Vanilla Matcha Latte with Oat Milk

This simple oat milk vanilla matcha latte is such a bliss! Either you use a real vanilla bean or vanilla extract, the flavors are amazing and the froth is made using a blender, no fancy tools required. This version is made completely dairy-free too.

I have always loved the matcha flavor, but I have felt intimidated to make my own matcha latte at home for so long.

Maybe this came from the idea that matcha tea is traditionally part of a tea ceremony in Japan, plus it is not cheap, which made it seem less accessible. But, I learned with time that in fact, this fine green tea powder is easy to use right at home and makes for the most delicious lattes!

So, no need to break the bank and run to the coffee shop when craving a vanilla matcha latte, I'll show you how to make it easily from scratch using a blender (no fancy equipment needed).

Plus, you'll have the option to use either vanilla extract OR a real vanilla bean. It's up to you. Both delicious. Depending on how classy you feel.

Oh, and you will need oat milk. Oat milk is amazing to make vegan lattes. Frothy-thick-rich-vanilla-oat-milk. Yum.

Matcha latte: how it tastes and why drink it

If you have never had a matcha latte, then you might need to reevaluate your goals in life. Just kiddin. But, really, you need to explore the whole fun world of matcha, you won't look back.

Matcha latte is simply a satisfying warm drink made with ground green tea leaves (matcha powder). Matcha can boost your energy level and help your focus stay sharp, which can help you cut on your coffee consumption. Also packed with nutrient-dense chlorophyl and rich in antioxidants, it is known to provide anti-inflammatory benefits if consumed regularly.

But there is so much more to its amazing nutrition: matcha green powder has big flavor that somehow is very unique and oddly addictive. It carries an earthy and 'almost bitter' flavor that when paired with a hint of sweetness, such as naturally sweetened oat milk and maple syrup in this case, becomes a delight.

Vanilla flavored matcha latte

There are so many matcha drinks I am dying to make for the blog. But, I thought a cup of simple steamy vanilla green tea latte was a good place to start.

Because vanilla and matcha are simply meant to be together. I would go as far as saying that this cup of vanilla matcha latte tastes just like cake!

When making it, I love to use a whole vanilla bean. The flavor simply feels more 'real' and intense. Plus, the tiny black dots make the creamy white foam so appetizing. It just feels like a treat-to-myself when using the real deal. But, vanilla beans are expensive and not essential to make an amazingly flavorful drink. I enjoy the vanilla beans from the company Vanilla bean kings that I ordered online.

You can use vanilla extract to make it as well, but here is the trick: you will need a whole tablespoon of the extract to flavor it.

Best plant milk for lattes

I think this has some room for discussion as we might all have a different opinion on this one, but I absolutely love using oat milk when making lattes. It is thicker, with a natural subtle sweet flavor and I love the way it froths. I know there are many brands that actually advertise themself as plant milk specifically to make lattes, but I just use a regular oat milk (actually, we use the one from Oatly) and it does an amazing job.

Plus, oat milk is our favorite milk we keep in the house for all things such as oatmeals, smoothies, cereals and baking. Our kids are going to a nut-free pre-school, so I usually only keep nut-free milks in the house during the school months.

Anyway, if you are new to making lattes at home, I suggest you try out a few brands to find your favorite. If you don't have oat milk, feel free to use almond, soy or even coconut milk.

Blender oat milk matcha latte

I enjoy using a matcha sifter and bamboo whisk when making green tea lattes: I found the whole whisking process to be calming and forces me to slow down for a few minutes. BUT, I actually often end up making my matcha lattes using my blender. So, if you are not fully equipped with the the usual matcha latte tools, then don't let this stop you!

