Iced Matcha Latte Recipe: A Healthy DIY Treat

There's something about going to the world's most iconic coffee shop and ordering your favorite drink. It is convenient and fulfilling to enjoy a latte without any work.

But imagine if you could make an iced Starbucks Matcha Latte inspired beverage at home in under five minutes, perfecting the recipe just how you desire it. That's the perk of making your own drink: You can make this green tea latte the exact same way every time, ensuring you love every sip. The process of making this dairy-free latte is quick, easy and delicious. Plus, this recipe is easily customizable, so you can make this latte (or a variation) every day.

And since following a DIY recipe is less expensive than store-bought, you'll be getting all of the green tea health benefits for fewer greenbacks!

So, for more reasons than one, we're sure this easy iced matcha latte will be your cup of tea.

What is an iced matcha latte?

A matcha latte uses matcha green tea as its base instead of coffee. Tea is usually brewed with tea leaves and hot water. But this recipe calls for matcha powder, made of ground-up matcha leaves. That powder is dissolved in hot water, combined with a sweetener like maple syrup, blended with almond milk or oat milk, and then iced.

What does an iced matcha taste like?

Because most iced matcha green tea lattes have sweetener added, these lattes taste slightly sweet in addition to the earthy flavor from the matcha powder. (After all, it is a ground-up plant.) The best part about making a homemade iced matcha latte is you can add more or less sweetener as well as more or less milk or milk alternative to suit your tastes and health goals. You can also make matcha ice cubes to cool your latte instead of ice cubes of water. This will preserve the matcha flavor when the ice melts instead of watering down the flavor. They are easy to make—just pour leftover matcha latte into an ice mold and freeze.

Are iced matcha lattes healthy?

The biggest factor to consider when assessing if a recipe is healthy, besides the ingredients, is the amount of sugar.

You may find that commercial coffee shops make matcha lattes with more sugar than what you like. But with this recipe, you can control both the amount and the type of sugar you use, which makes a homemade matcha green tea latte a great way to get the health benefits of matcha without a lot of added sugar.

The matcha green tea in this recipe contains a variety of beneficial compounds:

1. L-theanine

   . This amino acid supports a healthy stress response and promotes a calm, relaxed state of mind. L-theanine also induces brainwave patterns similar to those associated with meditation and massage.

2. Chlorophyll

   . This molecule is responsible for matcha's green color and it demonstrates antioxidant activity. Chlorophyll is a great way to support your overall health, increase your energy and bolster your immune system.

3. Polyphenols

   . These antioxidants may provide green tea's greatest health benefits, in particular epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, an anti-aging powerhouse. EGCG supports healthy cell division as well as fighting oxidative stress in the body.

Because of its higher antioxidant level, matcha is considered the "healthiest" green tea. Regular consumption of matcha may have a positive effect on both physical and mental health and on healthy longevity.

Additionally, clinical trials have shown that matcha may support cognitive function and attention and that green tea helps support optimal heart health.

Healthy iced matcha latte recipe

High grade matcha green tea powder is easily accessible at most local grocers and online, making it an affordable option in making your own matcha lattes. Here's a simple recipe that adds a touch of sweetness and frothed milk to a health-supporting iced matcha latte drink.

Ingredients

2 tsp matcha powder
2 tsp pure maple syrup
1 ½ cups warm or hot water
1 cup ice
⅔ cup unsweetened almond milk

Preparation

1. Add warm water to a tall glass. Pour in the matcha powder and maple syrup.
2. Using an electric frother (or a small whisk), combine the matcha powder and syrup with the water until powder is fully dissolved.
3. Pour matcha mixture over ice.
4. Add almond milk to the tall glass. Froth with the electric frother until milk becomes foamy (approximately 2-3 minutes).
5. Pour milk into same glass as matcha mixture. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Makes one serving:

Calories: 78
Protein: 1 g
Carbohydrates: 14 g
Fat: 2 g

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes.

Tips for success

One of the simplest parts of this recipe that also happens to make the biggest difference is frothing the milk. With a handheld milk frother, you can froth any milk. This recipe uses almond milk, but you can also froth oat milk, cow's milk or even coconut milk.

Tips to consider when frothing your milk:

1. The milk will expand. Add it to a container that is two to three times larger than the amount of milk you're using (for example, if you're using 8 oz of milk, then froth the milk in at least a 16 oz container).
2. Froth the milk longer than you'd think. You may see the top start to get foamy, but it takes approximately 2-3 minutes for the milk to really become frothy.
3. Ensure you're frothing the bottom of the milk (putting your frother on the bottom of the glass) as well as the top of the milk. This will help it froth faster versus just holding your frother at the top of the milk.

Other matcha recipes

Matcha powder is the perfect addition to your matcha latte, but did you know that you can use matcha powder in a variety of other yummy creations, too? Matcha powder can be used to create everything from green tea cupcakes and matcha waffles to smoothies, ice cream and shakes.

The matcha powder in your creations provide energy support as well as promoting relaxation. Green tea also has been shown to support mental alertness, healthy digestion and healthy weight management.

Do iced matcha lattes have caffeine?

Matcha powder is the main ingredient in an iced matcha latte, and yes, matcha powder does contain caffeine. Matcha leaves are protected from sunlight before harvesting, so matcha powder usually contains more caffeine than other types of green tea. Thus, an iced matcha latte is a great choice if you're seeking the benefits of caffeine. If you do not want caffeine, some companies make decaffeinated matcha powder.

Do iced matcha lattes give you all the health benefits you need?

Iced matcha lattes deliver the health benefits of matcha green tea and the other ingredients you choose for your latte, but supplementing with green tea extract or L-theanine supplement is a convenient way to get the clinically studied amounts of these beneficial compounds. Supplements also make it easy to choose between caffeinated and decaffeinated forms.

References

• Sakurai, K., Shen, C., Ezaki, Y., Inamura, N., Fukushima, Y., Masuoka, N., & Hisatsune, T. "Effects of Matcha Green Tea Powder on Cognitive Functions of Community-Dwelling Elderly Individuals." Nutrients. 2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33256220/
• Green Tea. (n.d.). NCCIH. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/green-tea