Elevate your morning routine with this strawberry matcha latte made with fresh juicy strawberries, freshly brewed ceremonial matcha powder, and your milk of choice.
This easy strawberry matcha tea recipe is the perfect caffeinated sweet treat you need to get through the day. The strawberries are cooked down in sugar and a dash of lemon juice to form a concentrated strawberry sauce that is then mixed with your milk of choice and topped with freshly brewed ceremonial matcha.
Strawberries and matcha go together like peanut butter and jelly. The gentle sweetness and tanginess of the strawberries elevate and balance the earthy, slight bitterness of the matcha. The best part is that you can customize this iced strawberry matcha latte based on your preferences without having to pay extra!
Strawberry matcha is a popular coffee shop or tea shop drink that features freshly brewed ceremonial matcha, milk, and fresh strawberries. The fusion of flavors yields a delicious balance of earthy bitter notes from the matcha to the sweet and fruity taste of the strawberries paired with the rich and creamy mouthfeel from the milk.
Ingredients
You can find all of the ingredients for this strawberry matcha tea recipe at your local grocery shop. I have linked everything that I used below.
Fresh strawberries: fresh ripe strawberries with a deep red color and sweet aroma yield the best results. Alternatively, you can also use defrosted frozen strawberries.
Sugar:sugar extracts the natural juices from the strawberries and when it cooks down it creates a more concentrated strawberry flavor.
Lemon Juice: lemon juice adds a touch of acidity to brighten and elevate the strawberry flavor.
Hot water: for the best results, make sure to use hot but not boiling water that reaches a temperature between 158-175°F (70-80°C). Water that is too hot could burn the matcha powder which causes that more bitter flavor.
Milk of Choice: You can use regular milk, oat milk, almond milk, macadamia milk, or your favorite milk of choice. I recommend using milk that is not pre-sweetened with any additives.
Substitutions and Additions
You can customize your strawberry matcha latte based on your preferences with the following suggestions.
Substitutions
Sweetener: instead of granulated sugar, you can use honey, maple syrup, agave syrup or stevia. However, avoid adding these sweeteners until the strawberries have already cooked down and removed from the heat to avoid any burning.
Additions
Vanilla: you can add a 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract for a warmer more complex flavor profile.
Foam or whipped cream topping: for the ultimate cafe-at-home vibe, add cheese foam or a whipped cream topping.
How to Make Strawberry Matcha
Here are the steps for how to make this strawberry matcha recipe.
Make the strawberry sauce. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add the chopped strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice if using. Stir the strawberries until softened and the juices have released and cook until it reaches a boil. Then lower the heat to medium heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until the strawberries have cooked down and the sauce thickens. Smash the strawberries with a wooden spoon for smaller strawberry chunks or use an immersion blender for a more silky texture. Transfer into a container and cool in the refrigerator while you prepare the matcha.
Prepare Matcha.Sift the matcha into a bowl over a kitchen scale. Then add the hot water measured to 175°F (80°C) and whisk vigorously until the matcha is mixed in and becomes frothy.
Serve. In a serving glass, add the strawberry sauce, ice, and your milk of choice. Top with matcha. Mix and enjoy!
Expert Tips
Use a kitchen scale. Matcha is such a fine powder that it is nearly impossible to measure the correct amount using a measuring spoon. The most precise way is to use a kitchen scale.
Make sure the water is between 158-175°F (70-80°C). Matcha powder is a very delicate tea leaf that requires warm-hot but not boiling water to brew. Any hotter than this the matcha could burn and turn bitter.
Sift the matcha.Sifting the matcha will prevent any large clumps of matcha in your strawberry matcha tea.
Whisk the matcha until frothy. You know that you have high-quality fresh matcha powder is when you whisk the matcha there is an aerated frothy layer at the top. Whisk the matcha with a matcha whisk until all the clumps have dissolved completely and is frothy.
Cut the strawberries into small pieces before cooking. You can either dice the strawberries by hand or use a food processor to quickly chop the strawberries into small pieces. If you don’t like a chunky texture, you can pulverize the strawberries completely before cooking them down for a silkier texture.
Storage Instructions
You can store the strawberry sauce separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. When you are ready to make the matcha latte simply brew fresh matcha to top the strawberry sauce and milk for the best flavor.
Once matcha is exposed to air the color and flavor will drastically change over time. I recommend making the matcha fresh before drinking.
Freeze: you can freeze the strawberry sauce in a freezer-safe container or divide it into ice cube trays in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using.
Frequently Asked Q’s and A’s
What kind of matcha do I use?
Ceremonial grade matcha is the highest quality grade of matcha that yields the most vibrant in color, and most rich tasting matcha. It is the ideal type of matcha to use for the best tasting matcha flavor.
How long can I store the strawberry sauce.
You can store the strawberry sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Alternatively, you can freeze the strawberry sauce in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Does strawberry matcha latte have caffeine?
Yes, this strawberry matcha latte contains caffeine. Generally, matcha contains 19-44 mg of caffeine per gram. So 2-4 g or matcha could contain anywhere between 38-176 mg of caffeine. Matcha also contains L-theanine which reduces the feelings of anxiety and jitteriness and aids in mental focus.
Elevate your morning routine with this strawberry matcha latte made with fresh ripe and juicy strawberries, freshly brewed ceremonial matcha powder and your milk of choice.
Make strawberry sauce. In a small saucepan over medium high heat, add the chopped strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice if using. Stir the strawberries until softened and the juices have released and cook until it reaches a boil. Then lower the heat to medium heat and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until the strawberries have cooked down and the sauce thickens. Smash the strawberries with a wooden spoon for smaller strawberry chunks or use an immersion blender for a more silky texture. Transfer into a container and cool in the refrigerator while you prepare the matcha.
Prepare Matcha. Sift the matcha into a bowl over a kitchen scale. Then add the hot water 175°F (80°C) and whisk vigorously until the matcha is mixed in and becomes frothy.
Serve. In a serving glass, add the strawberry sauce, ice, and your milk of choice. Top with matcha. Mix and enjoy!
Notes
Use a kitchen scale. Matcha is such a fine powder that it is nearly impossible to measure the correct amount using a measuring spoon. The most precise way is to use a kitchen scale.
Make sure the water is between 158-175°F (70-80°C). Matcha powder is a very delicate tea leaf that requires warm-hot but not boiling water to brew. Any hotter than this the matcha could burn and turn bitter.
Sift the matcha. Sifting the matcha will prevent any large clumps of matcha in your strawberry matcha tea.
Whisk the matcha until frothy. You know that you have high quality fresh matcha powder is when you whisk the matcha there is an aerated frothy layer at the top. Whisk the matcha with a matcha whisk until all the clumps have dissolved completely and is frothy.
Cut the strawberries into small pieces before cooking. You can either dice the strawberries by hand or use a food processor to quickly chop the strawberries into small pieces. If you don’t like a chunky texture, you can pulverize the strawberries completely before cooking them down for a silkier texture.
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