My matcha love continues! Once I started to bake with matcha powder (hello, matcha brownies, muffins, and cookies!) I always seemed to have matcha powder on hand. Drinking the tea only made sense. 😀
I've spent several months drinking matcha tea daily, in latte form, and have figured out all the best tips for enjoying this superfood, and its healthy benefits, in the most delicious way!
Why I Love This Vanilla Matcha Latte
A matcha latte is the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. It has a little caffeine, but not as much as coffee or black tea. So, no messing with your sleep cycle (unless you're really sensitive to caffeine).
And you get the health benefits of matcha. There are many! Matcha is antioxidant rich and contains compounds beneficial to our livers, brains, and heart.
My favorite benefit? Matcha can lower cholesterol! (read about it on matcha.com)
I wasn't aware of this benefit until I went in for my annual physical this year. I have a cholesterol panel done every year, due to my family history. To my great surprise, my total cholesterol was 170. Last year it was 196 - a very typical number for me. That's a 13% reduction!
The only difference I had made in my lifestyle was drinking matcha tea daily. And I had been doing so for about 3 months before I had my cholesterol tested. That solidified it for me. Matcha tea for me, every day!!
What is Matcha?
Matcha is a finely ground powder made from specially grown green tea leaves. Unlike regular tea, where the leaves are steeped and then discarded, matcha is whisked directly into water or milk, so you're consuming the whole leaf. This gives it a vibrant green color, a slightly earthy flavor, and a boost of antioxidants and caffeine. It has been used in Japanese tea ceremonies for centuries and is now popular in lattes, smoothies, and even desserts.
Matcha Latte Ingredients
**Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for detailed quantities and directions**
Recommended Equipment
- Whisk - the traditional whisk for matcha is made of bamboo and is used in a bowl to dissolve the matcha into the water. If you happen to have a milk frother on hand, that works just as well.
- Mesh sieve - if you want to remove any lumps from your matcha powder, sifting it through a fine mesh sieve helps eliminate that.
- Milk frother - if you like your milk to be frothy (and really, who doesn't?) you'll need a way to make it so. You can heat the milk on stove top and whisk it a bunch with a hand held whisk, or you can use the same milk frother you used to dissolve the matcha powder. I actually have a separate milk frother that I love, because it froths and heats the milk perfectly. Plus it has an option for cold foam which is the best during the summer months!
How to Make a Vanilla Matcha Tea Latte
There are only a few ingredients, but each is important. First, dissolve a little matcha in warm water. Not boiling, just warm. I like to microwave about 2-3 ounces of water for 30 seconds, then add the matcha powder.
Add (sugar free) vanilla syrup to the matcha water and give it a good stir.
The traditional way to dissolve matcha powder is by using a bamboo whisk in a small ceremonial bowl. I use what I have, which happens to be a small hand-held milk frother. It mixes the matcha very nicely!
To be a latte, of course you need milk. I use almond milk, but dairy or oat milk also work great. Use a milk frother to get your milk nice and foamy, then add it to the matcha tea. And enjoy.
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Tips For Making A Perfect Matcha Latte
One thing I've learned with matcha tea: it really benefits from a little sweetening. On its own, it tastes a little bit like grass to me. Some describe it as "fishy". Sweet is needed!
I started out using honey to sweeten, then migrated to brown sugar. Super yummy!
Eventually I wanted to find a way to reduce the sugar. I started adding just vanilla extract which helped but wasn't quite "enough". I would usually add vanilla extract AND brown sugar LOL.
Once I found sugar-free vanilla syrup, I was sold. The syrup adds sugar-free sweetness and that wonderful vanilla taste. It's the perfect complement to matcha!
If you're not concerned with a little sugar, feel free to use about a teaspoon of vanilla extract and 2 teaspoons brown sugar to get the sweet and vanilla taste. Obviously, you can adjust the amounts to your preferences.
And if you live to explore more latte flavors, check out this chai latte recipe for anther sugar free option!
How to Froth Almond Milk for your Latte
I love vanilla flavored almond milk in my coffee and tea. It's low carb, low calorie, and tastes delicious. I buy it in bulk at Costco so I never run out!
But most people will tell you that almond milk does not froth as well as dairy milk. This is due to the lower protein content in almond milk. If you can find a "barista" formula almond milk, that's your best bet. But I've not yet been able to source this locally.
Even so, when I started making matcha tea lattes, I faithfully used my little hand-held battery-operated whisk/frother to give my almond milk that little extra lift. It doesn't produce a true foam, but it does fluff it up a bit.
Then I bought something more dedicated. My new frother is electric and can both heat and froth the milk. It has 4 different settings which gives me plenty of room to experiment.
What I've found is that this electric milk frother does a great job with almond milk! I usually use one of the two "densest" foam settings since I know frothing almond milk can be a challenge. I'm so happy with the results!
And I'm not using any special brand or type of almond milk. Kirkland brand, vanilla flavored, shelf stable. I've also tried the refrigerated Silk almond milk and the shelf-stable Simple Truth brand. Similar results, but Kirkland brand still works the best.
So, if you've been struggling to froth your almond milk, you might want to give one of these milk frothers (affiliate link) a try!
Vanilla Matcha Variations
- If you want to avoid all sweeteners, use vanilla extract to get the yummy vanilla flavor.
- Experiment with other milks - oat milk and full fat dairy milk will give you a creamy and delicious matcha latte.
- If you're a fan of chai tea, you could spice this latte similarly with a pinch of ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
- Want to boost the protein? Add in a scoop of vanilla protein powder for a very satisfying drink.
More Matcha Recipes to Try
- Matcha Muffins have a lemony taste and tender crumb. A perfect way to start the day!
- Matcha Chocolate Chip Cookies take the best type of cookie (chocolate chip!!!) and give it a healthy matcha twist!
- Matcha Brownies, because there can never be too much chocolate!
📖 Recipe
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Vanilla Matcha
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon matcha powder
- 2-3 ounces water
- 2 teaspoons vanilla syrup sugar free
- 4 ounces almond milk
Instructions
- Warm water and pour into your cup or mug. Add the matcha powder and vanilla syrup; mix well.½ teaspoon matcha powder, 2-3 ounces water, 2 teaspoons vanilla syrup
- Prepare your milk by warming and frothing with the equipment you have. (If using a handheld frother, you will need to warm the milk separately. An electric milk frother will typically do both)4 ounces almond milk
- Pour the frothed milk into the cup of matcha. Mix as needed and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
Sage Scott
My daughter has been sooooo into matcha lately, but she usually drinks hers iced. I'm going to forward this to her so she has it as an alternative, especially as it gets colder here in Kansas City.
Sula
Oh yes, I am in Wisconsin. I switch from iced to warm by about September. 🙂
Shelby
This matcha latte is so awesome on the days you want to curl up but need the energy boost!
Sula
I really gives that perfect balance!
Jacqui
Such a great recipe! Easy to follow and so delish.
Sula
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for the kind review!