Hello, my gorgeous people! How are you doing? I’m doing great; I’m just sipping another cup of matcha latte here. If you have been following me, you might know that I have been living in Japan for four years, and the country and the culture hold a dear place in my heart. Part of the Japanese culture that I really love is drinking matcha, a drink made out of green tea powder. So I decided to share all the matcha recipes I know here on my blog. 🌱
In this episode of Matcha, I’m going to talk about this vanilla matcha latte recipe today. Among all the matcha recipes in the world, I think the vanilla matcha latte recipe might be the easiest one for people who are drinking matcha for the first time. Inspired by the Starbucks matcha latte menu, this vanilla matcha latte has become one of the most popular Japanese matcha drink recipes. So whether you are drinking matcha for the first time or have drank a vanilla matcha latte at Starbucks and fallen in love, this vanilla matcha latte recipe is for you!
Let’s get started. 💚
A vanilla matcha latte is great with Japanese mochi, pastries, and pancakes! Read more to see my recommendations below.
Introduction to Vanilla Matcha Latte Recipe
Vanilla Matcha Latte is Great for:
This vanilla matcha latte is great for anyone, but especially for those of you who are
- Trying matcha for the first time
- Falling in love with the vanilla matcha latte from Starbucks
- Looking for a softer matcha drink recipe
Japanese Matcha Drink Recipe
This vanilla matcha latte recipe is created with matcha, a Japanese tea drink ingredient.
Matcha is a type of fine powder form of green tea made with specific cultivation of the green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves and processing to ensure vibrant color and distinctive flavor. The powder is then whisked with hot water or milk to create a frothy drink that has a bright green color that so many people around fall in love with.
A vanilla matcha latte combines the earthy, lightly bitter flavor of matcha with the sweet and round notes of vanilla. It’s amazing!
My Other Matcha Recipes
Are you crazy about matcha like me, or are you starting to get curious? Here are my other matcha recipes.
Then should we start looking at the ingredient lists to make the best vanilla matcha latte recipe?
Ingredients for the Best Vanilla Matcha Latte Recipe
1. Choose High-Grade Grade Matcha
The very first step to making the best matcha ice cream recipe is choosing high-grade matcha. Here are a few things that I look for in the best matcha.
- Organic: I recommend using organic matcha, as matcha is ground whole green tea leaves. That means you can’t wash the tea leaves and drink the whole powdered leaves.
- First-Harvest: The first harvest makes the green tea leaves more nutrient, more vibrant in color, and tastes softer, and less bitter.
- Ceremonial Grade: Ceremonial grade tea leaves are the most tender leaves that are ground tea. It is also the most fine powder, which makes it easier to dissolve in water.
- Origin: Matcha is originally from Japan, so you’ll be able to find many amazing matcha powders from there. I also love Malcha powder (it means Matcha in Korean) from Jeju Island in Korea, as the island is known for its clean nature and great tea harvest.
Make the best matcha ice cream with the premium products below!
My Japanese Matcha Pick
Encha Ceremonial Grade Matcha Powder from Uji, Japan (30g/1.06oz)
My Korean Malcha Pick
2. Choose Your Milk & Cream Base
You can choose your milk and cream base for this recipe, and I will be using soy milk and oat cream. As an Asian, I am pretty lactose-intolerant, and I always preferred plant milk over cow milk. Also, soymilk is a traditional drink in East Asia and it goes so well with matcha! I hope you try this matcha ice cream recipe with soymilk and some oat cream. They are so amazing and kind to your stomach.
My Choice of Milk
Edensoy Unsweetened Eden Organic Soymilk, Non-GMO, 32 oz (6-Pack)
I love my soymilk so much! It’s honestly one of the best drinks ever, and this unsweetened soymilk is so versatile in the kitchen. You can use both for the savory and the sweet recipes. Use the soymilk to make my vegan tteokguk, strawberry latte, or this gorgeous matcha ice cream.
Plant milk is also shelf-stable, so get several packs to save yourself from delivery fees or carrying them all by yourself.
3. Choose the Right Sweetener
I see some matcha ice cream recipes using bananas, but I really don’t think matcha flavor goes well with bananas. If you are a true matcha-lover, you’d want matcha to stand and shine on its own, not introduce another fruit flavor in there. So I will be using a simple sweetener here in my matcha ice cream recipe.
My Pick
My Normal Keto Allulose 17.1 Fl Oz – Allulose, Monk Fruit and Stevia Blend
Using a good bottle of fiber syrup is important to making the best latte. It adds sweetness to the latte while making it healthy!
Allulose is often used in Korean cuisine as it has fewer calories than real sugar and doesn’t add any other flavor. I love using allulose or date syrup in my recipes.
To make the best matcha latte, you need a healthy sweetener that only adds sweetness to bring out the best flavor of the matcha.
One of the proven ingredients for healthy skin is green tea. Read my All Natural Beauty Tips blog post for more details!
Health Benefits of Matcha
I love matcha not only for its distinct flavor but also for its incredible health benefits!
You can consider matcha as one of the green leafy vegetables, which is one of the healthiest types of food in the world. As I wrote in my blog post about why you need to eat more leafy greens, I try to eat lots of them every day. But when I don’t have enough, I turn to a cup of matcha. The green powder of leafy tea leaves is packed with chlorophyll.
