This copycat recipe shows you how to make your own Starbucks Iced Matcha Latte at home with just three ingredients.
I love this drink sooooooo matcha!
Okay, that’s it for the matcha puns. I promise.
I’m a simple gal when it comes to my caffeine drinks and generally not a lover of crazy coffee drinks or over the top Starbucks creations.
However, I fell in love with this drink many years ago when I worked for a production company here in Los Angeles. I’ve never been able to shake my love for it.
These days I make it at home several times per week.
It’s super easy to make and all you need is milk (whichever kind you prefer), matcha powder, and vanilla syrup.
I make mine a little fancy by using this vanilla bean simple syrup. Starbucks uses this vanilla syrup.
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I personally prefer the caffeine buzz I get from matcha versus coffee. No jitters and I’m more focused. Some people even use it as a dietary aide because it suppresses your appetite.
To mix the green tea latte, I like to use my handheld milk frother. It is hands done one of my favorite kitchen tools that cost less than $10. I also used it to make my Lucky Charms Cereal Milk Latte.
If you don’t have one, mixing with a regular ol’ spoon works great.
Update: I’m adding a few tips and techniques that can help you make your matcha lump free!
How To Make Matcha Without Lumps
- Sift your matcha powder with a food sifter
- Whisk dry powder in your cup before adding any liquid
- Use a matcha whisk
- Use an Electric Whisk/Milk Frother
- Whisk matcha powder with a little bit of warm or hot water to dissolve before adding any more liquid
Other Matcha Recipes
More Copycat Recipes
- Starbucks Caramel Macchiato
- Starbucks Irish Cream Cold Brew
- Taco Bell Crunchwrap Supreme
- Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits
- Taco Bell Quesadilla
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Copycat Starbucks Iced Matcha Latte Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- Place milk, matcha powder, and vanilla syrup together in a cup.
- Mix well with a regular spoon or a milk frother.
- Once well combined, add ice.
- Enjoy!
Elaine @ Dishes Delish says
I can’t have matcha but my hubby loves these lattes! I can’t wait to share it with him.
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen says
I adore a good matcha latte! These look fantastic!
AnonymousT says
Either I did this wrong somehow or this is better done in a small blender or with the milk frother. With just a spoon alone I’m getting too many bits of matcha. Still a delicious drink though.
Jessica Pinney says
Sorry you had trouble, Tyler. I just updated the post with a few tips to help you make your matcha lump free next time.
Sock says
Try mixing the green tea matcha in a teeny cup of hot water. It breaks down the powder and will be no clumps. Then add it to the rest of the ingredients.
Jannie says
Ok to use a blender for this, my all time fave….
Jessica Pinney says
Absolutely! That makes it super easy. Hope you enjoy it!
Jen says
I thought Matcha had to be brewed first to reap the antioxidant benefits?
LoveRemains says
Some matcha products come in a powder form that state that the matcha can be used hot or cold. I think when it’s in powder form you get all of the benefits of matcha because you’re ingesting it whole. If the matcha is in leaf tea form I don’t think it will work very well for this recipe. I have tried both the powder and the leaf tea forms and they both yield very different results. The powder gives a more frothy/green/opaque drink whereas the tea leaves give a more transparent/watery tea-like form. I hope this info helps.
V says
I used a small metal wisk. You get too many clumps if you use a spoon.
Jamie says
I have to say that we never use vanilla syrup (unless you ask). We used to use simple syrup to make our lattes, but the company updated the recipe of the matcha powder, making it more sweeter. Thus, we opted out on using syrup to make the lattes because of the sugar crystals mixed in to the matcha powder. Only the green tea frappuccinos include simple syrup because it gets watered down eventually from the ice.
Çitra Kale @Çitra's Home Diary says
İ love matcha in many way. İ use it for dessert or cake.. and your iced matcha latte now is on my list to make it asap 🙂
CaSondra Gutierrez says
This is the best. I love matcha lattes. I put mine in a 16oz. Mason jar. I add all ingredients even the ice, then I shake the mason jar. With the lid screwed on tight, of course. Usually a minute of shaking works. Any bits of matcha that don’t get incorporated will sink to the bottom, then you could just shake them up again. I drink it straight from the mason jar.
