Banana cream matcha lattes are all the rage these days; I’ve been seeing them pop up at all my local cafes! This was inspired by the ones they sell in the cafes and has a homemade banana syrup and cream top. It’s sweet, creamy, and perfectly balanced for a tasty matcha latte.

It’s super easy to make at home with just some ripe bananas, whipping cream, and matcha. Plus, once you make it at home, you’ll never want to buy it out again!

Here’s how to make a delicious banana cream matcha latte at home!

What is a Banana Cream Matcha Latte?

A banana cream matcha latte is an iced matcha latte with banana cream and syrup. It’s a delicious combination that’s creamy, slightly fruity, and sweet! You can add cookie crumbles or slices of banana on top for a cute garnish, or leave it plain.

I’ve seen this flavor combination popping up at all the cafes local to me, so it’s safe to say that they’re super popular. Here are just some of the cafes I’ve seen this matcha latte at: Bloom Bagels, Okayama Kobo Bakery, Academic Coffee, Magnolia Bakery, etc.)

This recipe was actually inspired by one I had at Bloom Bagels! The first time I had it, it blew me away, and I just knew I had to recreate it at home.

I think people just love a sweet treat and matcha, so this satisfies both those cravings. Plus, you get that extra nutrient boost from the blended banana! If you love the iconic Magnolia Bakery banana pudding, this latte is the drinkable version of that flavor profile.

What Does a Banana Cream Matcha Latte Taste Like?

It’s goooood! This banana cream matcha latte is sweet, creamy, and has a nice banana flavor (not artificial!) The banana balances the matcha so nicely: the matcha earthiness pairs nicely with the sweet banana, which helps it taste less earthy. Much like strawberries help chocolate taste less bitter.

The banana kind of takes on a slightly caramel note, which is a flavor that goes well with matcha. It honestly kind of tastes like a mild banana pudding, but lighter since there’s no pudding in it.

Does Banana Go Well With Matcha?

Yes! Banana is honestly one of my favorite fruits to pair with matcha—it’s sweet and tropical but not overpowering. Sometimes bananas can lean more toward caramel and vanilla, and sometimes melony, depending on their ripeness.

Banana’s very unique flavor profile works well with matcha’s bold flavor. The slight tang balances out matcha’s somewhat bitterness, and the tropical sweetness is so good with an umami counterpart. In my experience, matcha pairs well with contrasting flavors, so most fruits pair well with it.

This combination tastes great with milk and just takes matcha to a whole other level.

Why This Recipe Uses Real Fruit vs. Banana Syrup

Many cafes use artificial banana syrup that has an off-putting flavor (cough, I’m looking at you, Starbucks). It might be good for those who like artificial banana flavor, but personally, it’s really unpleasant and ruins the drink. I blend ripe bananas directly into the heavy cream to get a thicker texture and fresh flavor. We get a natural ‘banana pudding’ texture that balances the matcha’s earthy notes much better.

How to Make Banana Cream

I actually discovered this method after trying a local cafe near me, but you can blend bananas and add them straight to your cream! (The texture of their cream definitely had the texture of a blended banana.) It’s the easiest method to make a banana cream top and requires no cooking or cutting.

Just blend half a banana until smooth and add it to 1/4 cup of heavy cream. Then, froth or whip it until it’s fluffy! Make sure to use ripe bananas for the cream; it will be less starchy (aka what gives you that drying mouthfeel) and be sweeter!

If you don’t have fresh bananas, you can also use store-bought banana syrup, though it might taste artificial.

You should make it right before serving, but for a big batch, keep it in a pourable container in the fridge. The banana cream should be made fresh to prevent it from turning brown (oxidation).

Pro Tip: Avoid the Chalky Texture

If you’ve ever eaten a green banana, you’re familiar with that starchy, dry feel. We want to avoid that in the banana cream! The secret to a smooth banana matcha latte is using spotted or brown bananas. Green or yellow bananas contain resistant starch, which creates that ‘drying’ mouthfeel. For the silkiest banana cream, wait until the skin is heavily speckled. It’ll be much creamier and sweeter!

