Strawberry Matcha Latte
Crushed sweet strawberries, cold milk and whisked matcha, layered red, white and green.
A strawberry matcha latte is an iced matcha latte built over crushed, sweetened strawberries. Red fruit at the bottom, white milk in the middle and green matcha on top make the layers it is known for.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 70 mg in one serving (12 oz (355 ml) glass over ice), a concentration of 19.7 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
| Brewing method | Layered over ice: strawberry, milk, matcha |
|---|---|
| Brew ratio | 60 g strawberries, 150 g milk, 2 g matcha in 40 g water |
| Dose & yield | 2g → 260g |
| Grind size | Matcha powder, sifted |
| Water temperature | 172°F / 78°C |
| Target brew time | Strawberries macerate 10 min; whisk matcha 20-30 sec |
| Serving | 12 oz (355 ml) glass over ice |
What you need
- 60 g strawberries, hulled (fresh or frozen)
- 8 g sugar
- 2 g latte-grade matcha, sifted
- 40 g water at 75-80°C
- 150 g cold milk
- 100 g ice
Required gear
- Small bowl and fork
- Bamboo whisk or small electric frother
- Fine sieve
- Tall glass
- Scale
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Crush 60 g strawberries with 8 g sugar using a fork and leave for 10 minutes to release their juice.
- 10:00Spoon the strawberries into the bottom of a tall glass and fill it with ice.
- 10:30Pour in 150 g cold milk slowly, so it sits on the fruit.
- 11:00Sift 2 g matcha into a bowl, add 40 g water at 75-80°C, and whisk for 20-30 seconds until smooth and frothy.
- 11:45Pour the matcha slowly over the back of a spoon to float on top. Stir before drinking.
Troubleshooting
What it may be good for
The caffeine count
About 70 mg from 2 g of matcha, roughly a single shot of espresso.
Estimate; matcha caffeine varies with grade and dose.
Fruit for the sweetness
Most of the sweetness comes from the strawberries; 8 g of sugar is enough to draw out their juice.
What to watch out for
- Contains caffeine. If you are pregnant, nursing, sensitive to caffeine or have been told to limit it, use 1 g of matcha.
- Contains dairy unless made with a plant milk. Keep crushed strawberries refrigerated and use them within three days.
A strawberry matcha latte is an iced matcha latte built over crushed, sweetened strawberries. Red fruit at the bottom, white milk in the middle and green matcha on top make the layers it is known for. Stirred together it tastes like strawberries and cream with a grassy, slightly bitter tea edge.
Origin & Story
Where it comes from
Strawberry and matcha have been paired in Japanese sweets for a long time, in strawberry daifuku, cakes and parfaits, and ichigo milk, fresh strawberry crushed into sweet milk, is a classic Japanese café and home drink. The layered strawberry matcha latte grew from those in cafés in Japan and Korea and spread internationally in the 2020s, where its colours made it a favourite on social media. It is now a regular spring and summer drink on many café menus.
Why strawberry suits matcha
Matcha is grassy, sweet and a little bitter, with a savoury note; strawberry is sweet, sharp and fruity. The fruit's acidity brightens the tea, and the tea's bitterness stops the drink tasting like a milkshake. Milk ties them together, the way cream ties strawberries to a cake.
Real fruit, not syrup
The best versions use fresh or frozen strawberries crushed with a little sugar and left for a few minutes, which draws out juice and makes a loose jam. Strawberry syrups are brighter red but taste of candy. If your strawberries are pale or sour, cook them briefly with the sugar for five minutes; that concentrates the flavour, and the result keeps for three days in the fridge.
Why it layers, and why to stir
The sweetened fruit is the densest layer and sinks, cold milk sits on it, and matcha whisked into a little water floats on top. Poured slowly over ice, the three stay separate for a few minutes. Stir before drinking, or you get grassy tea first and pure strawberry at the end.
Acid and milk
Strawberries are acidic, and acid can curdle milk. In this drink it rarely does, because the fruit is a small amount, the milk is cold, and the sugar helps. If you use a plant milk, oat milk is the most stable; some soy milks curdle with fruit acid.
Making it at home
Crush the strawberries with sugar first, then whisk the matcha with water at 75-80°C, and build the glass: fruit, ice, milk, matcha. For more on matcha itself, see our matcha latte page.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 64/100 |
| Acidity | 42/100 |
| Bitterness | 30/100 |
| Body | 60/100 |
| Aroma | 70/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Strawberry Matcha Latte?
One serving, 12 oz (355 ml) glass over ice, contains approximately 70 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Strawberry Matcha Latte?
Target 78°C (172°F). Matcha is whisked well below boiling: water that is too hot scorches the powder and brings out bitterness, and it costs you the sweetness that shading put there.
How long should Strawberry Matcha Latte be extracted?
Timing: Strawberries macerate 10 min; whisk matcha 20-30 sec. Method: Layered over ice: strawberry, milk, matcha. Ratio: 2 g matcha in 40 g water, 150 g milk, 60 g strawberries. Grind or leaf format: Matcha powder, sifted.
Why does my Strawberry Matcha Latte taste bitter?
With matcha there is no steeping to shorten, so bitterness is almost always the water or the powder. Let the kettle stand until the water is around 80°C — boiling water scorches the powder — sift it so there are no dry pockets, and whisk in a quick W or M motion rather than stirring. If it is still harsh, the powder may be old or a lower grade; fresh first-harvest matcha tastes noticeably sweeter.
What does a strawberry matcha latte taste like?
Like strawberries and cream with a grassy, slightly bitter green tea edge. The fruit brightens the matcha and the matcha keeps it from tasting like a milkshake.
Can I use frozen strawberries?
Yes. Thaw them with the sugar; they release more juice than fresh, which suits this drink.
Will the strawberries curdle the milk?
Rarely, because there is little fruit and the milk is cold. If you use a plant milk, oat milk is the most stable; some soy milks curdle with fruit acid.
Should I stir it?
Yes, before drinking. The layers are for looks; unstirred, the first sips are all tea and the last all fruit.
Who should avoid Strawberry Matcha Latte?
Contains caffeine. If you are pregnant, nursing, sensitive to caffeine or have been told to limit it, use 1 g of matcha. Contains dairy unless made with a plant milk. Keep crushed strawberries refrigerated and use them within three days. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Hand-Carved Takayama Bamboo Matcha Chasen Whisk
In this recipe: Bamboo whisk or small electric frother
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