How to Make an Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte at Home

Want an iced matcha green tea latte without a coffee shop trip? This version is creamy, easy to customize, and ready in about 5 minutes with matcha powder, your favorite plant-based milk, and a touch of sweetener.

What Is Matcha?

Matcha is made from the whole leaf of specially shade-grown green tea plants, ground into a fine powder. Because you consume the whole leaf rather than just an infusion, matcha delivers more antioxidants and caffeine per serving than regular steeped green tea. Learn more in our guide to what matcha actually is.

Matcha and Caffeine

Matcha powder generally contains somewhere in the range of 20–40 mg of caffeine per gram, depending on the grade and growing conditions. A typical latte using about 1–2 grams of matcha provides somewhere in the range of a small cup of coffee's worth of caffeine — but the L-theanine naturally present in matcha tends to produce steadier energy without the crash some people get from coffee. For more on how matcha compares, see what matcha does for your mind and body.

How to Make an Iced Matcha Latte

This recipe is dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free, and you can adjust the sweetener to taste.

Ingredients:

• 1–2 teaspoons ceremonial-grade matcha powder
• 2 oz hot (not boiling) water
• 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey, to taste
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• 1 cup plant-based milk (oat, almond, or coconut all work well)
• Ice cubes

Instructions:

1. Add the matcha powder to a bowl or cup.
2. Pour in the hot water and whisk briskly in a zig-zag or "W" motion until smooth and no clumps remain.
3. Stir in the sweetener and vanilla extract.
4. Fill a glass with ice, pour in the matcha mixture, and top with your plant-based milk of choice (see our matcha with coconut milk latte for a specific variation).
5. Stir and enjoy.

Tips to Avoid Lumps

Whisk the matcha with a small amount of water first before adding more liquid — trying to dissolve it directly into a full glass of milk makes clumps more likely. A bamboo whisk works best, but a small handheld frother or even a tight-lidded jar you shake vigorously can work in a pinch.

For another cold matcha drink, try matcha lemonade.

FAQ

What does a matcha latte taste like?

It has an earthy, slightly grassy, faintly sweet flavor that's different from typical coffee-shop drinks — many people find it grows on them quickly.

How much caffeine is in an iced matcha latte?

A latte made with about 1 gram of matcha (roughly ½ teaspoon) contains roughly 20–40 mg of caffeine; using 2 grams roughly doubles that, similar to an average cup of coffee.

Is matcha healthier hot or cold?

Both offer the same nutrients — the difference is mostly about taste and how quickly the matcha dissolves. See our full comparison of matcha hot vs. cold.

How do I know if my matcha is good quality?

Good matcha is a very fine, almost silky powder with a vibrant green color. Gritty texture or a dull, olive tone usually indicates lower quality.

The Bottom Line

An iced matcha green tea latte is simple to make at home, and skipping the coffee shop version means you control the sugar and the quality of the matcha. With a good whisk technique and your favorite plant-based milk, it's an easy 5-minute treat.

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