How to Make Banana Syrup

The banana syrup is optional but helps bring out that banana flavor if the banana cream is not enough. Banana simple syrup is just chopped bananas boiled in water and sugar until it reduces to your desired consistency.

I’ve made this with just regular ripe bananas and it was very starchy and had an unpleasant, slightly bitter taste and mouthfeel. So, again, I definitely suggest using a very ripe banana otherwise, you’ll have starchy syrup.

Your syrup will be cloudy, but that’s normal!

You can also macerate the bananas by adding sugar to chopped bananas and letting them sit for a couple of hours until the juices draw out of the fruit.

How to Prepare Matcha Properly

Whisking matcha properly is the most important step in making a great matcha latte! The whisking helps make the matcha nice and smooth (no clumps).

You’ll need a tea bowl and a bamboo whisk to make matcha.

First, soften your whisk in warm water. Sift your matcha into your bowl, then add water. (The matcha ratio depends on how strong you like your matcha.) Start whisking slowly and then vigorously in a zigzag motion. Keep whisking until a froth forms, about 10-15 seconds. Then your matcha is ready to pour!

You want to consume the matcha once you prepare it for the best flavor.

If you don’t have a whisk, that’s okay! You can make matcha without a whisk using a blender bottle, lidded jar, or electric frother. It won’t get you the same microfoam, but it does the job. Plus, you can use tools you already have at home to make matcha without a whisk.

For this recipe, I recommend a high-quality latte grade matcha. While ceremonial grade is amazing, the banana cream can actually mask the delicate floral notes of expensive ceremonial tea. A robust latte grade holds its own against the cream and syrup, and tastes just as good!

How to Make a Banana Cream Matcha Latte

Here’s what you’ll need to make a banana cream matcha latte at home:

• 1 very ripe banana
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup ice
• 1.5 tsp matcha powder
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup sugar for banana syrup
• 1-2 teaspoons of banana syrup for the latte

Banana Cream Matcha Latte Recipe

1. Make Banana Syrup: Cut up half a banana and add it to a small pot with water and sugar. Boil the mixture until it reduces to your desired consistency. Let cool and strain before use.
2. Make Banana Cream: Combine 1/2 a ripe banana with 1/4 cup heavy cream and whip the mixture using an electric frother or whisk until soft and fluffy. It should still be pourable and not stiff.
3. Prep the Matcha. Vigorously whisk 1.5 tsp of matcha with 2 oz of 175°F water in a zigzag motion for 10-15 seconds until a microfoam forms.
4. Assemble Drink: Add ice, banana syrup, and milk to a glass, then top with whisked matcha and your banana cream. Garnish with some banana slices or cookie crumbles.
5. Mix and Enjoy!

Banana Matcha Variations

If you’ve mastered the classic version, here are some other variations to match your cravings. For a lighter version, my banana milk matcha latte is more refreshing and super easy to make by blending the fruit directly into your choice of milk.

For a dessert drink, my personal favorite is my banana pudding matcha latte, which has a scoop of homemade banana pudding on top! It’s sooo creamy and delicious.

Alternatively, you can swap matcha for its roasted, caffeine-free counterpart, hojicha, for a banana hojicha latte. And if you want a little spice, you definitely need to try the banana bread matcha latte! It’s super cozy, sweet, and perfect for fall.

Banana also pairs extremely well with coffee, so try an easy spiced banana bread coffee or a banana pudding latte for a treat!

Tips:

Here are some tips for making a delicious banana cream matcha latte at home!

• Use Banana Jam: If you don’t have bananas or just want a convenient way to make this drink, you can use banana jam! It’s a relatively less common jam I’ve seen, but I know it exists!
• Blend Banana into Milk: You can skip the cream entirely and just blend banana into the milk for a delicious homemade banana milk matcha latte! It will have a thicker texture but the same great taste.
• Instantly Ripen Bananas: If you have just ripe bananas and want to make them sweeter, stick them on a sheet pan and roast them in the oven at 300°F for 15-20 minutes until they become dark brown. They’ll be much sweeter and tastier to use in your lattes.