Gary says
I agree, hands DOWN this is as good as the best iced coffee!
Tamara says
Can I use a handheld immersion blender?
Kate says
I used to drink matcha lattes when I lived in Japan! So good! I have never made them myself, though. I don’t know what I am waiting for, because they are so good!
Tina says
Sooo good!
Amber says
Can you just use vanilla extract instead of vanilla syrup and if so how much?
Jessica Pinney says
No, they’re not the same thing. I would just use another liquid sweetener such as honey or agave.
Wildtanuki says
Why do you say just ‘no’? She could use vanilla extract AND a different sweetener and it would be the same as vanilla syrup.
Ana says
I wanted to try to make this with monkfruit sweetener and vanilla extract. I’m looking for recipes because I have never made it before.
Jessica Pinney says
I would never recommend putting raw vanilla extract in a single beverage. Vanilla extract is extremely potent. An entire cup of vanilla simple syrup has less than two teaspoons in it.
If you don’t have vanilla simple syrup but do have vanilla extract all you have to do is boil 1 cup water over medium heat with 1 cup sugar. Once the sugar has dissolved, remove from heat and add 1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract. Boom! Now you have vanilla simple syrup.
Mary says
I bought some Macha because I wanted to start getting the benefits of Green Tea and I don’t really care much for tea. Anyway, I bought a jar of it and was immediately turned off because of the smell, so I got some empty capsules to fill. I was searching for recipes and found this. LOVE it. Now I can drink it!!!
Thank you! I may try it with peppermint syrup.
Kimberly says
Do you think it would be ok to use sugar free syrup? Have you tried any other flavors for a variety?
Thank you!
Jessica Pinney says
Sure, I think sugar free syrup would look great. I haven’t tried any other flavored syrup, but if you do, please let me know how it turns out. Enjoy!
Brandi E says
Actually, Starbucks doesn’t use any kind of flavored syrup. They use what’s called simple syrup, which is concentrated sugar melted into water. I was a barista there for several years in Hawaii and this was my favorite kind to make. I also recommend trying the Matcha Cremé Frappuccino. It’s like the iced latte, but better!
Kelly says
Since I have to watch my sugar intake, I buy single serve tubes of Matcha powder. You can put them in your water bottle but I love to make matcha lat with mine. I put 8 oz of unsweetened vanilla almond milk In a shaker bottle, empty or packet of match powder and add monk fruit sweetener or stevia. It allows me to have my latte in a healthier way !
Essdee says
I just saw this recipe and ran into the kitchen to make it. Delicious! I think I will try another one later today. Love it!
Brianna Barnes says
I love this Starbucks drink, too. But I don’t know what is the best brand of matcha to buy!??!?!
Jessica Pinney says
I feel you, Brianna. When we first started buying matcha we didn’t have a clue about quality and ended up with some not so great stuff we had to throw out. As far as brands go, we really like Encha (you can find them on Amazon or order on their website). Use their latte or ceremonial grade for this recipe. Hope you enjoy!
Green Tea Lover says
A tablespoon or so (to taste) of Torani (brand) peach syrup is EXCELLENT in iced matcha green tea. I haven’t yet tried vanilla, but since I love it in coffee, it should be good in this as well.
Edith says
I don’t understand, if this is latte, so where is the coffee??
Jessica Pinney says
Matcha & other tea lattes that contain no coffee are very common these days. If you want a matcha latte that also has coffee, I’d recommend our Matcha Espresso Fusion recipe.
