Mint Matcha Latte

Preparing tasty drinks can be very easy. With matcha, you definitely can't go wrong. Fresh and bright minty notes blended with grassy matcha tea taste gorgeous in this mint matcha latte, and are just perfect for cool winter days.

How to make Mint Matcha Latte

To make this latte, you will need Japanese matcha tea powder, fresh mint, water, milk and, optionally, a sweetener.

Mint – use fresh mint if possible. Dry mint is much stronger, with a very different flavour profile than fresh mint. You only want to add hints of mint. Fresh mint won't change the colour of the water, so you will end up with a beautiful, naturally flavoured green latte.

Matcha powder – although you can use any matcha powder, teas with a fresher grassy flavour profile and bright green colour will give the best results. Always use only matcha powder that has a lot of flavour and fresh scent.

Milk – whole milk is usually a better choice for making lattes than semi-skimmed or skimmed milk. You can replace regular milk with a dairy free milk alternative too. Choose milk with neutral flavour, preferably a barista style, as they tend to froth better. Also, some milk alternatives may already be very sweet. Check the flavour before adding additional sweeteners.

Sweetener – choose neutral sweeteners such as white sugar or very light floral honey. Regular milk already has enough sweetness, so unless you prefer really sweet drinks, you can avoid this step.

What type of mint should I use?

There are many types of mint, with peppermint and spearmint being the most common ones. You can choose either, but keep in mind that they have a different flavour profile. Peppermint has a stronger, sharper flavour than spearmint, which is sweeter and lighter. If possible, use fresh mint because it will give a much fresher, brighter and lighter flavour than dried mint. You don't need to use too much as you only want to scent your latte lightly and not overpower it with minty flavour.

If you don't have any fresh mint, flavour drops may work well too, better than dry mint. However, opt for those that don't contain any colourings and add only a drop or two. Intensely green coloured mint flavour drops blended with matcha powder will give a very artificial colour.

When to froth the milk?

To make a proper latte, it's always best to steam and froth the milk before adding it to tea. Since matcha is very green and naturally frothy, it will be more difficult to get a clean line between tea and the froth. You can froth it once you blend the tea and hot milk and get a green drink with green froth instead.