Green Tea and Milk: 10 Ways to Enjoy It

This article was posted back in 2018, but we made videos out of the recipes since they were popular! Watch the video and enjoy the original article below! (The blog article has 10 green tea with milk recipes, but we selected the best six in the video.)  

You already know that green tea is a delicious, healthy beverage. But you might not be aware of just how versatile your favorite tea can be!

A wide variety of beverages, desserts, and baked goods blend the rich, satisfying taste of milk with green tea's subtle, earthy flavor. The possibilities are endless, but we’ve listed ten of our favorite green tea recipes below.

1. Matcha Latte (Green Tea with Milk)

If you're ready to try green tea and milk, a matcha latte is a wonderful place to start!

For the uninitiated, matcha is a powder made of ground green tea leaves. Whereas green tea leaves are steeped in hot water before use, matcha powder is blended directly into recipes or beverages. Matcha lattes are delicious, healthy, and easy to make.

A fine "ceremonial grade" matcha powder is recommended if you're drinking matcha by itself. On the other hand, for a nice latte, a more affordable "culinary-grade" powder will do the trick.

First, use a bamboo whisk to blend a teaspoon of matcha powder into 1/4 cup of boiling water. Then, add milk and sweeten the latte to taste with agave nectar or other natural sweeteners. It’s that simple!

This tried-and-true latte recipe is delicious hot, but you can also combine the ingredients cold in a jar with ice and shake vigorously for a yummy, chilled alternative.

Easy Recipe

• Matcha  (1 tsp)
• Hot Water (1/4 cup)
• Milk (3/4 cup)
• Agave Nectar or Natural Sweetener (1 tsp)

Check out my in-depth article about how to make matcha latte here. 

2. Matcha Cupcakes

Culinary-grade matcha is perfect for baking. It is healthy and flavorful, but it also adds a dramatic splash of green to baked goods without the use of artificial dyes. Adding matcha powder to your next batch of treats will imbue them with an eye-catching grass green color derived from a natural, healthy source.

Cupcakes are the perfect confectionary candidate for the vivid green of matcha powder. Add two tablespoons of matcha green tea powder to your favorite vanilla cupcake recipe for every cup of milk or buttermilk. Don’t forget to sprinkle a little matcha powder onto your decadent frosting of choice!

3. Green Tea Pudding

Lots of delicious, milky desserts benefit from the earthy flavors of matcha powder.

For example, adding a tablespoon of culinary-grade matcha powder to your favorite pudding recipe will add color and flavor to a classic sweet treat. For extra presentational flair, sprinkle additional matcha on top of the pudding.

4. Green Tea Lassi

Lassi is a traditional yogurt-based Indian beverage. A version of lassi with turmeric powder is a popular folk beverage all across India, but lassi with green tea also has devotees worldwide. Sip this mild, chilly beverage on a warm summer day, and you’re sure to understand why.

Lassi is straightforward to prepare. You’ll just need equal parts plain yogurt, milk, and a teaspoon or two of matcha powder. Beat the ingredients together thoroughly and sweeten to taste with agave nectar. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can add a teaspoon of lemon juice for a little citrus kick.

Easy Recipe

• Matcha (1-2 tsp)
• Yogurt (1/2 cup)
• Milk (1/2 cup)
• Agave nectar (1 tsp)
• Lemon (a little bit) 

5. Matcha Donuts

As with cupcakes, donuts are great for showcasing personality through a playful presentation. The vivid green color of matcha can give your next batch of donuts an eccentric style all their own.

A few tablespoons of culinary-grade matcha powder blend well into any donut recipe. But you should also consider whipping up a sweet matcha glaze to get the full effect. Our favorite matcha glaze recipe calls for half a cup of whole milk, two cups of powdered sugar, and two tablespoons of matcha powder.