Here are some scientifically backed benefits of matcha:
- Protects Brain Function: Matcha boosts brain function by increasing oxygen flow, and enhancing memory, cognitive performance, attention, and motivation. That’s why there are some matcha supplements out there, but I prefer a matcha latte or ice cream!
- Improves Fertility: Matcha may improve fertility by increasing sperm quality and mobility, thanks to its polyphenols, vitamin E, and selenium.
- Strengthens Bones: Vitamin K in matcha helps strengthen bones by aiding calcium absorption and preventing bone loss.
- Enhances Skin Elasticity: Rich in antioxidants, matcha improves skin elasticity, texture, and tone. It’s so effective that green tea extract is common in skincare products. Drinking matcha provides anti-aging benefits from within. You can read more about it in my blog post, All Natural Beauty Tips.
- Regulates Appetite: Green tea and matcha, the key to Japanese longevity, act as appetite suppressants. Caffeine and chlorophyll help control appetite naturally.
My oat milk matcha latte recipe is also my go-to way to have matcha!
Vanilla Matcha Latte Recipe | Japanese Matcha Drink Recipe
Vanilla Matcha Latte Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Matcha Whisk (Chasen) Or a whisk
- 1 Strainer
Ingredients
- 2 tsp Matcha powder
- 1/3 cup Hot water
- 3 tbsp Allulose syrup Can substitute it with other neutral-flavored syrups
- 1 cup Oat milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Use a strainer to sift the matcha. You can skip this process, but it can make mixing it with water easy without creating lumps.
- In a cup, put 1/3 cup of hot water. 80°C or 176°F is the ideal temperature to make it warm enough without damaging the matcha taste or the colors.
- Mix quickly with the whisk in a circular motion or a zig-zag motion for approximately 15 seconds. When matcha starts to foam on the top, it is ready.
- Put the allulose syrup and vanilla extract into the matcha mixture and mix.
Hot Vanilla Matcha Latte
- If you want a hot matcha latte, heat the oat milk and pour it into a cup.
- Pour the matcha mixture over the milk base in the cup. Enjoy!
Iced Vanilla Matcha Latte
- If you want an iced matcha latte, fill your glass with ice. Pour oat milk over the ice.
- Pour the matcha mixture over the milk base in the cup. Enjoy!
Try the vanilla matcha latte with some Japanese rice cake, mochi!
Tips for Enjoying Vanilla Matcha Latte
1. Eat It with Rice Cake (Mochi or Tteok)
Matcha ice cream goes so well with rice cake, which is called mochi in Japanese and Tteok in Korean.
There are some white rice cake balls you can put on the matcha ice cream. The chewy and sweet rice cakes make a perfect topping for the matcha ice cream. I’ll share a recipe here one day! But you can also have some other sweet rice cakes, like my sweet potato rice cake, fragrant mugwort rice cake, and songyeon that has sweet sesame fillings.
You can buy some mochi on the internet if you want to enjoy it like that! Two of my recommendations are like this.
My Rice Cake Pick 1
Japanese Rice Cake Mochi Daifuku (Peanut), 7.4 oz
Hit up this modern take on mochi with peanut butter filling, and it’s so chewy and delicious! The nutty and sweet flavors of the peanut-filling mochi go so well with vanilla matcha latte.
My Rice Cake Pick 2
Japanese Mochi 8 Variety Pack – Fusion Select Gift Box
This is another fusion Japanese mochi you can buy on Amazon. They have many varieties for you to try. So you could pick the flavor of your choice depending on the day. I have many latte recipes on my blog, like the Korean sweet potato latte, strawberry latte, and mugwort latte! So you could eat different kinds of mochi with other lattes too. ❤️
2. Try It with Japanese Pastries or Pancakes
I love enjoying Japanese matcha drinks with other Japanese pastries or souffle pancakes. If you don’t have Japanese parties or pancakes, then any other pastries can go well too. How about trying this vanilla matcha latte with a croissant or pain au chocolat?
Summary of Vanilla Matcha Latte Recipe
I hope you enjoyed this matcha episode of the vanilla matcha latte recipe. It feels so amazing to spread the food culture of the countries I lived in to the rest of the world.
Let’s take a culinary trip to Japan by sipping on this vanilla matcha latte. I’ll see you again with yet another matcha recipe soon!
Until then, have a wonderful day 🌞
Other Matcha Recipes You Might Like
Oat Milk Matcha Latte Recipe | Everything About Matcha
Try this oat milk matcha latte recipe! Blend your matcha with soft-tasting oat milk. Enjoy it either hot or cold. Learn more about matcha and the recipe here.
Best Matcha Ice Cream Recipe | How to Make Matcha Ice Cream
Learn how to make matcha ice cream using premium ingredients (I have recommendations!) with an original Japanese taste. Try this best matcha ice cream recipe.
Matcha Float | Japanese Matcha Ice Cream Soda Recipe
Make this matcha float with the original Japanese matcha taste! With some sparkling Sprite, this will be the best matcha float you’ve ever had.
Try Mugwort Recipes, Another Green Herbal Powder!
Mugwort Latte Recipe 쑥라떼 | Guide to Korean Ssuk Latte
Like there is a matcha latte and a pumpkin spice latte, aka PSL, there is a mugwort latte! It is quite similar to a matcha latte, as a mugwort latte is also savory, fragrant, sweet, and comforting. Some popular Korean lattes are popping up in cafes in Korea, and a mugwort latte was one of them.
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