grade matcha. Culinary-grade is made for cooking and baking, as it has a more intense flavour. (I often use it when making my Matcha Chia Pudding.)

Next, look for matcha that was made in Japan. Japanese matcha is more consistent in quality and flavour. When you’re drinking matcha, you’re drinking ground whole tea leaves, which means any impurities from the soil, water, or farming practices are ingested with the tea. This is the matcha brand I’ve used for years and love!

Tools You Need to Make Authentic Matcha at Home

The minimum you need to make this iced matcha latte recipe is:

• Bamboo matcha whisk. Preferably one that is handmade. Look for one made with pesticide-free bamboo. Matcha whisks are specially designed for making matcha foam when it’s whisked into hot water.
• Small bowl. You can use your matcha whisk with a small bowl or a wide mug, but you may also want to invest in a matcha bowl. You can find these alone or as part of a matcha set with a whisk.
• Scoop. Another optional item for making authentic matcha is a chashaku, which is a small scoop for portioning a single serving of matcha powder. This is the bamboo whisk, chashaku, and sifter set I use from the same matcha brand.

How to Make an Iced Matcha Latte

Now that you have everything you need to make your iced matcha latte, here’s what you’ll need to do:

• Make the matcha. In a small matcha bowl (or any small bowl or wide mug that gives you ample room for whisking), combine the matcha and hot water. Next, use a bamboo whisk to whisk in a back-and-forth M motion for at least 15 seconds, or until there are no clumps of matcha and the mixture is frothy. Whisk in your maple syrup or agave.

• Finish the latte. Place ice cubes in a tall glass, then add the plant milk. Lastly, pour the matcha mixture into the glass and stir to combine.

Tips for the Best Matcha

• Give yourself room to whisk. A small teacup just won’t do, but you also don’t want to use a bowl that’s wide and shallow. This is why a traditional matcha bowl is nice, but if you don’t have one, simply find something similar in size.
• Working without a whisk. If you don’t have a bamboo whisk, you can prevent lumps in your matcha by pouring a small amount of water into the bowl with the matcha powder; whisk until smooth, then pour the rest of the water in and continue to whisk. 
• Use filtered water. If your water tastes off, your matcha will taste off too!

How to Store

• Drink it when it’s fresh. If you don’t drink your whole iced matcha latte in one sitting, you can pop it in the fridge for up to a day, but the ice cubes will slowly melt and water it down. This is a drink that’s best enjoyed fresh!

More Refreshing Drink Recipes

• Lavender Lemonade
• Hawaiian POG Juice
• Whipped Matcha (Dalgona Matcha)
• Vegan Green Smoothie 
• Strawberry Mango Smoothie