Hydrating, detoxifying and caffeinating. My favorite drink on the menu is the Starbucks Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte. This bev is packed with so much green tea (read: the good stuff) it’s crazy!
What is Matcha?
Matcha is the ground up powder that once was full green tea leaves. It’s the whole green tea leaf ground in to powder form, so it makes your drink more green-tea dense than just steeping green tea leaves.
Additionally, you’re mixing the matcha in your drink and ingesting directly. As such, you’re receiving more benefits versus steeping and removing the leaves before consuming.
Benefits of Green Tea
Matcha is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body. This includes improved brain function, fat loss, a lower risk of cancer and many other incredible benefits.
These effects are exponentially multiplied when you consume the leaf directly via it’s powder form. It promotes feelings of energy (there’s about 10% as much caffeine as coffee but it’s more concentrated so there’s a lot of it in there), vitality, and focus.
Matcha is also full of catechins, a vital antioxidant that is wonderful for your skin and general hydration.
How to Order a Starbucks Matcha Green Tea Latte
This is how my mobile order sticker looks if you’d like to reference the instructions directly from the source. Pin this photo for ordering convenience later!
My Only Critique
I’m air quoting ‘critique’ because it’s actually a bit delicious once you get past the texture shock.
I noticed some matcha was un-mixed and gathered at the bottom. It might not have stirred in fully, or maybe it’s just a one-off that didn’t mix well, but the leaves really took on the vanilla flavor and made for a nice little vanilla-flavored leafy crunch every few sips. Might sound crazy, but just a heads up.
Matcha Green Tea Latte Nutrition
[Edit 5/2/18] While Starbucks is wonderful and convenient, you’ll notice there is some sugar in the drink. None that we’re adding by way of flavoring it, though. Turns out, Starbucks adds sugar to their matcha powder. I don’t understand that personally, but it’s only right that you know the facts. The drink is delicious, but it is not 100% sugar-free. The way I order it here does not add any additional sugar, though. [End edit]
Making Your Own Matcha Green Tea Latte
Of course, there are likely some better matcha options out there for you. If you are interested in making the drink at home (which I always encourage), I enjoy this matcha powder. Very pure, and no added sugar.
Additionally, I have a recipe for a simple homemade matcha green tea latte, and I’ve also sampled the Trader Joe’s Matcha Latte Almond Milk and given my review.
Don’t love Vanilla?
You can add any syrup flavor you’d like! Vanilla complements the earthier green tea flavor well, but surely hazelnut or perhaps even caramel would be delightful also. If you do try another flavor please let me know in the comments! I haven’t gotten the courage to venture far from vanilla yet.
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