With only four simple ingredients, you can make a creamy, refreshing iced matcha latte right at home. This homemade version has the same smooth, balanced flavor you love, with a cleaner ingredient list and a brighter matcha taste. It comes together in minutes, costs far less than buying it from a café, and can be prepared ahead for busy mornings or afternoon energy slumps.
A tall glass of iced matcha latte is one of the easiest ways to enjoy a cooling drink with a gentle caffeine lift. This recipe highlights the natural earthiness of green tea while adding just the right amount of sweetness and creaminess. If you’re already a fan of the Starbucks version, you’ll find this homemade latte even more flavorful and customizable.
You can prepare multiple servings at once, store them in the fridge, and pour over ice whenever needed. It’s a budget-friendly, clean-ingredient drink you’ll want to keep in your weekly routine.
What Is Matcha Powder?
Matcha is a finely ground powder made from green tea leaves traditionally grown and processed in Japan. Instead of steeping the leaves like traditional tea, matcha is whisked directly into water, allowing you to consume the whole leaf. This gives matcha its vibrant color, creamy texture, and higher concentration of antioxidants.
What Is a Matcha Latte?
A matcha latte is a creamy tea drink made from matcha powder, warm or cold milk, and a sweetener of your choice. Think of it as a twist on the classic latte: instead of espresso, matcha becomes the star. The drink has a naturally earthy flavor that blends beautifully with milk, creating a smooth, velvety beverage that can be enjoyed hot or iced.
Iced matcha lattes are especially popular for their fresh taste and mild energy boost, making them ideal for mornings or slow afternoons.
Why This Recipe Works
Four simple ingredients. This latte uses minimal ingredients while delivering a strong, smooth matcha flavor.
Easily adjustable sweetness. Café matcha lattes can be overly sweet. Making it at home lets you control the sugar level completely.
Gentler caffeine. Matcha contains less caffeine than coffee, offering a calmer, more balanced type of energy.
Creamy and refreshing. This homemade blend achieves the same layered, silky texture you find in café versions.
Is a Matcha Latte Healthy?
A matcha latte can be a nutritious drink depending on how it’s prepared. Matcha itself contains antioxidants, especially catechins, which may help protect cells from oxidative stress. The calorie content typically comes from the sweetener and the milk, so preparing it at home gives you more control.
Choosing lighter sweeteners, reducing the amount of syrup, or using plant-based milk options can easily make this drink healthier.
Ingredients You Need
You only need a few pantry staples to prepare this iced latte:
Matcha powder. Either ceremonial or culinary grade can work, though culinary grade is often preferred for lattes because of its stronger flavor.
Water. Hot water helps dissolve the powder and prevents clumping.
Milk. Whole milk or 2% creates the creamiest drink, but almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, and other alternatives work well.
Simple syrup. A liquid sweetener blends seamlessly into cold drinks. It’s easy to make at home and stores well in the fridge.
How to Make an Iced Matcha Latte
The process is surprisingly simple and takes only a couple of minutes:
1. Dissolve the matcha.
Combine matcha powder with hot water and whisk until smooth and frothy. A small electric whisk or frother works best to eliminate clumps.
2. Add the ice and milk.
Fill a glass with ice cubes, pour in cold milk, and add the sweetened matcha mixture. You’ll get pretty, layered colors that mix beautifully once stirred.
3. Serve and enjoy.
Stir well and adjust sweetness as needed.
You’ll find the exact measurements in the recipe card provided in Part 2.
How to Make a Hot Matcha Latte
If you prefer a warm version, the process is nearly identical:
1. Whisk the matcha.
Combine matcha powder and hot water in a mug, whisking until smooth.
2. Heat the milk.
Warm or steam your milk until hot, then pour it over the matcha mixture along with your sweetener.
3. Mix and sip.
Stir everything together and enjoy a soothing, cozy drink.
Choosing the Right Matcha Powder
There are two main matcha categories:
Ceremonial grade
Made from younger tea leaves, bright green, smooth, and ideal when drinking matcha on its own with water.
Culinary grade
Less expensive, slightly more robust and earthy, perfect for lattes, smoothies, and baking.
While ceremonial matcha offers a delicate flavor, culinary grade typically blends better with milk and maintains its flavor more strongly in latte recipes.
Matcha vs Coffee
Matcha has about half the caffeine of a standard cup of coffee but provides a slower, steadier release of energy. Many people prefer it for reducing jitteriness or afternoon crashes.
Both beverages are low-calorie on their own; adding milk and sweetener increases the overall calories of either drink.
What Does a Matcha Latte Taste Like?
A matcha latte has a naturally earthy, grassy profile with slight bitterness. When paired with milk, these flavors become mellow and smooth. Sweetener rounds out the taste and balances the herbal notes in a pleasant way.
What Sweeteners Work Best?
You can use:
- Homemade simple syrup
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Agave syrup
If using a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup, mix it into the hot matcha before adding ice to ensure it dissolves completely.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can easily prepare a batch of matcha lattes in advance. Store the blended matcha, milk, and sweetener in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to five days. When ready to serve, pour over ice and stir.
This makes it ideal for meal prep, busy mornings, or keeping a quick pick-me-up on hand.
Print
Homemade Iced Matcha Latte That Tastes Just Like Your Favorite Coffee Shop
- Total Time: 5 min
Ingredients
For the Latte:
1 teaspoon matcha powder
¼ cup hot water
¾ cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
2–3 teaspoons simple syrup or honey, to taste
Optional: dash of cinnamon or a splash of vanilla extract
For the Simple Syrup:
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup water
Instructions
Simple Syrup:
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In a small saucepan over medium heat, or in the microwave, combine sugar and water.
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Heat until the sugar dissolves completely.
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Transfer to a jar and store in the fridge. This makes enough for about 8 drinks.
Iced Matcha Latte:
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Whisk matcha powder with hot water until smooth and frothy using a handheld frother or whisk.
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Stir in simple syrup or honey, and add optional flavorings if desired.
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Fill a glass with ice and pour in the milk.
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Pour the matcha mixture over the ice and stir well.
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Enjoy immediately.
Hot Matcha Latte:
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Whisk matcha powder with hot water until smooth and frothy.
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Add sweetener and optional flavorings.
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Steam or heat milk, then pour over the matcha mixture.
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Stir and enjoy warm.
Notes
- Adjust sweetness to your taste.
- Any type of milk works; whole milk will make it creamier.
- Make ahead: Combine matcha, milk, and syrup, refrigerate up to 5 days, pour over ice when ready.
- Optional flavorings such as vanilla or cinnamon enhance the taste.
- Recipe serves one; double or triple for multiple servings.
- Prep Time: 5 min
I’m a passionate home cook sharing easy, flavorful recipes inspired by my roots and travels — bringing a splash of joy and global taste to every family meal.
