How to Make a Matcha Latte (Dairy Free)

Making a matcha latte is super fast and very easy. Matcha lattes are an amazing wake up drink to start out the day and I think (some people may disagree) that it is way better than coffee. I make my matcha latte dairy-free using Homemade Cashew Milk. There are many health benefits to drinking green tea and even more in matcha, plus it tastes so good!

Matcha vs. Green Tea

What is Green Tea?

Green tea is made from the the Camellia Sinensis plant and is usually grown in China. It grows in the full sun until harvest. After the leaves are harvested, they are steeped in hot water and then removed to produce a tea.

What is Matcha?

Matcha is a high quality green tea most often grown in Japan. It comes from the Camellia Sinensis plant. The growing process is much more involved than green tea.

It is first grown in the sun, then, a few weeks to a month before harvest, the leaves are shaded. The shading process convinces the plant to produce more chlorophyll in attempt to capture more sunlight to feed the plant. The increase of chlorophyll leads to an intense green colored leaf and enhances the health benefits of the tea made from it.

The harvesting process is also more involved especially for ceremonial grade matcha where only the soft new leaves are harvested.

The other big difference between green tea and matcha is how it is consumed. With matcha the entire leaf is used. It is ground into a very fine powder and consumed in its entirety. Green tea leaves are only used to infuse the liquid it is steeped in.

Matcha Grades

Ceremonial Grade

• Highest grade
• Can be mixed with only water
• Best flavor and the least bitter
• Sweet flavor by itself
• Harvested from the youngest leaves
• Finest powder for a smooth taste- According to Aiya a producer of matcha, “The particle size is only around 5-10 microns, which is actually even finer than baby powder!”
• Traditionally used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony
• Most expensive

Ingredient/Cooking/Restaurant Grade

• Lower grade
• Great for baking
• Good for mixing with milk
• Too strong to mix in straight water
• Older leaves
• Can be bitter
• Cheaper

Buying Matcha Tea

Matcha tea is sold in many different forms. If the price seems too good to be true it probably is. It is expensive to make a good quality matcha. At this date it is around $12-14 per ounce. I love ceremonial grade matcha but sometimes it is not in the budget.

Good matcha can be found without breaking the bank. First make sure it is from Japan, the tea from China is not the same. The powder should be fine and not gritty.

Costco has some great options. I have been using UJIDO Matcha Green Tea Powder and really like it. It is a tad earthy tasting but not bitter. I noticed recently that Costco has changed to SENCHA brand. I haven’t tried it yet but it looks to be good quality also.

My favorite, as I mentioned above, is the ceremonial grade. A good tea shop in your area is the best place to start, when looking for this high grade matcha tea. I buy mine at a local Anchorage tea shop, Summit Spice and Tea Company.

The Spice and Tea Exchange Matcha Tea, is another really great ceremonial grade matcha that can be found in markets that sell tea.

Caffeine in a Dairy-Free Matcha Latte

There is less caffeine in tea than in coffee and more in matcha than in regular green tea.

According to The Republic of Tea “Green tea contains roughly half the caffeine content of black tea, and a quarter the caffeine of coffee. Matcha green tea contains slightly more caffeine—around half the amount per cup in comparison to coffee.”

Why is My Matcha Latte Bitter?

Matcha really should not be bitter but it can be. Here are some reasons why.

• Low quality matcha
  • How to select a good matcha
• Mixing liquid is too hot
  • Water temperature should be around 170 degrees F
• Poor mixing
  • I highly recommend using a bamboo whisk to get out all the lumps

Matcha Preparation Tips and Tricks

• Do not use stainless steel with matcha. The catechizes in matcha tea actually bond with the stainless steel ions causing it to turn black and pick up the flavor of the metal.
• Use a bamboo whisk. This inexpensive tool will make a big difference in the mixing of matcha green tea. Look for one with the highest amount of prongs
• Keep your mixing liquid temperature at 170 degrees F

Health Benefits of Matcha

Along with high concentrations of chlorophyll the amino acids of matcha are higher as well, leading to more health benefits than with regular green tea.

According to healthline.com matcha is full of antioxidants that come from a plant protein called catechins.  You get more antioxidants with matcha than with green tea because you consume the entire leaf rather than only steeping the leaves.  

You can find many other possible health benefits of matcha at healthline.com, including why matcha may help with weight loss and improve brain function.

I started drinking green tea for its anti-inflammatory properties, to help with some of my allergies. Here is what Pub Med, a highly regarded medical journal has on Anti-inflammatory Action of Green Tea.

This information is not intended to be medical advice. If you are seeking medical health advice, please consult a professional.

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I hope you love this dairy-free, vegan matcha latte. I would love to hear from you! Please leave a comment and share on social.

Let me know if you tried it and what you think! Tag #ideasforreallife @GardenFoodandCraft on Instagram and Facebook.