Earl Grey Matcha Latte

Name: Earl Grey Matcha Latte Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1½ teaspoon matcha; ½ cup hot water (176°F (80°C)); 1 to 2 tablespoons earl grey syrup ((see post)); ¾ cup milk; ice (optional)

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This earl grey matcha latte is a fun combination of earl grey tea and a matcha latte! It’s sweet, rich, and flavorful. It’s the perfect sweet drink to start your day off with or as a mid-day pick-me-up!

If you want to put a twist on your regular matcha latte, you need to try this earl grey matcha. Sweetened with earl grey simple syrup, the sweet, floral notes, and malty black tea flavor of earl grey tea pair deliciously with the rich, earthy flavor of matcha.

A glass of earl grey matcha with a straw.

Why You’ll Love this Matcha Latte

It’s honestly so easy to make. You can whip this up in 5 minutes or less if you have the earl grey tea simple syrup ready in your fridge.
You can easily make this hot or cold, depending on your mood and weather.
It’s a fun twist to change things up!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Ingredients needed to make earl grey matcha.

matcha powder — a finely grounded powdered green tea, matcha is full of antioxidants and health benefits! Make sure to use a good quality matcha powder for the best results. I recommend using ceremonial grade matcha as it’s made with the premium, first harvest of the year. Ceremonial matcha has a deep green color and tastes more rich and vibrant. Culinary-grade matcha may taste more bitter.

earl grey syrup — you can use a store-bought earl grey syrup, but I usually make my homemade version! It’s very easy to make your own, and I like to use syrup in other recipes, such as lattes or mocktails. Check out my post on how to make earl grey syrup for more details.

milk — I’m using whole milk, but you can also use a non-dairy alternative such as almond milk or oat milk like in my oat milk matcha latte.

Homemade Earl Grey Syrup

To make homemade earl grey syrup for this matcha latte, simply add 1½ cup of hot boiled water and four tea bags to a pot. Steep the earl grey tea bags for 4 to 5 minutes before discarding the tea bags. Then, add a cup of sugar to the pot and simmer, uncovered, for 15 to 20 minutes, making sure to stir until the sugar has completely dissolved. And just like that, you have homemade syrup!

Tools for to Make Homemade Matcha

matcha bowl (chawan) — You can use any bowl to whisk matcha, but I have a specific matcha bowl. If you use a regular bowl, ensure it has high walls to prevent spilling. A spout can make pouring easier.

bamboo whisk (chasen) and whisk stand — a whisk is essential for matcha as it will whisk out the clumps and make the matcha frothy. If you do not have a bamboo whisk, you can use a small kitchen whisk or an electric whisk for frothing milk. If you don’t have either, you can always add the matcha to a mason jar with the water and shake vigorously. The bamboo whisk should be soaked in warm water for a few minutes before using it to help soften up the bristles to prevent them from breaking when you use it. The whisk stand is there to help the bamboo whisk retain its shape as it dries. The whisk can become moldy or crack if not dried properly.

tea sifter — you’ll need a tea sifter (or any small sifter) to help remove any clumps from the matcha powder.

bamboo tea scoop or ladle — or a measuring spoon of sorts. You’ll need it to scoop the matcha and to push it through the sifter.

How to Make Earl Grey Matcha Latte

Set of two photos showing matcha sifted and whisked.

Using a fine-mesh strainer, sift the matcha into a small bowl.
Add the hot water to the bowl and whisk the matcha vigorously in an M shape until the matcha is frothy and there are no clumps. Set aside.

Set of two photos showing earl grey syrup and milk added to a glass.

Add the earl grey simple syrup to your glass.
Add the milk to the glass and stir to combine.

Set of two photos showing ice and matcha added to the glass of milk.

Add the ice to the glass then top off the milk with the matcha. Stir to combine and enjoy!

Recipe Tips and Notes

Matcha is technically tea leaves grounded into powder, so it will never completely dissolve in water. So, it’s normal to see some flecks of matcha in your mixture.
If you prefer a hot vanilla matcha latte, skip the ice and heat up your milk before adding the maple syrup and vanilla extract. I use my Smeg to heat up my milk, but you can also bring it to a simmer on the stovetop.
You can adjust the amount of water and milk added to the iced matcha latte depending on how creamy you prefer your latte.
For good quality matcha, I like purchasing from Ippodo Tea, but sometimes I get dinged by duties. If you’re Canadian, Matsu Kaze Tea is a great alternative to order Japanese matcha!
Try my matcha ice cubes to keep your iced earl grey matcha latte from being diluted if your ice melts faster than you can sip!

A slightly angled view of a glass of iced earl grey matcha with a straw.

How should I store my matcha?

To keep your matcha fresh, store it in a cool, dry location. However, if you prefer, you can also store it in the refrigerator. Just remember to bring it back to room temperature before using it.

High-quality matcha usually comes in a tin or a similar container that protects it from light and air, which can cause it to oxidize and lose its freshness. It’s best to avoid purchasing large amounts of matcha, as it will begin to deteriorate after being opened.

Why is my matcha is yellow or brown?

If your matcha has a yellowish or brownish color, it may indicate that lower quality mature leaves were used to make it, resulting in a bitter taste.