Kelly Anthony says
Who doesnt love Starbucks?! This is genius 🙂
Pam Rogers says
I love it but when I make it at home I use stevia vanilla cream in the dropper instead of vanilla syrup!
grinding coffee size says
Double Espresso and sometimes an Iced Latte Machiatto
Quyen says
Always a perfect recipe! Using a milk frother, whisk well 240ml milk + 2 tbsp golden syrup + 2 tsp matcha powder, add 4-5 ice cubes, pipe ready-made whipped cream on top. Never go to Starbucks again, I got stomach hurt once after drinking a blueberry cheesecake frappuccino. Using a hand whisk or spoon is fine for me, I never leave any matcha clumps, they’re so good for me. Thank you for the recipe! 🙂
TKo says
Thank you for sharing! Frothy, creamy, & delicious. Literally shake and go on hectic mornings and I never have to spend $4 – $5 on one at Starbucks again.
Kelly says
Do you have a preference for a specific brand? About to give this a go with Tenzo Tea’s matcha powder and want to make sure it comes out ok. Their health benefits look pretty rewarding.
Jessica Pinney says
Great question, Kelly! I usually use Encha matcha. I have worked with them in the past and am really blown away by the quality of their matcha. I haven’t tried Tenzo so I can’t speak to it. In general, if you want a great tasting matcha drink, you should be ceremonial grade matcha. It is the highest quality.
Frances says
Can this be made hot? I can’t stand iced anything
Kiki Katz says
I always get the HOT matcha latte at Starbucks. No syrup added. They put sugar in the Matcha powder. It is delicious.
Brandi says
Absolutely it can. Just heat up the milk and mix in the matcha mix. You can add additional simple syrup or sugar if needed. The mix I buy is already sweetened so it’s not necessary. Island Teas sells a matcha mix on eBay that you can get with sugar or with a non-sugar natural sweetener.
Katrina Jones says
This one taste the most like the real thing. I had to make my own vanilla syrup. Tastes sooooo yummy!
Lorena Zorrilla says
Use splenda instead of syrup and then you have only the calories from milk. You can also use lactose free milk or almond milk, just like starbucks does.
Ann says
Totally in love with matcha. Really nailed it! It helps me wake up faster in the morning. Super easy to make and delicious. I prefer vegan matcha latte with dairy-free milk (coconut is my favorite) and use maple syrup or stevia for sweetener. Tastes like heaven.
crystal says
hi could i substitute the vanilla syrup for simple syrup of 1:1 ratio of sugar and water ?
Jessica Pinney says
Yes, that would basically be a simple syrup. I would heat up the water to make sure the sugar dissolves all the way.
Ron says
I make my own vanilla syrup. It’s actually super easy to make – and cheaper and tastier than the store-bought stuff. You can buy bulk vanilla beans for 2-3 dollars per bean on Amazon or Ebay. Just lightly boil 1 cup of water, 1 cup of sugar (I use a mix of brown/raw sugar) and slice open a vanilla bean, scrape out the seeds and put them and the bean pod into the water/sugar mix, let cool and voila. You’re welcome!
Caroline Miller says
can i use starbucks classic syrup or does it need to be vanilla?
Jessica Pinney says
You can use the classic syrup, it will be very close in taste.
Cory says
I like it a bit sweeter, I used about 10-12oz unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 heaping tsp organic matcha powder, 2 tbsp vanilla syrup, half a squirt of liquid vanilla stevia, and a little bit of honey, blend, then fill the rest of my bottle (20 oz) up with ice.
It tastes amazing and just like the Starbucks matcha latte with some liquid sweetener.
This recipe was a great starting place (:
Samanthat says
I made this and it turned out AMAZING!!! I love it so muchhh. The Vanilla syrup really ties it all together.
Kathy says
Tried it today and it was delicious. Bought everything at Publix.
Krysia says
Thia recipe is the closest to the Starbucks drink that I have tried. Thanks for sharing this!
Geri Sims says
I tried for the first time yesterday from Starbucks pineapple matcha ice tea and it was soooo good! I want to start drinking it all the time. I love the recipe.
lily says
this recipe tastes exactly like starbucks!
Monica Gomez says
Love it! Such an easy recipe!