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!
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
- 1.5 oz/50 ml water at a temperature of 175F (80C)
- 8 oz/230 ml oat milk
- 0.5 tsp powdered brown sugar (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.
