With an eye-catching layer of brilliant green matcha contrasting against a creamy white layer of milk, the iced matcha latte is always a crowd favorite among café drinks. One cup of iced matcha latte usually costs at least $6 and is often liberally sweetened to cover up any bitterness or earthiness of the matcha.
What if we told you that iced matcha lattes can be easily made at home, in under a minute? No special skills or equipment needed. You have full control to tweak the flavor of your homemade iced matcha latte with your choice of milk and sweeteners. The best part? One tin of matcha powder can make several cups of matcha latte, so the savings are significant!
Looking for other matcha latte recipes?
We maintain a comprehensive matcha latte guide that explains how you can test different ingredients to fine tune your matcha latte to your exact preferences. Also included are links to all our matcha latte recipes.
Recommended matcha blends for iced matcha latte
The optimal choice is to use either our Superior Ceremonial Matcha or Organic Ceremonial Matcha. These are incredibly versatile blends that allow you to make an affordable matcha latte with reduced levels of sweetener. Just note that the Organic Ceremonial Matcha has an overall lighter matcha taste and go better with alternative milks. Our Superior Ceremonial Matcha pairs best with regular cow’s milk.
You can also use any of our other ceremonial grade matcha blends to make lattes, but it can get costly very quickly. Most of the nuanced flavors will also be lost amidst the milk and sweetener. It is possible to use our Creative Culinary to make matcha lattes, but we discourage this. You may end up adding more sugar and/or milk to balance the more pronounced bittersweet taste of our Creative Culinary Matcha.
How to mix matcha and water properly to make iced matcha latte
For this specific recipe, we introduce to you a quick, simple and hassle-free way to make an iced matcha latte on the go. This means minimal equipment and ingredients are required.
- Matcha powder is a suspension, it does not dissolve in water. This means that the powder can still mix well in cold water of lower temperatures.
- If you are using a bottle to make your iced matcha latte, we recommend the shaking method since all ingredients can be added and mixed in the bottle.
- You can also use a bamboo whisk to pre-mix your matcha and water if you prefer to add milk directly and skip the shaking method. Note: If you are using a tall glass to make your matcha latte, consider purchasing a longer bamboo whisk. These also come with smaller heads that allow you to whisk your matcha in a smaller bowl/glass.
- We also do not recommend battery-operated frothers because these tend to clump up the matcha. They do best where there is a lower amount of matcha compared to water.
- You may use a blender if you prefer that. We usually avoid blenders because of the extra cleanup required.
An important note about sweeteners when making iced matcha lattes
When making cold drinks, it is important to be aware of whether your sweetener will easily dissolve. For example, regular refined sugar crystals do not dissolve well in cold mediums. For this reason, many people use liquid-based sweeteners such as simple syrup, honey or maple syrup. Our personal favourite is powdered brown sugar. It dissolves easily even in cold water, has brilliant caramel notes and there’s no need to mix it with water beforehand.
Why we use three teaspoons of matcha for iced matcha lattes
For iced matcha lattes, we find that using more matcha powder makes for an intense yet silky smooth beverage. This is typically how the famous cafes in Japan and Asia prepare their iced matcha lattes, though we recognise it may be too strong for some. If you are new to matcha or apprehensive that the iced matcha latte recipe may be too strong, reduce the amount of matcha powder to 2 teaspoons.
Making iced matcha latte using a bottle
Loose matcha powder does not mix well with milk, so its important to first mix matcha and water before mixing that mixture with milk. To avoid any problems, we recommend you follow the steps set out in the recipe.
How to get that aesthetic, layered effect in your matcha latte?
The best way to do this is to mix matcha, water and sweetener before pouring that mixture over iced milk. First, use a bamboo whisk to incorporate matcha powder, water and sweetener into a mixture. Fill a glass cup up with ice and add milk. Pour the sweetened matcha mix into the glass of milk in a slow, steady stream. The matcha mix should suspend above the milk, forming two distinct layers of green and white that gradually mixes over time. Don’t forget to take some pictures before indulging!
How to make the iced matcha latte
Makes 1 cup
Ingredients
- 2 tsp matcha powder
- 2 oz/60ml water
- 7 oz/200ml milk
- 1 tsp powdered brown sugar or equivalent (adjust based on desired sweetness)
Directions
1. Measure out 2 tsp matcha powder and 2 oz/60 ml water at room temperature (cold water is fine as well) into the bottle.
2. Cap the bottle and shake thoroughly to obtain a thick and even matcha mix.
3. Uncap the bottle and add 7 oz/200 ml of milk with 1 tsp powdered brown sugar or equivalent.
4. Cap the bottle. Gently shake its contents to mix well.
5. Pour the latte mix over a cup of ice to enjoy.
6 thoughts on “Iced Matcha Latte Recipe”
This is just the recipe I was looking for! The ratio of matcha to milk is perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up. I used the 12oz suggestion in the comments (lowering the matcha powder to 2.5 tsp) & it’s perfect for my slightly bitter ceremonial grade matcha powder! Oatly oat milk and a cane sugar simple syrup are my go to!! Thank you so much!
How do I make sure that there are no clumps? I have made this twice and there still seems to be small blobs of matcha power at the bottom of my cup? I am using normal water when I make my matcha latte, should I switch it to hot water? Does it not mix well with skimmed milk?
Hey Roy, thanks for reaching out to us! We highly recommend that you sift the matcha powder beforehand. This will help to break out the clumps and allow for a smoother matcha latte. You can definitely use either normal or hot water, as long as you mix matcha and water first before mixing the mixture with milk. Hope this helps! 🙂
What would the measurements be for a serving size of 12-ish ounces?
Hey Grace! For a 12-ounce iced matcha latte, we recommend that you try 3 tsp of matcha powder, 3 oz of water, and 9 oz of milk. As for sweetener, you can try starting with out 1 tsp of brown sugar, and add on more later to your liking! Hope you’ll like it! 🙂
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