Matcha is the hot new tea, and it’s no wonder: from Japan, matcha powder is chock full of EGCG – that’s epigallocatechin gallate – which is believed to fight cancer.
It also has been linked to many benefits, including heart disease prevention, weight loss and type 2 diabetes prevention. And, Starbucks carries its own matcha powder.
So what are the 11 best matcha drinks you need to try at Starbucks? I’m so glad you asked, because I have the list just below.
11 Best Starbucks Matcha Drinks You Need To Try
11. Matcha Tea Latte
If it’s your first time trying matcha, you might want to shy away from this drink, as there is nothing to “hide” the matcha flavor.
But if you are a fan of matcha already, consider ordering the very basic – but essential – Matcha Tea Latte from Starbucks.
For a Grande, it’s three scoops of matcha powder, plus your milk of choice, which is steamed and topped with milk foam.
The result is slightly creamy, hot matcha-y goodness, a “luxurious latte-drinking session,” according to Fresh Coffeehouse.
10. Iced Matcha Lemonade
Now, for those who need to be eased into matcha, there is the Iced Matcha Lemonade.
It takes matcha green tea and mixes it up with sweet yet tart lemonade, making for a lemony cold beverage with subtle notes of matcha herbaceousness.
Now, this is an ideal beverage for someone who wants a cold treat, who loves matcha and all of its benefits, and who wants a zing of caffeine to help them get through their day.
9. Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink
Another good drink for those who aren’t fully sold on the taste of matcha, the Iced Pineapple Matcha drink has a solid tropical flavor.
It combines coconut milk, matcha powder, pineapple ginger syrup and ice, for a slightly creamy, slightly-fruity, slightly matcha-forward beverage.
In most areas, the Iced Pineapple Matcha drink is currently discontinued, but if your area still has the syrup – or if Starbucks decides to bring it back – this is a good one to try.
8. Matcha Crème Frappuccino
Normally Crème Frappuccinos do not have caffeine, but as this contains matcha powder, it is caffeinated (70 mg of caffeine, to be exact, in a Grande).
It features matcha powder, milk of your choice (whole is the standard), Crème Frappuccino syrup, ice and whipped cream.
It’s so sweet and that color – the green from the matcha powder is tempered by the milk to a perfectly mint-colored shade.
7. Iced Matcha Tea Latte
If it’s a hot summer day and you’re jonesin’ for a matcha fix, likely the hot matcha tea latte isn’t going to do you any favors.
So instead, get it iced. The Iced Matcha Tea Latte has all the same ingredients as the regular – matcha powder, milk of your choice – but none of the heat, with the inclusion of ice.
It’s a surprisingly refreshing beverage with a little zip of caffeine, so it’s the perfect mid-afternoon pick-me-up on a sunny day.
6. Matcha Pink Drink
At least at first, the colors in this off-off-menu Starbucks drink are bright and eye-catching.
To order, you’ll get the Pink Drink, which is now on the menu and features coconut milk, Strawberry Acai Refresher base and freeze-dried strawberries.
Then you ask the barista to put either overtop or on the bottom a layer of matcha powder and coconut milk.
While the drink’s two-component stay apart, the drink looks breathtaking. Once they merge, it’s a bit murkier from there, but no less tasty.
The strawberry flavor is complemented by the earthy, grassiness of the matcha – making you feel like you’re in a field of strawberries.
5. Green Tea Matcha
For those who enjoy the unadulterated taste of matcha, there is the Green Tea Matcha.
Simply put, it’s matcha powder and water – no milk, no add-ins, no nothing. You can get it over ice if you want it cold.
Starbucks matcha powder is slightly different than that which you might buy from a health food store or online.
It’s actually an amalgam of matcha and sugar, so you can’t get any matcha drinks sugar-free.
It’s doled out by the scoopful, and then vigorously shaken or blended to mix it into the drink.
For the Green Tea Matcha, you can bet the water and matcha powder are given a good shaking to dissolve the powder fully.
4. Green Drink
Leave it to the Starbucks fans to come up with a “secret menu” matcha drink, otherwise known as the Green Drink.
To order, you’ll ask for an iced black tea, with two (or three) scoops of matcha powder, plus coconut milk.
The result is a creamy, herbal concoction that will also have enough caffeine to keep you going when the day gets tough.
3. Cha Cha Latte
Chai and matcha? Together?
That’s the basis for this Cha Cha Latte, a drink its fans swear by.
It’s a Matcha Green Tea Latte, but with chai syrup instead of classic. Ask for one pump of Chai syrup for a Tall, two for a Grande and three for a Venti.
The spicy flavor of the Chai perfectly offsets and warms the herbaceousness of the matcha, making this a memorable drink.
2. Raspberry Iced Matcha Latte
From a matcha fan on Reddit comes this twist on a Matcha Latte.
They said, “One of my go-to cold drinks is an Iced Matcha latte with coconut milk and raspberry (in place of classic).”
They recommend two or four pumps of the raspberry syrup, “depending on how sweet you like it,” plus an extra scoop of matcha powder, “because I like a strong tea flavor.”
Sounds good, right? Give it a try next time you’re in the mood for matcha.
1. Peppermint Pow Frappuccino
Another secret menu offering is the Peppermint Pow Frappuccino, which gives you a nice dose of minty sweetness.
To order it, you’ll ask for a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino, with scoops of matcha (the number varies depending on the size of the drink and your preferences) and pumps of peppermint syrup.
The result is like a minty milkshake, though with the matcha green tea adding an additional, sweet yet grassy, dimension of flavor.
And if you want to take it to the next level, ask for a whipped cream on top.
To know more, you can also read our posts on whether Starbucks makes Bulletproof Coffee, whether Starbucks have bagels, and how Starbucks makes cold foam.
Conclusion
Matcha is renowned for its health benefits, from it being linked to the prevention of cancer to it being good for heart health.
Starbucks carries four basic matcha drinks, but thanks to the inventiveness of its loyal fans and followers – and its own customizations – you can try any one of these 11 best matcha drinks at Starbucks and come away happy.
