If you love matcha, you’ll love this guide. It shows you all the delicious ways you can enjoy matcha at Starbucks. You’ll find out what’s in each drink, how much caffeine it has, and how many calories it has. You’ll also learn how to order each Starbucks Matchs drink easily with the app.
It can be a little bland to gulp down a cup of coffee or espresso every time you need energy. Don’t get me wrong, I am a coffee lover, but I would also like a wider variety of caffeine-based drinks that taste nothing like coffee. Some days I want a beverage that has a gentler flavor or a completely unique flavor. When I want caffeine without the coffee, I order a Starbucks matcha latte. It is the perfect backup drink.
Best Matcha Drinks At Starbucks
Starbucks has two matcha green tea milk-based drinks and three plain matcha green tea drinks. The matcha tea drinks that contain milk are the Matcha Green Tea Frappuccino and the Matcha Tea Latte. For the plain green tea drinks, Starbucks has brewed green teas called Emperor’s Clouds & Mist and Jade Citrus Mint, and they have the Iced Green Tea. Also, White Tea is a type of leaf that is a member of the green tea family.
Starbucks wisely included a few green tea-based drinks in their lineup of drinks. While matcha and green tea do not have the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee or a shot of espresso, many people would rather drink green tea and matcha because coffee has an extremely bitter flavor.
1. Matcha Tea Latte
How It Tastes
The Matcha Tea Latte is a delightful blend of earthy, sweet, and creamy flavors that make it a satisfying beverage for any time of day. The bold taste of matcha green tea is perfectly balanced with the creamy sweetness of milk, creating a delicious and comforting drink.
The natural sweetness of the matcha powder mixes well with the steamed milk, giving the latte a rich, velvety texture that’s both soothing and invigorating. The distinct flavor of matcha lingers on the tongue, leaving you with a satisfying aftertaste that will have you craving more.
Ingredients: 2% Milk, Matcha Powder (sugar, ground green tea)
Nutrition: Calories 240; Caffeine: 80 mg
How to order Matcha Tea Latte on the app: Hot Teas / Green Teas / Matcha Tea Latte
2. Matcha Crème Frappuccino
How It Tastes
The Matcha Crème Frappuccino is a dreamy, creamy, and frosty treat that’s perfect for a hot day. The sweet, earthy flavors of matcha green tea blend effortlessly with the rich, velvety texture of the Frappuccino base. The whipped cream and classic syrup add a touch of indulgence to this already luxurious beverage.
With each sip, you’ll enjoy the delightful contrast between the cold, icy texture and the warming flavors of matcha. The whipped cream on top adds an extra layer of richness, making this drink a true dessert in a cup.
Ingredients: Ice, Milk, Creme Frappuccino Syrup, Whipped Cream, Classic Syrup, Matcha Tea Blend (Sugar, Ground Japanese Green Tea)
Nutrition: Calories 420; Caffeine: 70 mg
How to order Matcha Crème Frappuccino on the app: Frappuccino Blended Beverages / Crème Frappuccinos / Matcha Crème Frappuccino
3. Iced Matcha Tea Latte
How It Tastes
The Iced Matcha Tea Latte is a refreshing, invigorating drink that combines the earthy flavors of matcha green tea with the coolness of ice and the creaminess of milk. The result is a smooth and satisfying beverage that’s perfect for a hot day or when you’re in need of a quick pick-me-up.
The matcha powder adds a subtle sweetness that complements the chilled milk, creating a delightful, thirst-quenching experience. The matcha’s distinct flavor shines through without being overpowering, making this a perfect choice for both matcha lovers and newcomers alike.
Ingredients: 2% Milk, Ice, Matcha Powder (sugar, ground green tea)
Nutrition: Calories 200; Caffeine: 80 mg
How to order Iced Matcha Tea Latte on the app: Iced Teas / Iced Green Teas / Iced Matcha Tea Latte
4. Matcha Pink Drink
How It Tastes
The Matcha Pink Drink is a vibrant, refreshing beverage that brings together the fruity sweetness of the Pink Drink with the earthy, green flavors of matcha. This delightful concoction is perfect for warm days or when you crave a caffeine boost without reaching for coffee.
