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I’ll admit it—I was hooked on the iced matcha latte from Starbucks. That creamy green drink felt like a little luxury in my day: not too sweet, perfectly chilled, and just the right amount of caffeine. But after one too many $6 matcha runs (and a glance at the ingredient list), I started to wonder… could I make this at home?
Spoiler alert: I could. And honestly? It’s even better.
Why this Latte Recipe Rawks
This homemade Iced Matcha Latte is smooth, refreshing, and made with simple ingredients I actually feel good about. It takes just a few minutes to blend up, costs way less, and gives me that same cozy-cool energy boost without the jitters that I looooove in matcha.
- Matcha is packed with antioxidants, especially EGCG, which supports metabolism, brain function, and glowing skin. It also gives you a gentle, focused energy boost without the jitters or crash that coffee can bring.
- Using a high-density almond milk, like Elmhurst Milked Almonds or homemade almond milk, adds 5+ grams of protein and a creamy texture without the heaviness of dairy. Want more protein? Add a scoop of unflavored collagen. #gamechanger
- A splash of vanilla extract and pure maple syrup brings warmth and depth, rounding out the earthy notes of matcha with a soft sweetness. You can use any natural sweetener you like in this recipe— even dates work amazing!
Vanilla Iced Matcha Latte
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1 ½ tsp matcha powder
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp maple syrup optional
Instructions
- Scoop matcha powder into a blender, along with almond milk, vanilla and maple syrup.
- Blend on high for 30 seconds.
- Pour into a glass with ice.
Notes
- Like it sweeter? Add more maple syrup or honey and taste until it’s perfect for you.
Nutrition
Common Questions
Matcha is a type of green tea that dates bake to 7th century China. The Chinese used it to make green tea, while the Japanese invented the matcha latte drink (after a Japanese Buddhist monk took matcha tea seeds home from China). Matcha is considered the highest quality tea Japan has, and is used in Japanese tea ceremonies that date back to the 1500’s. The tea ceremony has 4 basic principles: harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.
Look for ceremonial grade matcha for the best flavor and color. Culinary grade works too—it’s more affordable but slightly more bitter. While you can now buy matcha pretty much anywhere, I suggest getting it from a Japanese grocery store, as these will have higher quality, more authentically branded tea. If you don’t have a Japanese grocer near you, then Amazon can be a good alternative. Look for organic to get the highest quality, and Japanese sourced as well.
You don’t need a whist for this iced matcha recipe since everything is going in the blender.
Totally—just adjust the added sweetener so it’s not overly sweet. Unsweetened almond milk gives you more control over the flavor.
Matcha has about 35–70mg per cup, depending on how much you use. I def go heavy on the scoop, because I love the stable, less jittery energy boost I get from it…. esp compared to coffee.
You can, but it’s best fresh. If you prep it ahead, wait to add ice and give it a good shake or stir before serving, as matcha can settle.
Love it. Afternoon special treat
I made this for my wife and I. She loves matcha. I never had matcha before, so I thought I give it a try. This was so delicious and refreshing. I doubled the matcha and vanilla and I use cashew milk I made from your recipe. This drink is definitely in the rotation this summer.
Iced for summer sounds delish!
I made this and it was SO GOOD! I honestly didn’t know it was that easy to do.
Yum! I’m definitely trying the iced version. Perfect for summer!
Love the iced version for summer!
I usually have my matcha hot, but this looked too good to resist.
It is delicious. Thank you for sharing.
So glad you tried it Terry!
This is seriously an amazingly simple and delicious recipe! Feel free to adjust it to work best for you. If you’ve never tried a nut milk, I challenge you to try it with this recipe. It’s amazing!
Yes, Matcha latte is so so good – my favorite drink at Starbucks, but costly and not sure how healthy their ingredients are – so I make my own at home – I add coconut oil which gives is a good flavor and rich smooth consistency…I have noticed though matcha makes me break out – maybe getting rid of toxins??
Hi Wilma,
Ohh…love the idea of adding coconut oil to this recipe! Noticing break outs from matcha, it could be a food allergy. If it continues, I’d take a food sensitivity or allergy test to see if it could be the root of your skin problems,
Hey,
I’m new to your site and I’m wondering if there are any recipes that can be blended in batches and then frozen for later?
Thanks
Hi L,
You totally can freeze our green smoothie recipes. When you’re ready to enjoy, simply pop in the refrigerator overnight to thaw. Just a heads up. Our recipes are free of any yucky additives or stabilizers, so separation is completely natural. Just give your smoothie a quick shake + you’re ready to go! 🙂
Can you substitute chocolate almond milk in the matcha tea latte?
Hi Tracy,
I’ve actually never tried combining chocolate + matcha – but it’s definitely worth a try! 🙂
should i start with thrive fresh start or Lets eat? Something else?
Hi Wayne,
YAY! Love your interest in our meal plans and where you start is really up to you and your personal goals. Both Thrive and Fresh Start are great ways to cleanse your body. Both are vegan meal plans designed to cleanse, detox and reset your body. Each day we’ll plan out your meals, snacks, and beverages to help you reach your health + wellness goals.
If you’re new to plant-based meals, or are cooking for others or a family – Let’s Eat can be a great introduction to adding more veggies + vegetarian meals to your evening dinner plate!
i must buy more milk bags because the ones I use to use are used up.
should i make my own almond milk, cashew milk , peanut milk etc?
Hi Wayne,
We love making our own plant-based milks! Check out our recipes for almond milk + coconut milk here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/diy-almond-milk
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/how-to-make-coconut-milk
Elmhurst vs Silk almond milk cashew milk coconut milk How do they compare. I don’t see anything added to silk and I buy it cheaper in grocery store. Tell me your thoughts.
Hi Wayne,
For me it’s all about the ingredients. Elmhurst’s product has 5 ingredients almonds, water, salt, cane sugar + natural flavors. There’s less processing, less additives, and Elmhurst offers the most protein than any other almond milk out there! Learn more about their process here…
I usually buy a local organic cow’s milk for the little I use in my morning tea and to make yogurt. However I ran out one day so I tried making cashew milk. So easy and delicious and it didn’t change the taste of my tea, which I find almond milk does. It will be my go to milk for everything but yogurt!
Hi Eve,
I love cashew milk + it’s so creamy!! Perfect for your morning tea or coffee!