Iced matcha latte recipe: cool, creamy and easy to make

An iced matcha latte is the cool, refreshing version of the classic matcha latte: bright green, creamy and without the warmth of a regular matcha latte. It's therefore especially popular on warm days, or simply when you prefer a cold drink over a hot one. Want to know first what matcha exactly is and how the warm version works? Then check out our matcha latte recipe.

Making an iced matcha latte is just as simple as the warm version, but calls for a slightly different approach. In this recipe you'll read step by step how to make a cool matcha latte at home without lumps and without the flavour watering down.

How does the iced matcha latte differ from the warm version?

Matcha dissolves less easily in cold water than in warm water. So if you pour the matcha straight in with cold milk and ice cubes, a lump of powder quickly stays behind at the bottom of your glass.

The solution is simple: you first whisk the matcha with a little warm water into a concentrated "shot", and only then pour it over the ice and cold milk. This keeps the smooth texture and full flavour, even in a cold drink.

Recipe info & Ingredients

Recipe info

• Preparation time: 5 minutes
• Total time: 5 minutes
• Servings: 1 glass
• Category: Tea recipe

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon matcha powder from Café du Jour (culinary grade or higher)
• 60 ml hot water (not boiling, ±80°C)
• 150 ml cold (plant-based) milk
• Ice cubes
• Optional: 1 teaspoon honey or agave syrup

Optional:

• Matcha ice cubes instead of regular ice cubes

Preparation instructions

1. Put the matcha powder in a shaker, sealable jar or bowl.
2. Pour the hot water (not boiling, ±80°C) over the matcha.
3. Close the shaker and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds, until the mixture foams and no more lumps are visible. Don't have a shaker? Then whisk the mixture firmly with a whisk.
4. Fill a glass with ice cubes and pour the cold milk over it.
5. Carefully pour the matcha shot over the milk and ice. This creates beautiful layers. Prefer it mixed straight away? Stir briefly before drinking.

Serving tips and variations

Matcha ice cubes for extra flavour

Watered-down coffee or tea from melting ice is a familiar problem, and that also applies to an iced matcha latte. Solve it by making your own matcha ice cubes: whisk an extra portion of matcha with water, pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze. Use these cubes instead of regular ice cubes, so your latte stays creamy and full of flavour until the last sip.

Which milk waters down the least

For an iced matcha latte, not every milk is equally suitable. A barista version of oat milk or almond milk is specially made to stay stable at cold temperatures and holds the creaminess longer than a regular plant-based milk. Regular (low-fat) milk can feel a bit watery with a lot of ice. So choose a full or barista variety for the best result.

Beautiful layers for the photo

For sharp, visible layers, pour the matcha shot slowly over the back of a spoon, just above the glass. This way the matcha doesn't mix with the milk straight away and the contrast between the green and the white stays clearly visible.

Use this matcha for your iced matcha latte

For a fresh, non-bitter iced matcha latte, the quality of your matcha makes the biggest difference. At Café du Jour you'll find Japanese matcha specially selected for a bright, green colour and a smooth flavour, also served cold.

Our culinary matcha dissolves easily, even in the cold shot, and keeps its full flavour when you combine it with ice and milk.