Starbucks Iced Matcha Latte
Recreate Starbucks' Iced Matcha Latte at home! Smooth matcha green tea with milk over ice. Easy copycat recipe with that signature vibrant green color and creamy taste.
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Why you’ll love it
The Starbucks Iced Matcha Latte has become a cult favourite among health-conscious coffee shop goers and matcha enthusiasts alike. This vibrant green drink combines finely ground Japanese matcha green tea powder with milk and ice to create a creamy, refreshing beverage that's both energizing and calming - thanks to matcha's unique combination of caffeine and L-theanine. Unlike coffee-based drinks, the Iced Matcha Latte offers a gentler, more sustained energy boost without the jitters, making it perfect for afternoon sipping or as a morning alternative to espresso drinks. What makes the Starbucks version so appealing is its beautiful jade-green colour and smooth, slightly sweet taste with earthy undertones. Starbucks uses a matcha tea blend that's pre-sweetened, which gives it that signature taste that's become so popular - it's sweet enough to appeal to those new to matcha but still maintains the distinctive grassy, vegetal notes that matcha lovers appreciate. The drink is simply matcha powder shaken with milk and poured over ice, creating lovely layers before you stir it together. This recipe recreates the Starbucks experience using culinary-grade matcha powder (which is more affordable than ceremonial-grade for lattes) and a touch of sweetener to replicate Starbucks' pre-sweetened matcha blend. The result is a refreshing, Instagram-worthy drink that costs a fraction of the £4.50 you'd pay at Starbucks for a Grande. It's naturally vegetarian, easily made vegan with plant-based milk, and takes literally just 3 minutes to prepare - no special equipment needed beyond a jar or shaker to mix the matcha. Whether you're a matcha aficionado or curious to try this trendy drink, this copycat recipe delivers authentic Starbucks taste in your own kitchen!
About the original
Starbucks introduced matcha-based drinks to their menu in 2006, bringing this traditional Japanese tea ceremony ingredient to the mainstream Western market. The Iced Matcha Latte (originally called the Green Tea Latte when served hot, and Iced Green Tea Latte when cold) was part of Starbucks' expansion into tea beverages as they recognized the growing demand for non-coffee options. Matcha, which literally means 'powdered tea', is made from specially grown and processed green tea leaves that are stone-ground into a fine powder, allowing you to consume the entire leaf rather than just steeped water.
The drink gained massive popularity around 2015-2016 as matcha became trendy in Western wellness culture, praised for its antioxidants, metabolism-boosting properties, and 'clean energy' from its caffeine and L-theanine combination. Starbucks' version helped introduce millions of people to matcha who might otherwise have never tried it. The company uses a proprietary matcha blend that's pre-sweetened with sugar, which makes it more approachable for Western palates accustomed to sweeter beverages, though this has sometimes drawn criticism from matcha purists. Nevertheless, the Starbucks Iced Matcha Latte remains one of their most popular non-coffee drinks and has spawned countless variations on social media, including pink drinks made with strawberry, and brown sugar matcha lattes.
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Ingredients
For the Iced Matcha Latte
- 2 tsp Matcha powder — culinary-grade matcha
- 2 tbsp Vanilla syrup — or sweetener of choice
- 240 ml Whole milk — or milk alternative
- 150 g Ice cubes — about 1 cup
Method
Prepare the matcha mixture: In a small bowl or cup, add 2 teaspoons of matcha powder and 2 tablespoons of vanilla syrup (or your preferred sweetener). Add about 60ml (4 tablespoons) of the milk and whisk vigorously with a small whisk, fork, or matcha bamboo whisk until the matcha is completely dissolved and smooth with no lumps. This step is crucial - matcha clumps easily, so you need to work it into a smooth paste first before adding more liquid. The mixture should be bright green and completely smooth.
Shake or mix: Add the smooth matcha mixture to a jar or cocktail shaker along with the remaining milk (about 180ml). Seal the lid tightly and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds until the matcha is completely combined with the milk and slightly frothy. Alternatively, if you don't have a jar, you can whisk it in a bowl or use a milk frother to combine. The goal is to get everything evenly mixed - you want that uniform jade-green colour throughout.