Easy Recipe

• Matcha (2–3 tbsp)
• Milk (1/2 cup)
• Powdered sugar (2 cups)
• Self-rising flower (1 cup)

6. Green Boba Tea (Bubble Tea)

Boba tea is a popular treat throughout East and Southeast Asia. It’s also sometimes called "bubble tea," a reference to the black tapioca pearls that rest at the bottom of the cup. The classic black tapioca bubbles can be purchased at many Asian supermarkets. They’re also widely available online. (Here’s a link to Amazon.

The body of the drink calls for a handful of ice cubes and equal parts brewed green tea and milk. An optional teaspoon of matcha powder can add a splash of rich green color. Mix everything in a cocktail shaker, and you’ll have a full serving of naturally colorful milk tea ready to pour.

If you’re adding tapioca pearls to your beverage, drink it through a wide enough straw to get the full boba tea experience.

Easy Recipe

• Matcha (1 tsp)
• Milk (1 cup)
• Honey or sweetener (2 tbsp)
• Tapioca (1/4 cup): click here for a link to buy tapioca.
  

Check out this in-depth article about Green Tea Boba written by Mike, CEO of BubbleTeaology.

7. Matcha À La Mode

Green tea is one of the most delicious ice cream flavors. Many popular brands offer their own spin on green tea ice cream. Alternatively, you can make your own by adding a tablespoon of culinary-grade matcha powder for every cup of wet ingredients in your favorite ice cream recipe.

Also, you can mix matcha powder with hot water and whisk it. Pour it over the matcha to vanilla ice cream. This is my personal favorite of all.

 

8. Matcha Custard

For the ultimate marriage of healthful green tea and decadent dessert, we highly recommend incorporating the flavors of green tea into your next batch of custard. Only a teaspoon of culinary-grade matcha powder is required for every cup of wet ingredients. The results are visually stunning, rich in antioxidants, and absolutely delicious.

9. Milky Green Tea Popsicles

Just like all the best homemade popsicles, green tea popsicles are very simple to make. The recipe calls for two teaspoons of culinary-grade matcha powder for every cup of milk. Sweeten the mixture to taste with agave nectar and freeze it in your favorite popsicle mold for five hours.

Easy Recipe

• Matcha (2 tsp.)
• Milk (1 cup)
• Agave nectar (1 tsp)

10. Matcha Smoothies

Adding green tea to your favorite healthy smoothie is a simple way to give it added flavor and a little kick of caffeine. The taste of green tea pairs well with just about every fruit combination under the sun. But our personal favorite recipes? They're the ones that bring together matcha powder, milk, and vanilla for a rich, refreshing flavor.

You can adjust our simple vanilla variation with mint, citrus, or even a little protein powder if that’s your style. You can also mix a few teaspoons of matcha into your own go-to smoothie for an easy antioxidant upgrade.

The delicious flavor of green tea can spruce up your favorite go-to recipes or inspire you to try something outside your comfort zone. As these lattes, cupcakes, and custards prove, matcha and milk are indeed a match made in heaven.

Easy Recipe

• Matcha (2 tsp.)
• Milk (2 cups)
• Vanilla (1/2 tsp)
• Ice (1 cup)
• Baby spinach leaves (1 cup)
• Frozen grapes (2 cups)
• Frozen Banana (1)
  

Read one of my most popular articles, "20 Yummy and Healthy Green Tea Smoothie Recipes" and "Exploring The Green Tea Smoothie Revolution in Japan."

Bonus - Green Tea Club Facebook Group

In our Green Tea Club Private Facebook Group, fellow matcha lovers share their favorite recipes. Here is a snapshot of one of them. Join our private Facebook group to participate in future conversations. It's fun! Click here to join.

Did you learn a lot from this post about green tea and milk? Here are three more to read next:

• DRINKING GREEN TEA WITH MILK IS BAD FOR YOU—TRUE OR FALSE?—GREEN TEA QUIZ
• 10 WAYS TO SWEETEN YOUR MATCHA GREEN TEA
• 3 MUST-TRY GREEN TEA DESSERTS

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• Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself, and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
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- Kei and Team at Japanese Green Tea Co.