Matcha Latte
Sift 2 tsp matcha, whisk it with 120 ml water at about 80°C (180°F) until frothy, then top up with steamed milk for a hot latte or pour it over ice and cold milk for an iced latte; sweeten with honey; 10 minutes for 2.
A matcha latte is fine green tea powder whisked into a smooth, frothy paste with hot water, then topped up with warm or cold milk. Good matcha is bright green and tastes grassy and sweet with only a gentle bitterness. The two keys are sifting the powder so it does not clump and using water that is hot but not boiling, which keeps the flavour soft. Make it hot and foamy, or pour it over ice for the layered green-and-white iced version.
- Serves 2
- Prep: 5 min
- Cook: 5 min
- Total: 10 min
- Cuisine: Japanese
Ingredients
- 2 tsp matcha powder
- 120 ml hot water, about 80°C (180°F)
- 400 ml milk, or oat milk
- 2–4 tsp honey or sugar syrup, to taste
Method
- Sift the matcha into a wide bowl or jug to break up any lumps.
- Add a splash of the hot water and stir to a smooth paste, then add the rest of the water.
- Whisk briskly in a zigzag motion with a bamboo whisk or a small electric frother for 30 seconds, until smooth and frothy on top.
- For a hot latte, heat the milk until steaming but not boiling and froth it. Stir the honey into the matcha, divide it between 2 cups and pour in the milk.
- For an iced latte, fill 2 glasses with ice, add the cold milk and honey and stir. Slowly pour the matcha over the top so it sits in a green layer, then stir before drinking.
Tips
- Water temperature: boiling water makes matcha taste bitter. Let just-boiled water stand for 2 minutes.
- Which matcha: a culinary or latte-grade matcha is fine here; save ceremonial-grade matcha for drinking with water only.
- Stronger flavour: use 3 tsp matcha and 150 ml water.
Questions
Why is my matcha latte bitter?
The water was too hot or the matcha is low grade. Use water at about 80°C (180°F), not boiling, and a good latte-grade matcha.
How do I stop matcha from clumping?
Sift the powder first, then stir it into a paste with a splash of water before adding the rest and whisking.
Can I make a matcha latte without a bamboo whisk?
Yes. A small electric milk frother or shaking it in a closed jar also gives a smooth, frothy matcha.
How do I make an iced matcha latte?
Fill a glass with ice and cold milk, then slowly pour the whisked matcha over the top for a green layer and stir before drinking.
Is this matcha latte halal?
The recipe is pork-free and lists no alcohol. It is not halal-certified, so check the labels on the matcha and any flavoured syrup if that matters to you.
A Dada Cooking original recipe. Quantities are metric first, with US amounts in brackets.