This green milk tea, also known as matcha milk tea, is creamy, refreshing, and full of sweet, earthy flavor. Matcha powder is whisked with hot water until smooth and frothy, then layered with milk, sweetener, ice, and chewy boba pearls for a café-style drink you can make at home. It is simple, soothing, and just indulgent enough to feel like a treat.
Like my butterfly pea tea latte and tiger milk tea, this matcha milk tea recipe comes together quickly with a few easy steps. Serve it for brunch, afternoon tea, or a relaxing pick-me-up alongside coconut pecan cookies, pumpkin pecan waffles, or Brioche French toast casserole.
What is Matcha?
Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder with a distinct flavor and beautiful green color. It is especially popular in Japan and across East Asia. Unlike regular brewed green tea, matcha is whisked directly into water, so the powder becomes part of the drink instead of being steeped and removed.
The taste of matcha is earthy, grassy, slightly sweet, and lightly nutty. Depending on the grade and how it is prepared, it can also have a subtle bitterness and a rich umami finish. For this green milk tea recipe, matcha powder works best because it blends smoothly into the creamy milk base and gives the drink its signature color.
If you enjoy green tea desserts, you may also like my soft serve matcha ice cream or these matcha donuts, which are perfect for tea time.
Reasons to Love This Matcha Milk Tea
Vibrant flavor: Matcha gives this drink a bold green tea taste that is earthy, creamy, and gently sweet. The milk softens the natural bitterness of the tea, while the sweetener brings everything together.
Smooth energy: Matcha contains caffeine, but many people find green tea gentler than coffee. This makes matcha milk tea a lovely choice when you want something refreshing without the heaviness of a rich coffee drink.
Easy to customize: You can make this recipe with dairy milk, oat milk, almond milk, soy milk, coconut milk, or any milk you enjoy. You can also adjust the sweetness to suit your taste.
Delicious hot or iced: This recipe is written as an iced matcha milk tea, but the same flavors work beautifully warm. Serve it over ice for a refreshing drink or skip the ice for a cozy matcha latte-style version.
Boba makes it extra fun: Tapioca pearls are optional, but they add a chewy texture that turns this simple green tea drink into a satisfying boba milk tea.
Ingredient List
Here are the main ingredients you need to make this matcha milk tea recipe:
- Matcha green tea powder: Use good-quality matcha for the best flavor and color. Culinary-grade matcha works well for milk tea because it has enough strength to stand up to milk and sweetener.
- Hot water: Hot water helps dissolve the matcha powder and create a smooth, frothy tea base. Avoid boiling water, as very hot water can make matcha taste bitter.
- Milk: Whole milk, skim milk, almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, and coconut milk all work. Each option changes the flavor and creaminess slightly, so use what you enjoy most.
- Sweetener: Condensed milk gives the drink a rich, creamy sweetness. Brown sugar syrup, honey, sugar, agave syrup, or flavored syrup can also be used.
- Boba pearls: Cooked tapioca pearls are optional, but they add the classic chewy texture of bubble tea. They also absorb some of the sweetness as the drink sits.
- Ice cubes: Ice keeps the drink cold and refreshing.
- Frothed milk or cream: This is optional, but a creamy topping makes the drink feel extra special.
💭Variations and Substitutions
Variations
- Matcha latte style: Skip the boba and serve the matcha with milk and sweetener for a smoother latte-style drink.
- Honey matcha milk tea: Replace the condensed milk or syrup with honey for a floral sweetness.
- Coconut matcha milk tea: Use coconut milk for a creamy drink with a light tropical flavor.
- Extra creamy version: Top the drink with frothed cream or frothed milk and a small dusting of matcha powder.
- Less sweet version: Start with half the sweetener, stir, taste, and add more only if needed.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Sift the matcha: Place the matcha powder in a fine-mesh sieve or small sifter over a bowl. Sift until the powder is smooth and free of clumps. This step helps create a silky matcha milk tea without dry pockets of powder.
Step 2: Make the matcha paste: Add a tablespoon of hot water to the sifted matcha. Whisk vigorously in a zig-zag motion until a smooth paste forms. Add the remaining hot water and continue whisking until the matcha is fully dissolved and lightly frothy. Let it cool to room temperature, or place it in the refrigerator for a few minutes to cool faster.
Step 3: Sweeten the glass: Add condensed milk, brown sugar syrup, honey, or your preferred sweetener to a tall serving glass. If you are making two servings, divide the sweetener evenly between the glasses.
Step 4: Add boba and ice: Spoon cooked tapioca pearls into the glass, then add plenty of ice cubes. Use as much or as little boba as you like.
