Iced Matcha Latte (It’s a Breeze!)

Friends, I have something to confess. I’m not proud of my actions, but I can assure you that I’ve since remedied my behaviour and it won’t (likely) happen again. But first, let me spill the beans.

Last year, I spent close to $300 on Iced Matcha Lattes from you-know-where.

Forgive me! I was weak. And when meeting friends, running errands, playing chauffeur or any other activity which allowed me to have one hand free, I’d pop into the nearest franchise and fork over about $6.00 for a grande green drink.

Ludicrous, I know.

The worst part? I should have known better. There’s no secret to this sweet, earthy concoction! Iced Matcha Latte literally translates to ice + green tea powder + milk. Three ingredients! (Two if you don’t consider ice an ingredient.) Since realizing how simple it is to make at home, I whip up a quick batch and take my matcha with me. Now all I have to do is figure out what to buy with all the money I’ve saved! Here’s how you can make it at home for about a dollar a glass.
1. Start with matcha. You can find matcha (green tea powder) very easily online, allowing you to shop around for the best price. I purchase matcha in the $10-12 price range for 50g, but go ahead and spend more if you’re keen on a higher quality. I’ve sampled several grades of several different brands, and truthfully, I’m cool with basic stone-ground matcha. But you do you.

2. Use Almond Breeze Vanilla. It’s perfect for so many reasons! First, the almond beverage’s nutty flavour pairs exceptionally well with the earthiness of matcha. In fact, I believe the flavour profile is even better than cow’s milk for this drink. Second, because Almond Breeze Vanilla is lightly sweetened, there’s no need to add additional sugar or honey (unless you want to). Finally, the consistency – smooth and creamy – is perfect for an iced latte! 

Now, in addition to ice, matcha and Almond Breeze Vanilla, you’ll also need a blender and small strainer. Don’t let that scare you away! Even your local barista makes your iced latte in a blender. However, you don’t need the Matcha Maker 2000; a simple single shot blender (the kind you’d use for a smoothie) is fine. The strainer is a must, because clumps of green tea powder are vile.
First, add one heaping teaspoon of matcha to your blender, followed by two cups of Almond Breeze Vanilla. Now, make a decision. You can either add a handful of ice cubes for a frapp-style drink, or blend and simply pour the mixture over ice for a latte. I love to preserve the smooth, creamy consistency of both the matcha and almond beverage, so it’s a latte for me.
Blend the matcha and almond beverage for about 10 seconds, and then pour through a strainer into a tumbler filled with ice. Et voila! The easiest Iced Matcha Latte ever – and it tastes exactly like the coffee shop kind. (Maybe even better!) Since my boys love the taste too, I simply add extra Almond Breeze Vanilla to cut the matcha content in half (glass on left, below). Green tea powder contains caffeine, so less is more for little ones.
You’ll have to play with the amount of matcha and extra sweetener to suit your tastes, but once you find your perfect combination, you’ll say goodbye to $6 grandes for good.

This post is sponsored by Almond Breeze. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own.