Make the ultimate summertime drink that’ll cause a stir! This easy Strawberry Matcha Latte recipe comes together in 5 minutes for a layered trifecta – energy boosting matcha, juicy ripe strawberries, and luxuriously creamy milk that blends everything together into pure bliss at first sip! It’s the essential summertime drink you’ll never want to put down. Cheers to you this hot girl summer!
Strawberry Matcha Latte Recipe
This indulgent iced Strawberry Matcha Latte recipe is inspired by those special sunny days when I used to live in San Francisco. A refreshing drink from Boba Guys’ (usually their famous Strawberry Matcha Latte!) in one hand, an overflowing bagful of snacks in the other, and a blissful walk to Dolo (aka Dolores Park) without a single care in the world 🙂 Yep, sipping on this pretty much guaranteed the most perfect (lazy) weekend picnic with friends!
Now, living in Vegas, I get significantly more sun… but no Boba Guys 🙁
LUCKILY, it’s SUPER easy to make at home… dangerously so, because most of the ingredients have a long shelf-life so the ingredients are easy to always have on hand hehe. If you’re feeling fancy, you can even make the ultimate Drinks & Dessert bar with creamy Thai Tea, frosty Avocado Smoothie (Sinh To Bo), or Vietnamese Coffee with Homemade Tapioca Pearls, and even Mango Sago!
Enjoy them while you cool off by the pool, fire up the BBQ grill, or pour them into mason jars with wide-mouth straws for easy transport to the park!
❤️ Highlights
🥘Ingredients
- Frozen Strawberries: Ordinarily, I LOVE fresh strawberries – but not for this recipe. Frozen strawberries that have been thawed are significantly juicier and sweeter since they’re picked and frozen at their ripest. So, you’ll have a more concentrated strawberry flavor from the pure strawberry juice, instead of having to add water, like other strawberry purée recipes may recommend. Frozen strawberries also have a longer “shelf life”, making them super convenient whenever you have a craving!
- Matcha: This comes in different grades of matcha and using ceremonial grade matcha is key for robust and smooth flavors in drinks! Culinary grade matcha powder is not recommended for this recipe because it has a more muted color and earthier/bitter flavor. It’s more commonly used in baking, not fresh drinks like this Strawberry Matcha Latte recipe. The ceremonial matcha options below have rich complex flavors, subtle sweetness, and a vibrant green color – without the unpleasant bitterness!
- Ippodo Ceremonial Grade Matcha: Ippodo is a very popular brand known for its high quality, subtle vanilla fragrance, & delicious flavor. Full transparency – it’s definitely a treat yo’self option since it’s on the pricier side, but it’s super smooth & flavorful! Definitely recommended for matcha lovers / enthusiasts.
- Akira Ceremonial Grade Matcha: Akira is my fave alternative to Ippodo to save a few bucks. It has similar delicious flavor complexity, is SO smooth, and easily dissolves with hot water.
- Honey: I love adding a touch of honey to the strawberries to enhance the sweetness and it’s more flavorful than just using sugar.
- Milk: You can use your favorite milk of choice, whether it’s dairy or plant-based milk. My favorite options are half & half or oat milk for luxurious creaminess!
- Condensed Milk: Condensed milk adds adds rich creaminess and sweetness to your Strawberry Matcha Latte. I don’t have a big sweet tooth, so a little goes a long way for me here!
- Boba (optional): You can add store-bought or homemade tapioca pearls to the bottom of the glass for an even more deliciously indulgent drink at home! And don’t forget about the wide-mouth straw to enjoy that chewy boba!
See recipe card for quantities.
📖 Variations & Substitutions
- Dairy-Free: Easily make a dairy-free version by swapping out condensed milk for more honey & using oat milk instead half & half, for a decadent drink our lactose intolerant friends can enjoy too! 🙂
- Milk Variations:
- Almond milk
- Whole milk
- Coconut milk
- Soy milk
🔪 Instructions
Step 1: In a bowl & using a fork, mash together thawed strawberries & honey until the strawberries’ natural juices are released & the pureed strawberries is to your desired consistency. If you’d like the strawberry layer extra smooth, you can run it through a sieve, but I like the strawberry bits in my drink! Set aside.
Step 2: In a separate bowl, whisk together the condensed milk and half & half until the condensed milk is fully dissolved. Set aside.
Step 3: Pour hot water into a measuring cup with a spout (for easiest pouring later) or separate bowl. Sift in matcha powder and whisk together until it’s dissolved & there are no longer any clumps. Set aside.
Step 4: To a 16-ounce mason jar or tall glass cup, add boba (if using) for the bottom layer, then the strawberry mixture, and ice.
Step 5: Next, slowly pour the milk mixture onto the ice. Pouring slowly is key so it doesn’t immediately mix with the fresh strawberry puree.
