Iced Matcha Latte Recipe {vegan + paleo}

Making this iced matcha green tea latte at home is super easy! A simple DIY matcha recipe that’s creamy, refreshing, and better than Starbucks (truly!). Made with good for you ingredients like matcha powder, dairy free milk, vanilla, and lightly sweetened to taste. Vegan, dairy free, paleo friendly.

I love a super creamy iced matcha from my local coffee shop on a sunny day as much as the next gal, but here’s the thing:

You don’t have to go to the coffee shop for a delicious matcha latte!

This healthy homemade iced matcha is SUPER easy to make, and even if you use really high quality matcha powder (ceremonial grade – more on that later), it will still cost less than it does at the coffee shop.

And I actually prefer this DIY version to just about any other matcha latte I’ve tried!

What is a matcha latte?

A matcha latte is made with matcha powder, water, and your milk of choice. It doesn’t have to be sweetened, but often it is. Especially if you’re buying it from a coffee shop like Starbucks.

You can actually make a matcha latte hot or cold, but unless it’s super chilly outside, I prefer this iced version. It’s so delightfully creamy and refreshing!

Why you’ll love this iced matcha latte recipe

This green tea latte is:

• Creamy
• Bright
• Refreshing
• Sweetened to taste
• Made with a touch of vanilla
• Floral
• Quick & easy
• So yummy!

What is matcha powder?

Matcha powder is a fine, bright green powder made from specially grown and harvested green tea leaves. It is valued for it’s exceptionally high levels of antioxidants and an amino acid called L-theanine, which promotes a sense of relaxed alertness (Yes please!)

Matcha powder does have caffeine. Less than a cup of coffee, but more than a traditional cup of green tea brewed from a tea bag.

A traditional cup of coffee contains around 96 mg of caffeine, and one teaspoon of matcha has somewhere around 68 mg.

What does matcha taste like?

The best way to describe how high quality matcha tastes is grassy and sweet. It has lovely vegetal high notes and a smooth mouth feel that is balanced out by a natural earthiness. A little bit bittersweet and floral, and very “green” – in the best sense of the word!

The higher quality the matcha, the more balanced the flavor will be. Lower quality matcha powder may have an overpowering bitterness to it.

Iced Matcha Ingredients

(If you’re already ready to get started, scroll all the way down to the bottom for the full printable recipe!)

• Matcha powder – There are quite a few types of matcha powder available on the market. For a super bright green matcha with the highest count of antioxidants you’ll want to look for packages labeled as “ceremonial grade”, which is the highest quality grade of matcha. It is more expensive than other grades of matcha, but the quality is unparalleled.
• Water – Water is used to blend with the matcha powder to create the base for this easy latte recipe.
• Dairy free milk – What kind of milk should you use for an iced matcha latte? Almond milk, oat milk, and cashew milk are my favorite choices for this cold drink, but feel free to use whichever type of milk you already have on hand. The creamier the better!
• A natural sweetener – Either maple syrup or honey are both great options.
• Pinch of sea salt – Don’t knock it till you try it 😉 I add just a pinch of sea salt to almost all of my homemade drinks – coffee, smoothies, etc. Salt has a way of bringing all the other flavors together, and when it’s such a small amount you won’t even taste it.
• Vanilla extract – Not necessary, but a tiny bit of vanilla really compliments the natural floral & grassy notes in matcha. If we have already have it on hand I always add it!

You can find many of these iced matcha latte ingredients on Thrive Market – a membership based natural products store that is like the Whole Foods of Costco but entirely based online and with the BEST wholesale prices.

I have been a Thrive Market member for 4 years and over that period of time I have saved a projected $4,123.66! That is some serious savings.

How to make a homemade iced matcha latte

Making an iced matcha latte at home is easier than you think! Only a few simple steps and about 5 minutes are in between you and your first sip of the creamiest, ice cold green tea latte!

There are a few ways you can make this matcha latte, depending on what tools you have available. My Vitamix (or another blender) is my first choice – the matcha dissolves really well and it gets so frothy! But you can also use a handheld whisk, a traditional matcha bowl and whisk, or even just a mason jar.

Here’s the step-by-step:

• Add matcha, water, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and sea salt to a blender. Blend until no lumps of matcha remain and the mixture is completely smooth and slightly frothy.
• Alternatively, if you don’t have access to a blender, you can use a handheld whisk like my favorite handheld powerlix whisk, a matcha bowl and traditional matcha whisk, or just shake everything together vigorously in a mason jar until smooth!
• Pour the matcha mixture over plenty of ice. Top with a nondairy milk like cashew milk, almond milk, or oat milk, and stir to combine.
• Sip and enjoy!

How much matcha powder per cup when your making a matcha latte?

The amount can vary based on your preference. You really can make it as strong or diluted as you like. If you’re new to matcha, I would start with 1/2 teaspoon to 3/4 teaspoon and see what you think. I like my matcha lattes on the stronger side, so I usually add about 1 teaspoon per cup.

If you’re going for the same strength of most coffee shop lattes I would suggest 1 teaspoon of matcha.

Matcha tea benefits

What are the health benefits of drinking matcha green tea? Matcha has numerous proven health benefits that are really impressive!

• Because matcha powder is made from the entire leaf of specifically cultivated green tea plants, it is rich in unique antioxidants.
• It contains an amino acid called L-theanine. L-theanine has been shown to promote feelings of relaxed alertness, reduce anxiety, and sharpen thinking.
• While matcha does contain caffeine, it’s lower than the amount of caffeine found in a copy of coffee. It can also promote a sense of concentration and alertness without the jitters or sharp crash that can follow coffee.
• May help protect the liver, boost brain function, and promote heart health.

Where to buy matcha powder

Matcha powder can be found at Whole Foods, most natural grocery stores, asian markets, and at Thrive Market!

You can also do a quick google search for a local tea shop or matcha shop, which will likely carry a few types of tins of matcha that you can purchase to use at home!

Some recommended matcha brands:

• Aiya matcha (this is the exact matcha used for this recipe)
• MatchaBar matcha
• Ippodo matcha
• Pique Tea matcha

Other matcha recipes

• Bulletproof Matcha Latte
• Gluten Free Matcha Cupcakes
• Morning Mint Matcha Milkshake

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