Quick & Easy Iced Matcha Latte

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Easy step-by-step directions and tips from a tea sommelier on how to make a layered matcha drink in less than 5 minutes! Perfectly sweet and refreshing, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to make at home.

Iced matcha latte, layered, in a glass cup.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Iced matcha lattes are incredibly quick (takes less than 5 minutes!) and easy to make at home. All you need is matcha green tea, milk (any kind), ice, water, and a sweetener like honey or sugar.
  • No need for any traditional matcha tools, like a bamboo whisk. My trick is to use a cocktail shaker or a jar with a tight lid.
  • It’s layered! Sugar (or in this case, honey) is the secret to making layered drinks and this recipe will show you exactly how to put the drink together.

RELATED: Starbucks Iced Matcha Latte Copycat Recipe

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Ingredient Notes

Matcha green tea latte ingredients.
  • Matcha
    There’s a big range when it comes to matcha. The brighter the matcha, the better the quality. Find the brightest green matcha without going over $60. Make sure there’s no sugar added to the matcha.
  • Milk
    Any kind of milk can be used. I usually use oat milk.
  • Cold water
    Use filtered water if possible since good quality water makes tea taste better.
  • Honey
    Sweetener is the secret to making the drink layered so honey, or white sugar, is needed.
My Matcha Pick

Photo Credit: amazon.com

Great matcha for the quality and price. It's my go-to matcha for making matcha drinks.
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Step-by-Step Instructions

Four image collage showing steps to make a matcha iced latte.

For full ingredients and detailed instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

  1. Combine milk and honey in a cocktail shaker. Shake.
    Make sure to add milk in first.
  2. Pour sweetened milk into a cup then add ice.
  3. Rinse the cocktail shaker. Combine water and matcha in the cocktail shaker. Shake.
    Add water first, then matcha, otherwise the matcha can easily clump. Any wide-mouth container will work if you don’t have a cocktail shaker, including a jar with a tight lid.
  4. Slowly pour matcha into the glass with milk and ice.
    Pour matcha on top of the ice, not directly into the milk to get a cleaner layered look. Stir before drinking.

Tea Sommelier’s Tip: The sugar content keeps the layers separated. The liquid that has the most sugar will sink to the bottom. Honey is added to the milk and poured into the cup first. The matcha doesn’t have any sugar in it so it’ll sit on top of the sweetened milk.

Notes & Tips

  • The color of the matcha indicates quality. If you pay around $15, the matcha will be a dull, brownish green color. If you spend $50, the matcha will be a bright, vibrant green.
  • Matcha tends to clump so it’s important to shake the matcha green tea powder with water vigorously.
  • Make this recipe vegan by using oat milk and replacing the honey with maple syrup.
  • Always add the water first before adding the matcha so that matcha doesn’t clump together.
  • Make sure the matcha you’re using isn’t pre-sweetened since it won’t layer on top of the milk.
  • It’s easier to shake matcha and water together than whisking cold water into matcha. No need to sift the matcha if you shake vigorously.

Questions You May Have

What is the secret to making the drink layered?

It’s the sugar content. Because of the honey in the milk, the matcha (without any sugar) won’t immediately sink to the bottom and mix with the milk. Ice also helps to keep the layers separated. If you want to have the matcha at the bottom and the milk on top, add the honey or matcha to the matcha instead of the milk.

What is matcha?

Matcha is green tea that has been finely ground into a powder. It’s made in Japan.

Is there caffeine in iced matcha latte?

Yes! There’s caffeine in matcha so there’s caffeine in this drink.

Can I make this drink without honey or sugar?

You can, but you won’t be able to make it layered since the sweetener is what separates the milk from the matcha.

How is this different from the iced matcha latte at Starbucks?

The iced matcha latte at Starbucks is made with 2% milk, pre-sweetened matcha, and ice. Because Starbucks’ matcha blend is loaded with sugar, it can taste cloyingly sweet.

Layered iced matcha latte in a cup.

Did you make this? Did you love it? Please leave a star rating below or leave a review in the comments section.

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4.83 from 74 votes

Easy Iced Matcha Latte

By: Jee Choe
This layered iced matcha latte is surprisingly easy to make less than 5 minutes!
Prep Time: 4 minutes
Total Time: 4 minutes
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients 

  • ¾ cup milk, (any kind)
  • cup cold water
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon matcha
  • ¾ cup ice

Instructions 

  • Combine milk and honey in a cocktail shaker. Shake for 15 seconds.
    Pour milk in first, then the honey. Shake vigorously.
  • Pour sweetened milk into a cup then add ice.
  • Rinse the cocktail shaker. Combine water and matcha in the cocktail shaker. Shake for 15 seconds.
    Add water first, then matcha, otherwise the matcha can easily clump. Shake vigorously.
  • Slowly pour matcha into the glass with milk and ice.
    Pour matcha on top of the ice, not directly into the milk to get a cleaner layered look. Stir before drinking.

Notes

  • The color of the matcha indicates quality. If you pay around $15, the matcha will be a dull, brownish green color. If you spend $50, the matcha will be a bright, vibrant green.
  • The secret to making this drink layered is the sugar content and ice. Because of the honey in the milk, the matcha (without any sugar) won’t immediately sink to the bottom and mix with the milk. Ice also helps to keep the layers separated. If you want to have the matcha at the bottom and the milk on top, add the honey or matcha to the matcha instead of the milk.
  • Make sure the matcha you’re using isn’t pre-sweetened since it won’t layer on top of the milk.
  • Any wide-mouth container will work, including a jar with a tight lid if you don’t have a cocktail shaker.
  • It’s easier to shake matcha and water together than whisking cold water into matcha. No need to sift the matcha if you shake vigorously.
  • Make this recipe vegan by using oat milk and replacing the honey with maple syrup.

Nutrition

Calories: 166Carbohydrates: 20gProtein: 8gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 92mgPotassium: 249mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 496IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 215mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Japanese
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