Strawberry matcha latte recipe

Spoiler Alert: I have to confess this is not a coffee post. But, trust me, a strawberry matcha latte is just too good to ignore. The first time I tried one I knew it was something I had to make and tell you about. So what’s all the fuss?

What is a strawberry matcha latte?

It’s a delicious drink that combines the taste of strawberries with creamy milk and the unique taste of matcha green tea. The result is a relaxing and invigorating cuppa that is perfect for enjoying on a warm day.

It you’ve never drunk matcha green tea; you are in for a surprise. Forget that dreadful experience of ‘ordinary’ green tea. Regular green tea tastes bitter and fairly sour. Matcha couldn’t be more different. Only the finest green tea leaves are made into matcha, shaded from the sun as they mature and traditionally stone-ground when dried. The resulting powder, mixed with frothed milk tastes sweet and nutty with hints of fresh cut grass aroma and some pleasant bitter undertones.

Best matcha for latte

When you’re looking for the best matcha green tea for making a delicious and healthy matcha latte, you can’t go wrong with ceremonial-grade matcha from Japan.

There are many matcha grades, but ceremonial matcha is made from the highest-quality leaves, harvested when perfectly ready and stone-ground to a fine powder. It gives the matcha a delicate flavor that is perfect for lattes. It also contains more antioxidants than other types of matcha, so it is great for your health.

I recommend the following matcha teas

• Matcha Love Organic Japanese matcha green tea
• Taste of Kyoto matcha
• MATCHA DNA Certified Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder
• Sencha Naturals Organic Everyday Matcha Powder

Budget matcha latte

Alright, you got me I did say you should avoid budget matcha green teas. But I do recommend one matcha latte blend. It is from Starbucks and was developed with

Starbucks matcha powder – it is surprisingly hard to get hold of but its worth the effort.

Brewing matcha green tea for latte

Mastering the full Japanese tea ceremony takes years of study and practice. It’s as much about mindfulness harmony and peace as it is about drinking great tea. But don’t worry, you can get all of the enjoyment, much of the tranquillity and relaxation without the formality. Just follow the steps to make a latte you will adore.

As I mentioned, start with the best matcha powder you can find. Cheap matcha will produce a bitter, unpleasant drink. And you won’t thank me for steering you down this path.

EQUIPMENT

• 1 steam wand or saucepan
• 1 kettle
• 1 hand blender or whisk
• 1 Latte glass or mug
• 1 latte spoon

Ingredients

• 3-4 large strawberries
• 1 tsp matcha green tea powder
• 2-3 tsp sugar or honey
• 6 oz (180ml) milk
• 3 oz (90ml) hot water
• ½ tsp vanilla extract optional

Method

• Blend 3 medium-large strawberries (if you really love strawberries you can use more!) to a creamy pulp. Rinse off the blender and set aside to use again.
• Heat 3oz (about 90ml) of water to (170°F or about 75°C). If possible do not let it boil. But don’t worry, if it does boil, just leave it for 2 minutes to cool down. It will be at a workable temperature.
• Add the matcha green tea and sugar and whisk until they are fully dissolved in the water. You can substitute honey for the sugar. It helps to bring out the flavors of the matcha and strawberries.
• If you have a steam wand Pour the milk into a steaming jug. Heat and froth the milk to a creamy texture and then adjust the angle of the wand to a shallower angle, still pointing into the jug to create foam for the top of the latte.
• Without a steam wand Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until it reaches 140 °F (60 °C). Pour the milk into a milk frother or use an an immersion blender until it becomes thick and creamy. You can also use a whisk if you don’t have either of those tools handy.
• Pour the pulped strawberries into your latte glass or a mug. Then add the milk  and matcha tea on top.
• Finally, gently lay the foam from the milk on top.
• Enjoy!

Top tips for making a strawberry matcha latte

Check you have everything

• There is nothing more frustrating than setting out to make your favorite latte, only to discover half way that you don’t have an essential ingredient. So assemble your ingredients before you begin. Trust me, I have been there and you will not be zen in that moment.

Gather the best quality ingredients

• Start with the matcha tea. As I mentioned above, you should get the best you can find. If you can’t get ceremonial matcha, at least aim for an organic grown matcha. You absolutely have to avoid the budget brands, to make their lower price they have to use inferior leaves. These will be more sour and bitter tasting with less nutty earthy sweetness.  Yuk!
• Add about 1 teaspoon of matcha powder to 3 ounces of hot water (170°F or about 76°C). Stir until the matcha is dissolved. You can use a proper bamboo matcha whisk. They work great, but it’s not necessary to go to that expense. Just use a hand blender or whisk. They work just as well.
• Don’t skimp on strawberries. Yes, you can make a strawberry latte with strawberry flavoured syrup. But why would you? You can get great fresh strawberries year round. You will love the difference, and so will those enjoying a latte with you.
• Be sure to choose the right milk to use. Heated dairy products like cow’s milk or goat’s milk will create a thicker smoother latte than, say, an unsweetened soy milk. So if you’re looking for a creamier drink, go with dairy-based milk.
• But you can still make great lattes with plant-based milks. I recommend using almond or macadamia nut milk. They will enhance the nuttiness of the matcha tea, and are creamy like dairy milk.

Don’t skimp on strawberries

• Yes, you can make a strawberry latte with strawberry flavoured syrup. But why would you? You can get great fresh strawberries year round. You will love the difference, and so will those enjoying a latte with you.
• Worried about the time and mess of blending strawberries? There are two ways of looking at this: either go with it’s worth the effort for a delicious drink, or use a bowl and fork or masher to crush your strawberries. The latter gives you a juicy, pulpy, strawberry slush for a different but equally enjoyable experience.
• My top tip is to divide your strawberries and blend 2/3 then just mash down 1/3. That way you get a pulpy liquid that mixes well with the milk and matcha. Plus you get lovely pieces of strawberry to ‘discover’ while drinking the latte. Just don’t take big gulps, it’s a drink to sit and savour.

The best variations on a strawberry matcha latte

Now you have my recipe, you can see how easily you can make a version you will enjoy. To get you started here are some I have made:

• Strawberry matcha latte with whipped cream on top
• Strawberry matcha latte with strawberry jam. It really does work and its still better than an artificial syrup flavour.
• Vanilla matcha latte with strawberry puree
• Chocolate matcha latte with strawberry puree

Other matcha lattes you will love

I have made and enjoyed these, so why not give them a go?

• Classic Matcha Latte
• Gingerbread Latte with Golden Matcha
• Mint Latte with matcha green tea powder
• Pumpkin Spice Latte with Matcha. Just right for Fall.
• Lavender Matcha Latte. So relaxing you will become more calm just making this super latte.