The Pink Drink’s base, reminiscent of a fruity Starburst candy or a strawberry milkshake, provides a delicious contrast to the earthy notes of matcha. This combination creates a truly unique and mouthwatering experience that’s both energizing and satisfying.
The crowning glory of this drink is the matcha cream cold foam, which adds a layer of decadent creaminess to the fruity, tangy base. Starbucks’ sweet matcha is whisked into a blend of sweetened vanilla syrup and heavy cream, resulting in an irresistibly smooth and velvety cold foam.
Served in a cold cup with a lid designed specifically for cold foam, each sip of the Matcha Pink Drink delivers a delightful medley of creamy, fruity, and earthy flavors, creating a truly unforgettable taste sensation.
5. Iced Matcha Lemonade
How It Tastes
The Iced Matcha Lemonade is a zesty and energizing drink that combines the earthy taste of matcha green tea with the tangy flavor of lemonade. The result is a refreshing, bright beverage that’s perfect for sipping on a hot day or when you need an afternoon pick-me-up.
The natural sweetness of the matcha tea blend balances out the tartness of the lemonade, creating a harmonious and delightful flavor profile. With each sip, you’ll enjoy the invigorating combination of citrus and matcha, making this a truly unique and enjoyable beverage.
Ingredients: Ice, Lemonade (Water, Lemon Juice, Sugar, Lemon Oil), Matcha Tea Blend (Sugar, Ground Green Tea)
Nutrition: Calories 120; Caffeine: 80 mg
How to order Matcha Lemonade on the app: Iced Teas / Iced Green Teas / Matcha Lemonade
If you would like the energy without the dairy, then Starbucks has a brewed green tea called emperor’s clouds and mist. If you want a brewed tea with a complex flavor, you’ll enjoy the Jade Citrus Mint Tea.
If you want an ice-cold lemonade drink on a hot day, then you’ll enjoy the green tea lemonade. And nothing satisfies your sweet tooth like a green tea Frappuccino.
Ingredients in the Starbucks Green Tea Powder
There are two ingredients in the Starbucks’s matcha green tea powder: sugar and ground green tea. According to the FDA, when companies create the list of ingredients to place on the food or drinks package, the most abundant ingredient is always first.
Because sugar is first on the list, followed by green tea powder, there is more sugar than green tea in Starbucks’ green tea powder! Yikes!
Is the Starbucks Green Tea Latte Sugar-free?
If you’re looking for a sugar free drink, then you should know milk has sugar in it. Even if you ordered a plain latte with no added syrups, the latte still has sugar. The sugar is milk is natural sugar called lactose and the non-dairy milks have added sugar to improve their flavor and palatability.
Starbucks does not carry any non-dairy milks that are sugar-free.
However, the green tea powder in the Green Tea Latte is sugary. There’s no way to remove the sugar. The barista cannot make the green tea latte sugar-free.
Is the Green Tea Frappuccino sugar-free?
A Green Tea Frappuccino is not sugar-free and the barista cannot make it sugar-free. As you read in the paragraphs above, sugar is pre-mixed into the matcha powder.
A Green Tea Frappuccino has plenty of sugar and a good amount of caffeine as well. Not only does the matcha powder come premixed with sugar, the Frappuccino base is packed with sugar.
To have a sugar free green tea drink, choose either the brewed green tea called Emperor’s Clouds and Mist, or the ice green tea.
Can A Matcha Latte be Dairy Free?
Yes, a matcha latte, whether iced or hot, can be made dairy free. Most Starbucks locations have coconut milk, oat milk, almond milk, or soy milk available. When you request non-dairy milk, the barista will add around $0.60 to the price of your drink.
