The best homemade matcha latte

I know it's a bold statement to call something "the best" but I think I found my personal favorite which I have been developing and serving over the past 10 years.

You can read more about my first encounter with matcha in New York City almost 15 years ago here and the love and passion for Japanese traditions, its heritage, history, culture, flavour and preparation technique has only become bigger since then. Therefore it was my strong desire to create a recipe that is simple but still a bit complex if you like to make it special.

I recommend using the Morning Ritual for a hot matcha latte preparation as it has the perfect amount of astringency and bitterness that pairs so well with the slightly sweetened plant milk.

GROUNDED'S SIGNATURE MATCHA LATTE

1 tsp (2.5 - 3g) Morning Ritual matcha powder 200 ml plant milk* 1 tsp sweetener (agave or light maple syrup) OR ½ a medjool date

*we actually don't recommend a typical "Barista Oat milk" for our matcha latte recipe but a blend of milks. This might sounds a lot and complicated but really it's not and it makes such a huge difference. The best mix is: oat, almond and soy. Oat for sweetness and creaminess, almond for fat and stability, soy for protein and frothiness! Depending on where you are living, there are more and more brands offering blends of almond & oat, almond & rice, soy & rice ... (I haven't found a blend of all 3 yet) but i would always recommend having a plain, unsweetened, unflavored organic soy milk at home which is not only great for matcha lattes but also for cooking and baking.

Bring water to a boil and let it cool for a few minutes until it reaches around 80°C.

Meanwhile heat up the milk and your sweetener of choice in a small pot. Sift the matcha powder in your favourite matcha bowl and add 2 Tbsp of hot water. «Melt» the matcha by stirring in a circular movement with a bamboo whisk until it forms a thick paste. Add 30 - 50 ml of hot water and whisk vigorously in a W-pattern until frothy. You can use an electric milk frother if you use a liquid sweetener or blend the milk with the date in a high-speed blender. Pour the milk over the matcha and enjoy 🍵