Step 5: Pour in the milk: Add your milk of choice, leaving a little room at the top for the matcha and optional topping.
Step 6: Add the matcha: Slowly pour the cooled matcha over the milk. Stir well until the sweetener, milk, boba, and green tea are fully combined.
Garnish: If desired, top the iced matcha milk tea with frothed milk or cream and a light sprinkle of matcha powder. Serve immediately with a boba straw.
I like using frothed heavy cream mixed with coconut milk for the topping. It adds a rich, creamy finish that pairs beautifully with the earthy matcha.
Pro Tips
- Let the matcha cool before adding it to the iced drink. This keeps the ice from melting too quickly and helps preserve the creamy texture.
- Whisk the matcha in a quick zig-zag motion rather than a circular motion. This helps break up clumps and creates a light froth.
- A bamboo whisk is ideal for matcha, but a small kitchen whisk can also work.
- Use hot water around 175°F (80°C). Boiling water can make matcha taste harsh or bitter.
- Adjust the milk-to-matcha ratio to your taste. Use more milk for a creamier drink or more matcha for a stronger green tea flavor.
- Cook boba pearls according to the package directions. For the best texture, use them soon after cooking.
- If storing cooked boba briefly, keep it in a little simple syrup or sugar water to prevent sticking and drying out.
RECIPE FAQS
You can find matcha powder at specialty tea shops, Asian supermarkets, some grocery stores, and online retailers. For the best taste, choose a reputable brand and look for matcha labeled as ceremonial grade or culinary grade, depending on how you plan to use it.
Matcha has a rich, earthy, and savory flavor with grassy notes and a gentle bitterness. When mixed with milk and sweetener, it becomes creamy, smooth, and balanced.
Yes, green tea can be combined with milk to make a green tea latte or milk tea. Milk softens the flavor of the tea and gives the drink a creamier texture. Some people prefer plain green tea, while others enjoy the mellow taste of green tea with milk.
A matcha latte is usually made with matcha powder, hot water, and milk. Matcha milk tea is similar, but it is often sweeter and may include boba pearls, ice, or flavored syrups. Both drinks use matcha, but milk tea typically has a sweeter, more dessert-like finish.
Cooked boba pearls are best enjoyed fresh. If you need to store them for a short time, place them in a sealed container with a small amount of simple syrup or sugar water to keep them from sticking together. Use them within a day for the best texture.
Love Matcha Recipes? Here are Some Green Tea Related Recipes To Try:
- Matcha Roll Cake
- Matcha Ice Cream
- Baked Matcha Donut with White Chocolate Glaze
- Butterfly Pea Tea Latte
If you try this green milk tea recipe, share it with us using the hashtag #worldlytreat. I would love to see your creamy matcha milk tea creations.
PEACE & LOVE
Maureen
📖 Recipe
Green Milk Tea
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons matcha green tea powder
- ½ cup hot water
- 4 tablespoons condensed milk or brown sugar syrup, divided
- ½ cup cooked tapioca boba pearls divided
- 1 cup milk any type you prefer, divided
- Ice cubes
- Frothed milk or cream optional, for topping
Instructions
-
Set aside two serving glasses. The ingredient amounts are for two servings, so divide the sweetener, boba, milk, and matcha evenly between the glasses.
-
Sift the matcha powder into a small bowl or cup. Add about one tablespoon of hot water and whisk vigorously in a zig-zag motion until a smooth paste forms.
-
Pour in the remaining hot water and continue whisking until the matcha is fully dissolved and lightly frothy.
-
Let the matcha cool to room temperature, or refrigerate it briefly to speed up the cooling process.
-
Add condensed milk or your preferred sweetener to each serving glass.
-
Add cooked tapioca pearls and plenty of ice cubes.
-
Pour the milk into each glass, leaving a little space at the top.
-
Slowly pour the cooled matcha over the milk. Stir well to combine the sweetener, milk, boba, and matcha.
-
Top with frothed milk or cream if desired. Add a light sprinkle of matcha powder and serve immediately with a boba straw.
Notes
- Use high-quality matcha for the best taste and color.
- Do not use boiling water for matcha, as it can make the tea taste bitter.
- Cool the matcha before adding it to the iced drink so the ice does not melt too quickly.
- Adjust the sweetener and milk to match your preferred flavor and creaminess.
- Boba pearls are best enjoyed fresh, shortly after cooking.
Nutrition
| Calories: 297kcal
| Carbohydrates: 48g
| Protein: 12g
| Fat: 7g
| Sugar: 30g