Can a Green Tea Frappuccino be Daily-Free?
When a Starbucks barista makes a green tea Frappuccino, they use whole milk. But you can order an alternative dairy free milk to be used instead.
What Matcha Does Starbucks Use?
The Starbucks company processes many of the ingredients in their drinks to ensure the ingredients meet their quality standards. Also, the ingredients must have a uniform flavor so all so every drink can taste the same no matter where the store location is in the world.
But growing green tea and processing the green tea into matcha is an entire labor of itself, so Starbucks buys its matcha powder. According to howmatcha.com, the matcha Starbucks uses is from a company called Aiya. The company has an excellent reputation for developing fine matcha powders.
Matcha vs Green Tea
There are so many benefits to drinking green tea, and drinking matcha will also provide those same benefits. So what is the difference between these two teas? Is much of the fancier version of green tea or does it come from a different plant that is part of the green tea family?
The first thing you should know about the green tea powder from Starbucks is that it is mixed with sugar. Real matcha powder does not have any sugar at all and it is quite bitter when prepared.
Second, green tea and matcha powder are made from the same plant, except the leaves chosen for matcha powder are harvested young, usually less than 8 weeks old.
Leaves chosen for green tea can be two months to five months old. Matcha is made by grinding green tea leaves into powder. Green tea is made from leaves that are harvested and dried on racks.
What Kind of Green Tea is Used in Matcha Drinks?
The type of matcha powder Starbucks uses an inferior quality green tea powder known as culinary grade matcha.
Only matcha connoisseurs will enjoy the bitterness of plain matcha, and Starbucks does not cater to matcha connoisseurs. It wants to cater to customers who love to eat sugar. It mixes sugar with its matcha to improve its flavor.
High grade matcha is grown in Japan and Starbucks does not purchase its matcha powder from Japan, as purchasing pure high grade matcha would cost far too much.
Most culinary grade matcha is grown in China, and Starbucks buys its matcha from the company Aiya. They grow their matcha in China. Coffee shops, bakeries, food companies, and restaurants use culinary grade matcha in their baked goods, drinks, foods.
A matcha drink shop might not use culinary grade matcha, as the quality of their matcha matters in the drinks. They will use high grade matcha. But coffee shops that offer one or two matcha drinks will use culinary grade matcha.
Starbucks Matcha Drinks – Your Ultimate FAQ Guide
What is good to add to matcha at Starbucks?
Adding honey, vanilla syrup, or a flavored syrup such as hazelnut or caramel can enhance the flavor profile of your matcha drink at Starbucks. Also, consider experimenting with different milk options like almond, coconut, or oat milk for a unique twist.
Is Matcha green tea from Starbucks healthy?
Yes, Starbucks matcha green tea is healthy, as it’s rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. However, be aware that Starbucks’ matcha powder is pre-sweetened, so the sugar content may be higher than pure matcha powder.
What flavors go well with matcha tea?
Flavors that go well with matcha tea include vanilla, coconut, almond, and citrus. These complementary flavors can enhance the natural taste of matcha while adding depth and complexity to the overall flavor profile.
How do you order a Starbucks Matcha latte?
To order a Starbucks Matcha latte, simply ask for a “Matcha Tea Latte” in your preferred size. You can also customize your order by requesting a different milk, sweetener, or additional flavorings.
How do I order the best matcha?
To order the best matcha at Starbucks, ask for a Matcha Tea Latte with your choice of milk, and customize it with your preferred sweetener or flavorings. For a healthier option, you can request less sweetener or opt for a sugar-free syrup.
What is the best match for Matcha lattes?
The best match for Matcha lattes at Starbucks would be a combination of a mild sweetener like honey or vanilla syrup, along with a creamy milk option such as whole milk, almond milk, or oat milk. These ingredients work together to create a delicious, well-balanced drink that highlights the earthy notes of matcha.