Why use a blender when making matcha lattes:

• No grainy green tea residue left in your cup. The blender will make sure the powder is fully dissolved into the milk and won't tend to sink at the bottom of your cup, anyway not as quickly as when whisked manually.
• No need to sift the matcha powder: the powder is so fine that it tends to clump together while storing. When whisking it manually, it is recommended to first sift the powder into the cup to help incorporate it into the milk and avoid lumps. Using a blender will have you skip this step!
• I tend to use my blender when making more than one matcha latte at once. I can just blend a larger amount and don't have to whisk each cup by hand.
• Look at that elegant thick froth! The blender pretty much whips the matcha-oat milk to a thick and luscious mixture, which creates a beautiful foam layer over the matcha tea after poured into the cup.

Also, check out this post from Alison at keepingthepeas, she has all sort of fun oat milk latte ideas!

What you'll need

• Matcha green tea powder: choose a ceremonial grade matcha when making lattes (keep the culinary grade for when baking or making smoothies). I use the ceremonial grade matcha powder from Matcha Organics.
• Oat milk: I love the unsweetened oat milk from Oatly when making lattes, although you can use your favorite plant milk.
• Sweetener: I used maple syrup, but any sweetener will work.
• Vanilla Bean OR Vanilla extract: both work great.

How to make it

Prepare the vanilla bean (if using)

(Skip this step if using vanilla extract)

Place the vanilla bean on a wooden board and slice it lengthwise using a sharp small knife. Try to cut only the top portion of the shell (as opposed to all the way through), I find it easier to get the tiny black seeds that way.

Open up the bean using your fingers and place the blade of your knife at one extremity, perpendicular to the bean without slicing it. Then, remove the seeds by scraping the interior of the bean: the seeds should stick to your blade.

Warm up your milk (and infuse the vanilla flavor)

Transfer the milk to a small pot and add the emptied vanilla bean plus all the tiny black seeds from the vanilla bean. Alternatively, simply add the tablespoon of vanilla extract to the milk.

Stir and warm up on medium-low heat until warmed up to your liking. You don't want to boil/cook the milk, as it can curdle or clump, but the milk might slightly thicken and get bubbly. Stir often and keep the heat low (stay around so it does not overflow).

Once warmed up, remove and discard the emptied vanilla bean (I use tongs, careful not to burn yourself).

Blend

Pour the warm vanilla milk in a blender and add the matcha green tea powder and your sweetener. I use about 1 tablespoon of maple syrup because I like mine on the sweeter side, but you can start with less to see how you like yours.

Blend on high for about one minute or until nice and frothy.

Pour into a mug and enjoy!

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Watch how to make it

How to make an Iced Vanilla matcha latte

You can easily make an iced version of this drink, which is perfect in the summer when looking for a refreshing matcha drink.

To make it, skip warming up your milk completely. Instead, add everything cold to a blender (milk + vanilla bean seeds/vanilla extract + maple syrup + matcha powder) and blend until frothy.

Then, pour over ice cubes in a tall glass and drink cold.

As a side note: I believe that infusing the vanilla bean into the the milk while it is warming up makes the flavor more pronounced, so you might want to consider using vanilla extract when making it cold instead. Or, add the vanilla seeds and emptied vanilla bean to the milk and let it sit in the fridge overnight so the flavor has enough time to infuse. Remove the bean before blending.

How to make it using the bamboo whisk and frother

Either you don't have a blender or feel like going the traditional way, then here is how you can make it using your matcha tools:

Warm up the milk with the vanilla bean and seeds on the stove, just as described.

Meanwhile, sift the matcha powder into your serving cup and add about ¼ cup of hot water (aim for about 175º). Then, using your bamboo whisk, dissolve the matcha powder by whisking vigorously (fast sideway motions are best). It should take about 30 seconds for the matcha to dissolve and the mixture should become slightly frothy without any obvious matcha clumps.

Remove the vanilla bean from the warm milk and using your frother, foam the milk to desired texture. Then, pour over the matcha in the cup and enjoy right away.

More matcha recipes

• Mini matcha brownies
• Matcha chocolate oatmeal
• Matcha coconut balls

I hope you enjoy this vanilla matcha latte recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

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