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Meet one of the best non-traditional ways to drink matcha: this iced strawberry matcha latte recipe is a pink drink made with real strawberries in a foamy sweet cream and freshly made matcha. It's simple, refreshing, and so cute!
You know I love a good restaurant copycat recipe, but this is more like a 'starbucks secret menu made by social media' recipe. The order at starbucks is an iced matcha latte with sweet cream mixed with strawberry puree. Which (surprise!) is super easy to replicate at home.
I have been making these little lattes as an ultra-creamy after-school treat for me and Grey to share all spring long for a little midday pick-me-up, since I'm usually a little tired by time he comes home. Can't keep up with him on Mario Kart without a little energy, you know? Definitely a part of our daily routine now, it's so refreshing on a hot day.
Try this if you really love a beautiful drink, I like to decorate with slices of fresh strawberries for a little something extra since it's so simple to make. It's the perfect mix of a pretty kiddie drink with the strawberry milk and adult flavors with the earthy taste of the matcha.
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Let's Talk Matcha
For those who don't know what matcha powder is, it's high-grade green tea leaves that have been finely ground into powder. That powder is then mixed into hot water with a matcha whisk.
Traditionally, matcha tea was reserved for Japanese tea ceremonies, but now it's extremely common to find matcha drinks in coffee and bubble tea shops across the world.
Grades of Matcha
There are three different grades of matcha: Ceremonial, Premium, and Culinary. While 'ceremonial' tea isn't an official grade in Japan, the other two are.
Ceremonial Grade. This grade is often used in Buddhist temples and in tea ceremonies, whipped up in water with the bamboo whisk. It has the most vibrant green color out of all the matcha grades. This grade isn't very uniform in flavor though it can be sweeter than the others. The average matcha drinker won't notice the differences between ceremonial grade and premium, and this grade can be expensive, I paid around $25 for an ounce but I use very little of it at a time.
Premium Grade. This one is made with the younger leaves, usually from a second harvest. Most people drink this one on its own, it's only slightly more bitter than the sweet ceremonial grade.
Culinary Grade. This one isn't made for drinking, but for baking! It has a yellow-green color and is much more bitter in flavor. I have found a lot of American tea brands try to pass culinary grade matcha
Ingredients for a Delicious Strawberry Matcha Latte
For the Iced Matcha Tea Latte
Premium or Ceremonial Grade Matcha Powder. Which one you choose to use is up for you.
Water. For making that beautiful tea, of course!
Milk of choice. Use whatever kind of milk suits you. Dairy milk, almond milk, cashew milk, oat milk, or coconut milk if you want that hint of coconut flavor (it tastes great!).
Sugar. This is optional since the cream is sweetened, but my son loves his matcha sweetened. If you're not used to the earthy flavor of matcha, a little sweetness can help.
For that Amazing Strawberry Sweet Cream
Strawberries. This is where you can do what you're comfortable with or use what you have on hand. You can blend up some fresh ripe strawberries to go into it, you can powder freeze-dried strawberries and add it in for a concentrated strawberry flavor. I used a mix of fresh strawberries and homemade strawberry syrup for a concentrated strawberry cream.
Heavy Cream. This is what makes those pretty layers happen. Our cold foam is thicker because the heavy cream is there to help enrich that strawberry layer. If you swap it for cashew cream
Milk. Keeps the heavy cream from becoming whipped cream, and keeps the strawberry layer nice and loose to pour a creamy layer into your glass.
Sugar. You can sub the sugar for honey or maple syrup if that's how you roll.
How to Make it
Your electric frother is going to get a little work out today!
If you're using fresh strawberries, blend them up in a blender or with an immersion blender to make a puree. I used my homemade strawberry syrup. It's really simple to make and only takes a few minutes, and I always have it on hand this time of year.
Using the milk frother, whisk together a scoop of matcha powder and hot water until well combined and the powder is completely dissolved. Add milk and blend in.
Now froth up the strawberry syrup/puree with the heavy cream, milk, and sugar until it becomes thickened and pink.
Add ice to a glass and garnish the glass with slices of strawberries for a pretty presentation. Pour the pink sweet cream into the glass...
....and then carefully pour the green tea latte over the pink layer. If you want to create distinct layers, pour the matcha layer over the back of a spoon over the strawberry layer.
Garnish with strawberries and serve up nice and cold.
Make Ahead Instructions and Storage
You can make the matcha latte portion a day ahead, and the strawberry syrup or puree can be made a day or two ahead as well. Keep them in airtight containers in the fridge until you're ready to make your strawberry matcha latte.
The cold foam cannot be made ahead, it'll deflate. Whip it up just before serving.
More Tasty Drinks:
Tools I Used in this Recipe
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Strawberry Matcha Latte
Ingredients
Matcha Latte
- 1 rounded teaspoon matcha powder, ceremonial grade
- ⅓ cup hot water
- 1 teaspoon sugar, optional
- ¼ cup cold milk
Strawberry Cold Foam
- ¼ cup strawberry syrup OR 4-5 ripe strawberries, puréed
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- ¼ milk
- 1 tablespoon sweetener, or as needed
- Sliced strawberries, for garnish
Instructions
- Using the milk frother, whisk together a scoop of matcha powder and hot water until well combined and the powder is completely dissolved. If using sugar, whisk in. Add milk and blend. Set aside.
- Use the milk frother again to whip up the strawberry syrup/puree with the heavy cream, milk, and sugar until it becomes thickened and pink.
- Add ice to a glass and garnish the glass with slices of strawberries for a pretty presentation. Pour the pink sweet cream into the glass, and then carefully pour the green tea latte over the pink layer. If you want to create distinct layers, pour the matcha layer over the back of a spoon over the strawberry layer.
- Garnish with strawberries and serve up nice and cold.
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