Strawberry Matcha Latte

Ingredients

Equipment Needed

• •Blender or immersion blender
• •Fine-mesh sieve (optional, for straining)
• •Small whisk or bamboo chasen
• •Tall glass (12-16 oz)
• •Long spoon for stirring

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the strawberry puree

   Combine the hulled strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in a blender. Blend until completely smooth, about thirty seconds. The mixture should pour like heavy cream. If your berries are particularly fibrous, strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing with a spoon to extract every bit of flavor. You want pure, silky pink liquid.

   The lemon juice brightens the strawberry flavor and prevents the puree from tasting flat. Don't skip it.
2. 2

   Whisk the matcha

   Sift the matcha powder into a small bowl or cup to break up any clumps. Heat water to 175°F, just below a simmer with tiny bubbles forming on the bottom of the pot. Pour the hot water over the matcha. Whisk vigorously in a zigzag motion using a bamboo chasen or a small regular whisk until the matcha dissolves completely and develops a light froth on top, about twenty seconds. No green powder should remain visible.

   Boiling water scorches matcha and turns it bitter. If you don't have a thermometer, let boiled water rest for two minutes before using.
3. 3

   Build the base layer

   Pour the strawberry puree into a tall glass. It should coat the bottom in a vibrant pink pool about one inch deep. This dense, sweet layer will stay put as you add the lighter ingredients above. Tilt the glass slightly and admire what you've started.

4. 4

   Add ice and milk

   Fill the glass with ice cubes, piling them gently rather than dropping them in a rush. You don't want to disturb your pink base more than necessary. Pour the cold milk slowly over the ice, letting it cascade down rather than plunging straight to the bottom. The strawberry will stay beneath, the milk will fill the middle, and you'll start to see the layered beauty forming.

5. 5

   Float the matcha

   Here's where patience matters. Hold a spoon upside down just above the milk's surface and pour the whisked matcha slowly over the back of the spoon. This disperses the flow and lets the matcha settle gently on top rather than sinking. You'll see the green spread across the white like ink in water, but hovering. Work slowly. The visual reward is worth the extra seconds.

   If your matcha sinks, it was likely too warm or too thick. Next time, let it cool a bit more and add an extra splash of water.
6. 6

   Garnish and serve

   Tuck a small mint sprig into the ice if using. Insert a reusable straw or glass straw. Serve immediately with a long spoon for stirring when the drinker is ready to combine the layers. Photograph it first. You earned that.

Chef Tips

• •Frozen strawberries work beautifully here and often have more concentrated flavor than off-season fresh berries. Let them thaw slightly before blending, or add a splash more liquid.
• •For a sweeter drink, stir a tablespoon of simple syrup into the milk before pouring. For less sweet, reduce the sugar in the puree to two teaspoons.
• •Oat milk creates the creamiest texture and froths well. Whole dairy milk is richer. Almond milk works but layers less dramatically due to its thinner body.
• •To batch for a party: triple the strawberry puree and matcha separately. Store in squeeze bottles. Let guests build their own layers over ice and milk for interactive entertaining.
• •Ceremonial-grade matcha costs more but tastes sweeter and less bitter than culinary grade. For a drink where matcha is the star, the investment matters.

Advance Preparation

• •Strawberry puree can be made up to 3 days ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. It actually improves as the flavors meld.
• •Matcha must be whisked fresh. It oxidizes quickly and loses its bright color and clean flavor within an hour of preparation.
• •Pre-chill your glasses in the freezer for 10 minutes for the most dramatic condensation and coldest drink.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nutrition Information

1 serving (about 440g)