Step 6: Lastly, create the matcha layer. Give the matcha a final whisk, then slowly pour it into the cup while aiming for the ice or the back of a spoon to use as a buffer to create a beautiful matcha layered effect. Serve immediately with a wide-mouth straw and strawberry on the cup rim, if you’re feeling fancy. Stir well before enjoying your delicious Strawberry Matcha Latte immediately!
👩🏽🍳 Key Tips
- Quick Strawberry Thawing: Usually when I’m craving this Strawberry Matcha Latte, I want it nowwww! Instead of waiting forever for the strawberries to thaw, I just pop them in the microwave for a few seconds or until they’re soft and tender.
- Adjusting Sweetness: I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, so this drink is lightly sweet, however, if you prefer a sweeter drink, you can add more honey, condensed milk, or both!
- Creating Beautiful Layers: When creating the layered look in your drink, slow and steady wins the race! I like using a spouted measuring cup to easily pour onto the ice cubes or the back of a spoon, which acts as a buffer to create the beautiful distinct layers, instead of it immediately mixing with the rest of the drink.
💭 Recipe FAQs
🧋 More sweet treats You’ll Love
Let’s get cooking!
Get into my secret stash of Goody-Packed Newsletters with meals planned for you & time-saving tips! Want step-by-step videos of how to make my recipes too? I gotchu over at my youtube channel. Aight, enough chatting, more eating!
Strawberry Matcha Latte Recipe
Ingredients
Strawberry Puree
- 1/2 cup frozen strawberries thawed
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
Matcha
- 1 teaspoon matcha
- 3 tablespoons hot water
Milk
- 1/2 cup half & half or oat milk*
- 1 tablespoon condensed milk
For Serving
- ice
- 1 fresh strawberry optional for garnish
Instructions
Prepare Ingredients
- In a bowl, combine thawed strawberries and honey. Using a fork, mash the strawberries to release their juices & until you’ve reached your desired consistency. If you like it extra smooth, you can run it through a sieve but I love strawberry bits in my drink!) Set aside.
- Pour hot water into a bowl then sift matcha powder into the water. The sifting helps reduce the chance of creating matcha clumps. Whisk together until matcha is dissolved. Set aside.
- In a separate cup, whisk together milk and condensed milk until condensed milk is dissolved. Set aside.
Assemble Strawberry Matcha Latte
- In a 16-ounce cup, pour in the strawberry puree, then enough ice to fill the glass.
- Pour in the milk mixture. It’s easiest if you’re pouring the milk from a container with a spout, such as a measuring cup.
- Lastly, pour in matcha, aiming for the ice cubes. This helps create a buffer so the matcha creates a layer of its own, instead of mixing with the milk.
- Serve with a wide-mouth straw and strawberry on the cup rim, if you’re feeling fancy. Stir well before enjoying immediately!
Notes
- Frozen Strawberries: I highly recommend using frozen strawberries instead of fresh because they’re significantly juicier. This way you have a more concentrated strawberry flavor, instead of having to add water, like some other recipes recommend. Frozen strawberries also have a longer “shelf life”, making them super convenient whenever you have a craving!
- Matcha: Using ceremonial grade matcha is key for its robust flavor, beautifully vibrant green color, & without bitterness.
- Ippodo Ceremonial Grade Matcha: Ippodo is a very popular brand known for its high quality, subtle vanilla fragrance, & delicious flavor. It’s definitely a treat yo’self option since it’s on the pricier side, but it’s super smooth & flavorful! Definitely recommended for matcha lovers / enthusiasts.
- Akira Ceremonial Grade Matcha: Akira is my fave alternative to Ippodo to save a few bucks. It has similar delicious flavor complexity, is super smooth, with a beautifully vibrant color.
- Adjusting Sweetness: I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, so this drink is lightly sweet, however, if you prefer a sweeter drink, you can add more honey, condensed milk, or both!
- Creating Beautiful Layers: I like using a spouted measuring cup to easily pour the layers into my drinking glass. This makes it easier to aim for ice cubes or the back of a spoon, which acts as a buffer to create the beautiful layers, instead of it immediately mixing with the rest of the drink.
- Dairy-Free Version: To make a dairy-free version, swap out condensed milk for more honey & oat milk for half & half. It’ll still be absolutely delicious!
- Adding Boba: You can add store-bought or homemade tapioca pearls to the bottom of the glass before the ice for an even more delicious drink at home! And don’t forget about the wide-mouth straw to enjoy that chewy boba!
Nutrition
Exact calculations may vary. For the most accurate nutritional information, use your preferred nutrition calculator, actual ingredients, and quantities used for the recipe. Please consult with your physician or registered dietitian if more precise nutrition calculations are needed for health reasons.
