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Trader Joe's Iced Matcha Latte (The Right Way)

Stupid Easy★ 4.8Yields: 1 latte

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Trader Joe's Iced Matcha Latte (The Right Way)

Every person on TikTok thinks they cracked the iced matcha code. Most of them are pouring matcha powder directly into cold milk and wondering why there are green chunks floating around like swamp debris. Matcha does not dissolve in cold liquid. It never has. It never will. You dissolve it in hot water FIRST, then pour it over ice and milk. This is not a hack. This is how matcha has been made for literally centuries. The vanilla bean paste is what separates this from every other homemade matcha. It adds a depth and roundness that you taste but can't identify, which is exactly what every coffee shop does and charges you $7 for. This costs $1. Every ingredient from TJ's. Better than Starbucks because Starbucks matcha is mostly sugar with some matcha waving from the back of the room. This is actual matcha. You'll taste the difference immediately and you'll be angry about every $6.50 matcha latte you've ever purchased.

Ingredients

1 packet Trader Joe's Matcha Green Tea (single-serve)
2 tablespoons hot water (175 degrees, not boiling)
1 teaspoon Trader Joe's honey (or maple syrup)
1/4 teaspoon Trader Joe's vanilla bean paste
1 cup Trader Joe's Oat Milk
Ice

Instructions

1
Dissolve the matcha
Matcha packet in a small bowl. 2 tablespoons of hot water (175 degrees, NOT boiling. Boiling water turns matcha bitter and you'll think matcha sucks when actually your water sucked). Whisk aggressively until dissolved and slightly frothy. Use a fork, a small whisk, whatever. No clumps. If you see clumps, keep going. Clumps in a matcha latte are unacceptable. This is a hill I will die on.
2
Add the sweetener and vanilla
Stir the honey and vanilla bean paste into the dissolved matcha while it's still warm. The warmth helps them incorporate. The vanilla bean paste has actual vanilla bean specks in it that you'll see in the finished drink. That's the premium look.
3
Build the latte
Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour the cold oat milk over the ice. Then slowly pour the matcha concentrate over the milk. It'll sink and create that green-on-white layered look. Stir it up when you're ready to drink. Or leave it layered for the photo. We don't judge.

Baker's Notes

The hot water step is non-negotiable. Matcha powder does not dissolve in cold liquid. It clumps, it floats, it settles at the bottom, and you end up drinking green milk with a pile of wet powder at the end. Hot water first. Always.
Trader Joe's vanilla bean paste is the single best $5 you can spend at that store for drink-making purposes. It has real vanilla bean specks and a deeper flavor than extract. Use it in everything.
Oat milk is the best pairing for matcha. It's creamy, slightly sweet, and doesn't overpower the matcha the way cow's milk can. TJ's oat milk is specifically good here.
If you want it unsweetened, skip the honey. The oat milk provides enough sweetness for some people. But honey rounds out the bitterness in a way that most people prefer.

Nutrition

Calories

140

Fat

4g

Carbs

22g

Protein

3g

Sugar

14g

Serving

1 latte

Notes

“The recipes are good. The language is bad. You're welcome.” - fuckingdelicious.co

FAQ

Which TJ's matcha product should I use for this?

The single-serve matcha green tea packets. Pure matcha powder. Not the matcha latte mix (that already has sugar and milk in it) and not the Jeju matcha latte packets (also pre-sweetened). The pure matcha packets give you control over sweetness and flavor intensity.

Is this better than Starbucks matcha latte?

Significantly. Starbucks uses a matcha blend that's mostly sugar with matcha showing up like it's late to its own party. TJ's pure matcha packets are actual matcha from Japan. The flavor is more complex, more earthy, and you control the sweetness instead of Starbucks deciding for you. Also $1 vs $6.50. That's $5.50 per day, $38.50 per week, $2,002 per year. You could buy a motorcycle with the money you save. I did the math and now I'm upset on your behalf.

Can I make this with the Jeju matcha latte packets instead?

You can but it's a different drink. The Jeju packets are pre-sweetened and already have milk powder. Just dissolve one packet in 8 oz of cold water, pour over ice, and you're done. It's simpler but less customizable. Both are valid depending on how much control you want.

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