How to Make the Perfect Matcha Latte

The West has imported a lot from Japan in terms of gastronomy: after the explosion of sushi, which has now become a real must loved by thousands of Westerners, now it is the turn of matcha tea, a particular variety of green tea grown and ground in Japan. Its peculiarity is that it is in powder form, its bright green color makes the drink easily recognizable, while the intense aroma of tea and the bitter and enveloping flavor conquer all palates.

Matcha tea can be drunk pure, or you can use it to prepare other drinks such as matcha latte: as the name suggests, it is a cup of hot milk mixed with matcha tea that has conquered with a mix of sweetness tempered by the bitterness typical of the characteristic Japanese tea. The term "latte" should be understood with the English meaning of the term, that is, that drink composed of frothed milk and a part of another liquid, usually coffee but in this case precisely matcha tea. Precisely for this reason, at first glance, matcha latte seems like a sort of cappuccino: the milk must be frothy, but the difference can be made by the bright color of this variety of tea and its very intense and particular flavor.

In addition to being very beautiful to look at, matcha latte is also a beneficial drink thanks to the presence of matcha powder: thanks to its very powerful antioxidant charge, in fact, it offers tangible support in fighting the damage caused by free radicals. Furthermore, matcha naturally contains caffeine and therefore the drink, even combined with milk, can give you the energy you need to face the day, just like coffee does. As if that were not enough, matcha also contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes a feeling of calm and concentration.

Given all these unique characteristics, it is not surprising that matcha latte has become as loved and widespread as it is today. If you have not yet had the chance to taste it, you can try making the drink yourself because with the right ingredients and tools it is very simple to prepare even at home: here is how to do it.

What Are The Ingredients of Matcha Latte?

To prepare matcha latte you need a few ingredients, but they must be chosen carefully. First of all, you obviously need matcha, which unlike any other type of tea comes in powder form: matcha tea, in fact, is prepared by suspension, that is, not by leaving the powder to infuse in hot water, but by mixing it with special tools. The preparation of this powder is a very long and complex practice carried out by Japanese growers and the result is a very fine and valuable substance, which you can buy in herbalist's shops, in natural food shops or online. Be careful not to make mistakes or be fooled by dubious labels: the real matcha tea is only and exclusively the powdered one. Once you have your quality powder you will only need water and milk: remember that to obtain the foamy effect required by matcha latte you must use whole milk or semi-skimmed milk if you prefer cow's milk, or for an even sweeter taste you can use a vegetable milk such as soy, rice or almond milk. The last ingredient is water, which you will need to use lukewarm water to dissolve the matcha tea perfectly.

Tools for Making Matcha Latte

In Japan, the tea ceremony is a real ritual called Cha no yu (literally “hot water for tea”) and very often the protagonist is matcha tea. For this reason, its preparation requires a series of specific tools: the chawan, a wide-bottomed tea cup, the chasen, a bamboo whisk, and finally a chasaku, a bamboo spoon designed to take the right amount of powder. When preparing matcha latte at home, you can do without the traditional cup and bamboo spoon, but it would be better to have the cahsen available: the whisk is essential for properly dissolving the matcha powder, which with any other tool would remain grainy; if you really don't have one available, try using a small whisk for food and drinks. You will also need a milk frother or an immersion blender to be able to froth the milk creating a full-bodied foam.

How to Make Matcha Latter: The Process to Get it Perfect

The process for obtaining a perfect matcha latte is to start by preparing the perfect matcha tea. To do this, you need to put a teaspoon of powder in a cup, then pour in 40 ml of water at a temperature of 167-176°F (75-80°C): it is important that the water is not too hot, otherwise it risks burning the powder. At this point, you need to take the chasen or the small whisk and mix quickly, creating a sort of “w” with the movement of the tool (easier if you have the original whisk) in order to incorporate the air and form the characteristic foam. Finally, you need to add another 40 ml of water at the same temperature until a surface of small bubbles has formed and the powder has completely mixed with the water.

Now that the matcha tea is ready, it's time to prepare the milk foam: once you've heated about 80 ml of milk, froth it with the help of the tool you have available until you obtain a dense and full-bodied foam. At this point, compose the drink in a large glass or cup, possibly transparent so as to see the beautiful green color of the matcha: first pour the tea, which you can leave natural or flavor with aromas of your choice (for example, vanilla works very well), add the milk foam and decorate with a sprinkling of matcha powder on the surface.

And in Summer? Try The Cold Matcha Latte

Matcha latte is a versatile preparation that you can customize with different types of milk and flavors. Not only that, you can also adapt it to the season and the needs of the moment: for example, it's summer but you don't want to give up this tasty drink? You can prepare a cold matcha latte. In this case, prepare the matcha tea with the same procedure already described but let it cool (at room temperature or in the refrigerator), then pour it into a blender together with milk, sugar and flavorings to taste. Blend everything for a few minutes until it reaches the consistency of a cream, pour into a glass and add ice cubes to make it even more refreshing.