Matcha Made In Heaven: 4 Must Try Starbucks Drinks For Matcha
This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Katelyn Rodriguez. Find her on Instagram at @katelynrodwrites. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Matcha, aka green tea powder, has been around for thousands of years and plays an important part in Japanese tea ceremonies. There are even a range of health benefits that come with drinking matcha regularly, some of which include boosting brain function, promoting heart health and aiding in weight loss. In recent years matcha has become popular at coffee shops, on social media and has been added to various recipes thanks to the rise of influencer culture. However, Starbucks has served its matcha beverages since 2006 with its introduction of the matcha green tea latte. Now I know matcha is an acquired taste and isn’t for everyone, but trust me when I tell you to give these drinks a try at least once. Here are four that are in the running for best matcha Starbucks order!
Matcha Tea Latte (hot or iced)
The matcha tea latte, aka a matcha latte, is one of the popular drinks at Starbucks, especially among matcha lovers. It contains two simple ingredients: Matcha and steamed milk. You can order this drink either hot or iced depending on your preference. If we’re talking about taste, the matcha latte is very light and airy with a hint of grassiness from the matcha. It isn’t very sweet so I recommend adding honey, sugar or a syrup of your choice to it if you like your lattes sweet. It is easy to customize this drink either in person or on the Starbucks app.
Matcha Lemonade
One of my all-time favorite drinks from Starbucks is the matcha lemonade and I order it every time I go to Starbucks during the spring and summer months. The matcha makes it taste a little bitter, but both the tartness and sweetness of the lemonade mellow it out. Because of this, the drink is extremely refreshing and palatable. If you’re a regular matcha drinker I highly recommend this, especially if you’re looking for something new to try. In my opinion, it’s the perfect summer drink, especially when you want to spice up your lemonade game.
Matcha Crème Frappuccino
Similar to the matcha latte, the matcha crème frappuccino contains the same ingredients, it’s just blended and has whipped cream on top. It isn’t too sweet, but there are many ways to add some added flare to this drink if you want to. I love adding a caramel drizzle for some extra sweetness and find that the two flavors complement one another nicely. However, the regular version of this frappuccino is just as good. Other popular add-ins to the matcha crème frappuccino include vanilla bean powder, raspberry syrup, peppermint with java chips & strawberry puree.
Iced Matcha with Coconut Milk & Peach Juice
When I first saw this drink posted to the Starbucks Instagram account a few weeks ago I knew I needed to try it as soon as possible. I originally tried ordering it on the Starbucks app, so I started customizing an iced matcha latte. It only let me change the milk to coconut and the amount of ice I wanted, however, when I went to add the peach syrup it didn’t show up. So, I ultimately decided to make the drive to my local Starbucks to get it instead. When I took my first sip of this drink I knew I had a new summer to go. This drink is refreshing and the prominence of the peach juice and coconut milk add to the tropical vibe. I almost forgot I was drinking matcha because the taste of it is so subtle. The only downside to this drink is that the coconut milk substitution and addition of peach juice cost extra. Despite that I recommend this drink for those who love refreshers and matcha alike, trust me, you won’t regret ordering this.
Overall, these four drink options are some of the best additions to any Starbucks order. Whether you’re more inclined to order a latte or are looking for a fun drink for when the weather gets hot, Starbucks has you covered with its matcha variations. If you’re new to drinking matcha I’d say these are good for starters, especially the frappuccino and latte. Once you discover if you like the unique taste of it or not, then I’d highly recommend trying the other drinks on this list. On the other hand, if you’re a seasoned matcha drinker, hopefully, this list gave you some inspiration for your next Starbucks run!
Have you tried any of these Starbucks matcha drinks? Do you think you have the best matcha Starbucks order? Let us know in the comments!