Making an iced vanilla matcha latte at home is a lot easier than you think. This delicious Starbucks copycat recipe is just as good as the pretty green matcha iced tea latte the barista makes. Plus it costs less.
This cold green tea drink with cream is rich, earthy, and slightly sweet. The matcha powder has a grassy flavor that pairs well with the fats in the dairy. Add a small bit of sweetener, for the best homemade iced matcha latte recipe.
The bonus of making this recipe from scratch is you can change it up to make it just as you like it without rattling off a long list of ingredients to the Starbucks barista. You can control the ingredients so go for it and use organic - and it will still be cheaper than cafe prices.
Jump to:
Ingredients for Vanilla Iced Matcha Latte
The star ingredient for this drink is matcha green tea powder. You can buy it in Asian markets, specialty markets, many grocery stores, or online at Amazon.
- Hot Water - to dissolve the green tea
- Matcha Powder - organic ceremonial-grade matcha tea powder is recommended for the best taste.
- Heavy Cream - for a rich & thick texture.
- Whole Milk - don't use low-fat or non-fat.
- Sugar - sweetness to balance the earthy flavor of the tea.
- Vanilla Extract - the floral notes that make this a special drink.
- Torani Vanilla Syrup - optional instead of real vanilla
See the recipe card for amounts.
What is Matcha Powder?
Matcha actually means "powdered tea". In Japanese, “cha” means tea, and “ma” means powder; therefore, the literal translation is powdered tea. Matcha is a variety of green tea that is ground into a fine powder. These tea leaves are harvested when young and ground finely into a bright green powder.
I am unsure what green tea powder Starbucks uses for its matcha lattes. I have read Starbucks uses a sweetened Tazo matcha powder. Since I am always looking for ways to cut back on sugar, I do not use that. I use an organic unsweetened matcha powder and I recommend my favorites below.
In the US, you usually see 3 different grades or qualities of matcha:
- Culinary-Grade Matcha: This is the lowest quality and therefore the most affordable. The color is less vibrant and green, almost brownish. It tends to have a more bitter & weaker flavor than the other 2 higher grades.
- Latte-Grade Matcha: This middle-grade matcha is also priced accordingly. It's less bitter and greener than culinary grade. The flavor is not as sweet as ceremonial matcha tea.
- Ceremonial-Grade Matcha: This is the top grade when it comes to color, taste, & smoothness. It’s harvested early which gives the matcha a vibrant green color. It’s far less bitter than the other grades. The sweet undertones make this the best pick for drink recipes.
Benefits of Green Tea
Enjoying matcha and other types of green tea has health benefits. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants. It also has many vitamins including A, B, C, E, and K. To learn more, check out 10 Benefits of Matcha.
How to Make an Iced Matcha Latte at Home
It is so easy to DIY your own iced matcha latte & it takes just a few minutes. Believe it or not, this cold beverage starts off by heating water. Whisking the matcha powder in hot water is the key to making this green tea.
How to Whisk Matcha Powder
In a small bowl, add the matcha powder. Pour in the hot water. Using a bamboo whisk, whisk until the matcha has fully dissolved. It will be a deep green color.
Add in the heavy cream, vanilla (or Torani vanilla syrup), and sugar. Stir to combine.
You may substitute the dairy in this recipe for non-dairy kinds of milk like almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk. For an optional ingredient, you can add flavored syrup or even a sugar-free variety for an iced matcha latte that is low-carb and keto-friendly.
What to Serve with Iced Matcha Latte
Here are some great breakfast options to enjoy with your Starbucks copycat iced matcha latte. All are great for the first meal of the day. I also recommend my favorite iced beverage. This cool minty coffee is all things amazingly sweet and cream - MINT MOJITO ICED COFFEE - Philz Copycat!
Now that you know how to make a mug of homemade matcha latte, there is no need to go to the coffeehouse again.
How to Make a Matcha Frappe
If you want a matcha frappe like at Starbucks, this latte recipe is easy to alter to have that perfect drink. This will make two small frappes and you will need a blender to do it instead of the whisking and pour-over method.
For a frozen blended matcha latte recipe just like Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks, try the following -
How to Make a Keto Iced Matcha Latte
For a recipe that has less sugar than the original recipe or the Starbucks version, you can easily make this at home. Here is how I have made this, plus the calories and carbs for a keto, low-carb, diabetic-friendly, and low-calorie recipe. This keto-friendly iced matcha frappe is the best and is only 110 calories and 4.4 net carbs per serving.
The ingredients and measurements you will need are as follows but the instructions remain the same:
KETO/LOW-CARB ICED MATCHA LATTE RECIPE
2 teaspoon matcha powder
¼ C hot water
2 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoon Torani sugar-free Vanilla syrup
2 C unsweetened almond milk
crushed iced
FAQ
Matcha tea is a great drink to make ahead of time or in large quantities to share or serve at parties or brunch. This recipe multiplies very easily so you can triple it and more. Check out my guide for how many tablespoons in a cup to help measure accurately.
If you want to make a matcha latte over ice and you don't have the tea powder, no worries. You can make it with a tea bag - it won't be as rich & creamy but it is still delicious. Lipton has a great recipe on their site.
There is a slight difference between these two. It is thought that ceremonial-grade matcha is from a younger more delicate tea leaf. This leads to a deeper shade of green & has a more mild/less astrigent taste. Culinary-grade matcha has a lighter shade of green and comes from more mature tea leaves. Many will recommend ceremonial matcha for drinking and culinary-grade ingredients in cooking - like in cakes or ice cream.
Product Recommendations for this Recipe:
For the best taste, purchase an Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha Tea Powder. There are many superior brands available online at Amazon. Here are my two recommendations for high-quality matcha.
The Short Order Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. This helps with the costs of running the blog. Thank you!
Iced Vanilla Matcha Latte (Starbucks Copycat)
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoon matcha powder organic ceremonial grade is best
- ¼ C hot water
- 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
- 2 C whole milk
- 2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or Torani Vanilla Syrup
- crushed ice to fill or for frappe version
- 2 teaspoon flavored regular or sugar-free coffee syrup OPTIONAL - such as Torani
For NonDairy - see alternate milk choices above
For Sugar-Free/Keto/Low-Carb - substitute sugar with Swerve or Monk fruit
Instructions
- In a small bowl, add the matcha powder. Pour in the hot water and whisk until the matcha has fully dissolved. It will be a deep green color. Add in the heavy cream, vanilla, and sugar. Stir to combine.
- Chill in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile gathering the rest of your ingredients and items.
- Fill two glasses halfway with ice. Next, add your milk of choice to each glass - 1 cup each. Lastly, pour in the chilled matcha mixture.
- Optional - add flavored syrup to each glass.
- Stir and Enjoy.
FOR MATCHA LATTE FRAPPE
- To your blender cup or bowl, add all the ingredients except the ice. Blend for 30 seconds. It should be fully combined and light green color. Next, add 1.5 cups of ice cubes and blend again for 1 minute. It should be frothy. Pour equal parts into 2 glasses.
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this The Short Order Cook Recipe?
Tag @theshortordercookblog (Instagram & Facebook) or @shortorder_cook (Twitter).
I would love to see your latest creations and kitchen adventures.
Mahy says
I would never think making iced matcha latte is such an easy process. Love it!
Shadi Hasanzadenemati says
Love how easy this recipe is. It’s perfect for our family!
Natalie says
I never tried the Starbucks version but this sounds amazing. I love matcha latte, now I have to try the iced version too. Thanks!
Jess says
I love making copycat recipes at home. So much cheaper!
Dannii says
What an incredible vibrant colour. I can't wait to try this!