Serve over ice: Fill a tall glass (16oz/475ml for a Grande size) with ice cubes. Pour the matcha-milk mixture over the ice. The drink will have beautiful layers before you stir it - this is perfect for photos! Give it a gentle stir with a straw before drinking to ensure the matcha is evenly distributed. Enjoy immediately while cold and fresh.
Tips & Variations
- Sift your matcha powder before using it to prevent clumps - this makes whisking much easier and ensures a smooth drink.
- Use culinary-grade matcha rather than ceremonial-grade for lattes - it's less expensive and works perfectly when mixed with milk. Save expensive ceremonial matcha for traditional tea preparation.
- The quality of matcha varies hugely. Look for vibrant green powder from Japan (avoid dull, brownish matcha which is old or low-quality). Store matcha in the fridge or freezer to preserve its colour and flavour.
- Starbucks uses a pre-sweetened matcha blend, which is why we add sweetener separately. Adjust sweetness to your preference - start with less and add more if needed.
- For the best Starbucks copycat taste, use whole milk. For dairy-free, oat milk works beautifully with matcha - it's creamy and slightly sweet. Coconut milk also pairs nicely with matcha's grassy notes.
- If you don't have vanilla syrup, you can use 1-2 tablespoons of honey, agave syrup, or even dissolve 2 teaspoons of sugar in a tiny amount of hot water first.
- For a thicker, frostier drink similar to a matcha Frappuccino, blend the matcha, milk, sweetener, and ice in a blender until smooth.
- Make it a 'dirty matcha' by adding a shot of espresso - this creates a beautiful layered effect and combines the benefits of both matcha and coffee!
FAQs
- Why does my matcha have lumps?
- Matcha clumps very easily because it's such a fine powder. The key is to make a smooth paste first with just a small amount of liquid before adding the rest. Always whisk or shake vigorously. For best results, sift the matcha powder through a small sieve before using it - this breaks up any clumps before they form. Using slightly warm milk (not hot, just room temperature) can also help it dissolve more easily.
- Is matcha healthier than coffee?
- Matcha contains caffeine (about 70mg per 2 tsp, compared to 95mg in a shot of espresso) plus L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes calm focus. Many people find matcha gives them energy without the jitters or crash associated with coffee. Matcha is also rich in antioxidants, particularly EGCG catechins. However, adding milk and sweetener (as in this latte) reduces some of the health benefits. Neither is inherently 'healthier' - it depends on your goals and how your body responds to each!
- Can I make this hot instead of iced?
- Absolutely! Follow the same steps but heat your milk gently (don't boil it - aim for about 65-70°C) and skip the ice. Whisk the matcha with a small amount of the hot milk and sweetener first to create a smooth paste, then add the remaining hot milk while whisking. You can also use a milk frother to create microfoam on top for a café-style finish. Hot matcha lattes are cozy and delicious, especially in cooler months!
- How much caffeine is in this drink?
- This recipe uses about 2 teaspoons of matcha powder, which contains approximately 70mg of caffeine - roughly equivalent to a shot of espresso but less than a typical cup of drip coffee (which has 95-165mg). The caffeine in matcha is released more slowly than coffee due to the L-theanine, which is why many people experience a smoother, longer-lasting energy boost without the crash.
- Why is Starbucks matcha so sweet?
- Starbucks uses a 'matcha tea blend' that contains sugar pre-mixed with the matcha powder (the ingredients are sugar and ground Japanese green tea). This makes it convenient for baristas and ensures consistent sweetness, but it also means you can't control the sugar content if ordering unsweetened. Their matcha blend is quite sweet to appeal to Western tastes. This homemade version lets you control exactly how sweet you want it!
Nutrition (per serving)
| Calories | 280 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 9.9 g |
| Fat | 9.2 g |
| Carbs | 40.1 g |
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