Strawberry matcha is one of the most popular drinks of recent months: sweet strawberry purée at the bottom, milk in the middle and green matcha tea on top. It looks striking, and you can make it at home in 10 minutes. Below are the ratios, a step-by-step recipe, a hot version and the most common mistakes.
What is strawberry matcha
It is a take on the matcha latte, that is matcha tea with milk, with strawberry purée added. It is usually served iced in a tall glass so you can see the three layers: red, white and green. You stir it all together before drinking, and the sweet fruit softens matcha's slightly bitter, grassy taste.
Ingredients for 1 drink
- 2 g matcha (1 level teaspoon)
- 60 ml water at 70-80 °C
- 80-100 g strawberries, fresh or frozen
- 1-2 teaspoons sugar, honey or maple syrup
- a few drops of lemon juice
- 150-200 ml cold whole milk or barista oat milk
- a few ice cubes
Step by step
- Blend the strawberries with the sugar and lemon juice into a thick purée. Thaw frozen fruit first, or warm it in a small pan for 3-4 minutes and let it cool.
- Sift the matcha into a bowl so there are no lumps. Pour over the water at 70-80 °C and whisk with a bamboo whisk (chasen) in a W motion until a fine foam forms on top.
- Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of strawberry purée into a tall glass (about 350 ml) and add ice.
- Pour in the cold milk, ideally a spoonful at a time so it does not mix with the purée.
- Finally, pour the matcha slowly over the back of a spoon. Stir just before drinking.
Which matcha to use
For drinks with milk and fruit you do not need the most expensive ceremonial matcha. A good premium or latte-grade matcha powder is enough: it has a vivid green colour and a clear flavour that comes through the milk and strawberries. Pale, yellowish matcha is usually bitter and makes a murky drink.
More on types of matcha and where to try it is in our article matcha in Kołobrzeg.
Hot strawberry matcha
In winter the hot version works well. Warm the strawberry purée, spoon it into a mug, top with milk steamed to 60-65 °C and pour the matcha on top. The layers will not be as clear as with ice, but the drink warms you up. Do not overheat the milk, as it loses its sweetness, and matcha turns bitter in a drink that is too hot.
Common mistakes
- Boiling water straight from the kettle. Water above 80 °C draws bitterness out of matcha. Wait a few minutes after it boils.
- Lumps. Matcha clumps easily, so always sift it and whisk it in a little water before adding milk.
- Purée too thin. Thin purée mixes with the milk and the layers disappear. A blender and ripe fruit give thickness, with a short simmer if needed.
- Too much matcha. 2 g per glass is enough. More powder does not mean more flavour, only more bitterness.
How many calories in strawberry matcha
The drink in this recipe, with 200 ml whole milk, 100 g strawberries and two teaspoons of sugar, has about 200 kcal. Matcha itself has only a few calories, so the total depends mainly on the milk and sugar. With unsweetened plant milk and no sugar you get down to about 100-120 kcal.
Strawberry matcha in Kołobrzeg
If you would rather not make it at home, iced strawberry matcha is served at Colbergcoffee at Dubois 21A in the Old Town, the café with the widest choice of matcha drinks in town. It is open all year, Monday to Thursday from 8:30 to 19:00, Friday and Saturday from 8:30 to 20:00 and Sunday from 9:00 to 19:00. You can also buy matcha to take home at Colbergcoffee.
Like autumn drinks? Have a look at our recipes for pumpkin spice latte and maple brown sugar latte.
