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!
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❤️ Recipe Highlights
- Refreshing Tea Alternative to Coffee: Don't get me wrong, I LOVE coffee, but sometimes (especially on hot summer days), there's nothing more satisfying than an iced fruity drink - with that quintessential caffeine boost you can't go without.
- Easily Transportable: Whether you're needing an energy boost before work or on the way to soak up sunshine at the park, this delicious Strawberry Matcha Latte is a quick & easy pick-me-up when you're on the go!
- Quick-Start Matcha Tips: Overwhelmed with which matcha is best? Don't sweat it, I gotchu! I did the taste testing & splurging so you don't have to. Get the run down on the best matcha grade & recommendations for robust flavor - without all the unpleasant bitterness.
- Secret Tip for BEST Strawberry Flavor: Don't get duped into making a diluted strawberry purée. Create the most concentrated fresh strawberry flavor with one simple tip!
🥘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
Yes, it's such a delicious combo! Matcha has earthy notes, while strawberries have a burst of sweetness and freshness that compliment matcha so well. This flavor pairing has become more popular over the years with it being offered at cafes, boba shops, and even Starbucks.
Matcha has rich earthy notes, while strawberries have natural sweetness and a burst of freshness that complements matcha so well. The milk in the Strawberry Matcha Latte adds a layer of luxurious creaminess that blends the two flavors together beautifully! It's a deliciously refreshing drink served over ice.
Overall, yes matcha green tea powder is healthy! There have been only a few studies that have focused on matcha specifically, but green tea has been well researched and indicate to have health benefits.
Since matcha has the same ingredients in concentrated amounts, studies suggest that matcha would include the same health benefits, including antioxidants (which helps reduce chronic disease), caffeine, and L-theanine (which small studies suggest help with brain function and reduce stress).
Yes, matcha has caffeine for a boost of energy, without the intense crash coffee typically leaves you with.
🥗 More Sweet Treats You’ll Love!
Let's Get Cooking!
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Strawberry Matcha Latte Recipe
Ingredients
Strawberry Puree
- ½ cup frozen strawberries thawed
- ½ tablespoon honey
Matcha
- 1 teaspoon matcha
- 3 tablespoons hot water
Milk
- ½ 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.
HEY, I'M MIKHA!
...A fellow food lover who believes anyone can whip up a delicious meal - no matter your skill level! These quick & easy Asian recipes will help you transform simple ingredients into a drool-worthy meal for you & the people you love most - without spending all day in the kitchen.
Now come on - Grab a seat & let's eat!
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