This vanilla-flavored iced matcha latte is simple to make — you’ll only need to carve about five minutes of prep time into your morning routine. Plus, it delivers all the benefits of matcha powder wrapped in a creamy, sweet package.

Keep reading to find out how you can make this delicious matcha latte at home, what the grades of matcha are, and what makes the tea worth drinking.

What is matcha?

Trying to keep up with all of the coffee world’s terminology can be difficult, and sometimes, all the words on your favorite coffee shop’s menu might look a little like gibberish.

So, you stick to what works and order your usual latte, cappuccino, or cortado, and even though you’ve always wanted to try a cup of matcha, you haven’t. Why? Because you didn’t know what it is — until now.

Matcha is powdered high-grade green tea leaves that are whisked, not steeped, into hot water.

You can enjoy the tea sans add-ins, but it’s not uncommon to stir sweeteners like maple syrup or honey into the beverage.

Some people even add steamed milk (whole milk, oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk, etc. — it all works) to make it a creamy matcha latte.

Is matcha better than coffee?

While these beverages share several impressive health benefits, including aiding in weight loss, fighting cancer, and reducing the risk of heart disease, they also have individual pros and cons that aren’t easy to compare in a general sense. Which beverage comes out on top ultimately depends on a beverage brewer’s health goals and priorities.

For example, those with caffeine sensitivities will likely consider matcha a perfect alternative to coffee. Even though it’s still there, the caffeine in matcha releases more slowly than in coffee, meaning you won’t get such a sudden energy boost and caffeine crash.

Besides, matcha’s caffeine content is lower than coffee’s.

On the other hand, coffee usually doesn’t cost as much and is more readily available than matcha. So, if price and easy accessibility are your most significant prerequisites for picking a favorite drink between the two, you’ll probably dub coffee the winner.

Other Benefits of Matcha Powder

• Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol
• Improves periodontal health
• Eases inflammation from ailments like arthritis

What does the vanilla matcha latte taste like?

We’re guessing you already know what vanilla tastes like, so we’ll make describing the taste of matcha our priority here.

The taste of your tea will vary depending on the blend of matcha you use and how much you prepare, but generally, matcha has noticeable earthy and grassy notes, umami flavor (this is rich and savory, like bone broth or miso soup), and a subtly sweet aftertaste.

Matcha is somewhat of an acquired taste, but pairing it with steamed whole or non-dairy milk in a latte is a great way to ease your taste buds into enjoying a cup of matcha.

Adding vanilla-flavored simple syrup and vanilla extract helps, too, as the flavors of vanilla and matcha complement each other well.

How to Make a Homemade Iced Vanilla Matcha Latte

You’ll Need:

• Ice cubes
• Vanilla bean syrup
• Vanilla extract
• Coffee creamer or your preferred milk of choice
• 1 tablespoon of matcha green tea powder
• Matcha whisk
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of hot water
• Honey
• 2 glasses
• Milk frother and frothing pitcher

The Process:

Step 1:

Kick this recipe off by making your matcha; after all, you can’t have a delicious matcha latte without it!

It might be tempting to reach for the most inexpensive option, but trust us: splurging on high-quality matcha powder is worth it.

Put matcha powder, hot water, and honey (or maple syrup!) into one of the glasses and use a small bamboo whisk to mix until smooth.

Set this cup of green goodness to the side for now, but don’t forget about it; you’ll need it again soon. Then, fill the second glass with ice.

Step 2:

Pour your creamer or milk of choice into a frothing pitcher (use a cup or small bowl if you’re pitcher-less), and use a handheld frother to create foamy, bubbly milk froth.

Spike the froth with extra flavor by stirring vanilla extract and vanilla bean syrup into the pitcher.

Step 3:

Pour the frothed, vanilla-flavored creamer into the other glass of ice. Then, top it off with the beautiful matcha mixture, and you’re all done!

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Can you add coffee to this drink?

Yes! It’s not uncommon to blend espresso with matcha tea lattes, especially if you want to give your drink a little extra oomph.

We excluded espresso from our recipe because we thought the matcha and the sweet flavor of vanilla syrup complemented each other so well that we dared not add anything else.

But it’s your drink, and if you think coffee would make it better, who are we to stop you from pouring a shot into the green tea latte?

Ceremonial vs. Culinary Grade Matcha

There are two primary grades of matcha, and if you hope to make the best iced matcha latte possible, you should know the differences between the two.

Ceremonial grade matcha is the highest grade of tea and it is used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. Since it has a slightly more subtle flavor than its culinary counterpart, it should be consumed on its own.

On the other hand, culinary-grade matcha tends to be less expensive than ceremonial matcha. These powdered tea leaves have flavors bold enough to hold their own when mixed with other ingredients, making them ideal for making iced or hot matcha lattes.

Make Time for Iced Vanilla Matcha

We think any fan of matcha — new and searching for matcha drink inspiration or old and familiar with what they like — should consider trying this morning or afternoon pick-me-up.

And if you’re not in the mood for chilled matcha, check out our hot matcha latte recipe; it’ll warm you from the inside out when it’s too cold for the iced version, and you can easily add vanilla syrup to it, too.

You don’t need hard-to-find crazy ingredients; you probably already have most of them in your pantry. The only purchase you might have to make is matcha green tea powder, but fortunately, that is easy to get your hands on.

But steer clear of cheap, low-quality matcha powder; it might save you a few bucks, but ultimately, it won’t produce anything very good. And life’s too short to settle for mediocre coffee or tea.

Happy Caffeinating!

Iced Vanilla Matcha Latte Recipe

Yield: 1

Meet the iced vanilla matcha latte to boost your energy and focus! This sweet, earthy cup of green goodness will give you just enough pep to make it through a long day.

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Ingredients

• Ice cubes
• Vanilla bean syrup
• Vanilla extract
• Coffee creamer or your preferred milk of choice
• 1 tablespoon matcha green tea powder
• Matcha whisk
• 2 to 3 tablespoons hot water
• Honey
• 2 glasses
• Milk frother and frothing pitcher

Instructions

1. Put matcha powder, hot water, and honey (or maple syrup!) into one of the glasses and use a small bamboo whisk to mix until smooth.
2. Pour your creamer or milk of choice into a frothing pitcher, and use a handheld frother to create foamy, bubbly milk froth.
3. Spike the froth with extra flavor by stirring vanilla extract and vanilla bean syrup into the pitcher.
4. Pour the frothed, vanilla-flavored creamer into the other glass of ice. Then, top it off with the beautiful matcha mixture, and you're all done!