Matcha for Lattes

Japanese Matcha for Lattes

A good matcha latte starts with matcha you actually enjoy.

Milk softens some of matcha’s bitterness and changes how its sweetness, umami and aroma come through in the cup. That’s why different matchas can create very different lattes.

Some are creamy and mellow. Others are richer, more vegetal or more pronounced through milk.

At Ujiha, we select Japanese matcha for lattes based on how the tea performs in the cup, not simply on labels such as “latte grade” or “ceremonial grade.”

What Matcha Is Best for a Latte?

There isn’t one matcha that’s best for everyone.

If you enjoy a stronger matcha flavour, look for a tea with enough character to remain noticeable after adding milk. If you prefer something softer and creamier, a smoother matcha with less bitterness may suit you better.

The milk you use matters too. Full-cream dairy, oat, almond and other milks can bring out different parts of the same matcha.

That’s why we recommend choosing by flavour and how you drink it, rather than simply choosing the most expensive matcha.

Can You Use High-Quality Matcha for Lattes?

Absolutely.

Some high-quality matchas are traditionally appreciated with water because drinking them as usucha or koicha allows you to experience more of the tea’s aroma, umami and subtle flavour.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t add milk.

If your favourite first-harvest or premium matcha makes the latte you love, enjoy it that way. We may tell you how a particular matcha is traditionally prepared and where we think it performs best, but the final cup is yours.

We tell you about the tea. You decide how to drink it.

First-Harvest Matcha in a Latte

First-harvest matcha is often sought after for its flavour when prepared traditionally with water, but some latte drinkers prefer using it with milk too.

The result can be a more refined latte, although some of the subtle characteristics of the matcha may become less noticeable once milk is added.

If you’re curious, try the same matcha both ways.

Whisk one bowl with water, then make a latte with it. You may be surprised by how differently the same tea presents itself.

Hot or Iced Matcha Lattes

The matcha in this collection can be used for both hot and iced lattes.

For an iced matcha latte, whisk your matcha with a small amount of water before pouring it over milk and ice. For a hot latte, prepare the matcha separately before adding warm milk.

You can use dairy milk, oat milk, almond milk or whatever you normally enjoy.

There is no need to make matcha complicated.

Explore Matcha Beyond Lattes

Your latte might also be the beginning of discovering matcha in other ways.

Try your favourite matcha with water as usucha and you’ll experience parts of the tea that milk can soften or hide. Explore different Japanese producers, cultivars, harvests and growing methods and you’ll quickly discover that matcha doesn’t have just one flavour.

Some matchas may become your everyday latte.

Others might become the one you save for a quiet bowl with water.

Latte, usucha, hot or iced. Find the matcha that tastes right to you.

Want to understand how milk changes matcha? Read our guide to matcha and milk.