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.

• If you have kept back a strawberry, slice it and add as a tasty garnish on top.
• Substitute honey for the sugar. It can really turn up the flavour of the strawberries.
• Or if you want to really up the level, when heating the milk add ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract. Vanilla works so well with milk you will wonder why you haven’t tried it before!

• Now you know the recipe I use, go ahead and make it your own. Feel free to experiment with the proportions and amounts of each ingredient. So, for example, if you have a sweet tooth (or the strawberries are a little too tart), add more sugar.
• Some people like their latte with a strong matcha flavor, while others prefer it to be more subtle. Experiment until you find the amount that’s perfect for you.
• Similarly, you may want a more (or less) milky latte. So just adjust the milk by a small amount.
• But remember to keep track of any changes you make. Otherwise you won’t be able to repeat your perfect strawberry matcha latte.
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