You’re probably familiar with the iconic Korean banana milk (banana ooyoo) in its nostalgic, pastel-yellow bottle. It’s delicious with matcha, but it is overly sweet and artificial. This homemade banana matcha latte uses fresh bananas to make an insanely creamy and nutrient-dense base at a fraction of the sweetness. It is incredibly easy to make and serves as a lighter, refreshing alternative to a heavy morning smoothie.

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

What is Banana Milk?

You’ve probably seen an adorable small bottle with pastel yellow liquid and a green foil cap around social media or even at the Asian grocery store–it’s Korean banana milk! It’s a sweet, creamy, addictive banana-flavored milk that’s insanely popular with kids and young adults, even adults.

In Korean, it’s called banana ooyoo (바나나맛 우유), and it’s made by Binggrae, South Korea’s arguably most popular dairy company.

It’s garnered explosive fandom beyond Korea and in the States, and now you can find it on many cafe menus for a banana latte, banana matcha latte, and more. However, I find it a little artificial tasting and too sweet for my liking, so I made a healthier, less sweet version at home for this matcha latte.

What is a Banana Matcha Latte?

A banana matcha latte is simply an iced matcha latte made with sweetened banana-flavored milk. This recipe uses a fresh banana milk made by blending banana, sweetener, and milk! It’s way fresher, more natural, and less sweet than the store-bought version.

It’s so easy to make and makes for a lighter alternative to a morning smoothie or more nutrient-dense matcha latte. (Even though matcha itself is packed with antioxidants.)

If you don’t have fresh bananas at home, you can also use the store-bought version! It makes for a sweet, dessert-like latte that’s silky and smooth. It’ll be super nostalgic if you grew up drinking banana milk!

What Does a Banana Matcha Latte Taste Like?

Bananas and matcha go so well together. Bananas have a slightly floral, tropical, sweet, and slightly tangy flavor, which goes well with matcha’s earthiness. Matcha has a creamy, savory, and slightly bitter flavor, which works well with many fruits, like strawberry, blueberry, pomegranate, cherry, and so on.

As they say, opposites attract! You have a slightly tangy fruit with a bold, earthy tea, which complement each other in the best ways. The flavor contrast is exciting and doesn’t overpower each other. This banana milk matcha is definitely one you should add to your matcha latte flavor rotation!

Is Banana Milk Healthy?

Commercial store-bought banana milks often contain artificial flavorings, stabilizers, and up to 25–40g of refined sugar per serving. That’s as much sugar as soft drinks have! Making it from scratch is a much healthier alternative because you control the sugar.

This recipe uses a teaspoon of sweetened condensed milk to add extra sweetness without overloading the milk. If you want to avoid refined sugar entirely, you can easily swap it for maple syrup, honey, or rely completely on the natural sweetness of a heavily spotted banana!

Of course, enjoying sweetened beverages in moderation is normal, but if you’re looking for a healthier banana milk, make it from scratch! It’s super easy.

How to Make Banana Milk

There are two ways to make banana milk, but the best method is to blend bananas directly into your milk! The natural fibers act as a creamy emulsion, giving your drink a rich, velvety mouthfeel similar to the texture of a smoothie or shake. Simply combine half a banana with a cup of milk and your favorite sweetener, blend, and enjoy!

If you want a thinner texture, you can also opt for a banana syrup, which you can buy or make at home. Banana syrup is just banana pieces boiled in water and sugar until it reduces to a thicker consistency. You’ll want to use an extra ripe banana for this; otherwise, you can get a really starchy syrup that is unpleasant to drink.

Health Benefits of Matcha and Banana

Everyone knows bananas are a good source of potassium and fiber (especially athletes, bananas are the holy grail to preventing muscle cramps). They also have Vitamin A and carotene, which are important for our vision.

But did you know that matcha is also a superfood? It’s a very antioxidant-heavy tea, and even more so because we consume the entire leaf and not just the brewed tea. Just like how eating veggies is better for you, the greener they are, the more it’s similar to matcha!

Matcha is a specific shade-grown green tea that has a lot of chlorophyll in it (the compound that makes plants green)

Matcha is full of antioxidants like catechins that make it anti-inflammatory and L-theanine, which has relaxing effects. I personally know someone who drank matcha like crazy and got rid of her pre-diabetes (alongside other lifestyle changes). It’s crazy how beneficial matcha is, so it’s no wonder people are consuming it like crazy!

How to Whisk Matcha

Whisking matcha the right way is the key to a smooth, clump-free matcha latte! It’s what gives matcha that signature frothy texture.

To start, you’ll need a tea bowl and a bamboo whisk. Soak your whisk in warm water to soften the bristles. Then, sift your matcha into the bowl, add water (adjusting the ratio to your taste), and start whisking. Begin slowly, then pick up speed, using a quick zigzag motion. After about 10–15 seconds, you should see a nice layer of froth—your matcha is ready to pour!

No whisk? No problem! You can still make matcha without a whisk using a blender bottle, a lidded jar, or an electric frother. While it won’t give you the same frothy microfoam, it’ll still mix the matcha well—plus, you can use tools you already have at home. No additional tools needed!

How to Make a Banana Matcha Latte

Here’s what you’ll need to make a banana milk match latte at home:

• ½ ripe banana (or the whole thing for more banana flavor)
• ⅓ cup water for thinning milk texture
• 1 cup milk
• ½-1 tbsp condensed milk
• 1½ tsp matcha powder
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cup ice

Banana Matcha Latte Recipe

1. Blend the Banana Milk: Add half a ripe banana, 1 cup of milk, water, and ½ tablespoon of sweetened condensed milk into a blender. Process on high until the mixture is completely uniform, silky, and free of any visible fruit chunks.
2. Whisk the Matcha Microfoam: Soften your matcha whisk in warm water. Sift 1½ teaspoons of premium latte-grade matcha powder into a chawan (matcha bowl) to remove clumps. Add ¼ cup of hot (but not boiling, around 175°F) water. Use a bamboo chasen to whisk vigorously in a rapid zigzag or ‘M’ motion for 15 seconds until a dense foam with tight, tiny bubbles forms on the surface.
3. Assemble Drink: Fill a tall glass with 1 cup of ice. Pour your freshly blended banana milk over the ice first. Because the fruit dairy base is dense, it will sit firmly at the bottom of the cup.
4. Float the Matcha: Slowly pour your whisked matcha microfoam directly over the ice cubes, which allows it to layer nicely on top of the banana milk for a stunning layered look.
5. Mix and enjoy!

How to Make Caramelized Banana Milk Matcha Latte

If you want to upgrade the flavors of this drink, try caramelizing your fruit first! Follow these steps before following the steps in the previous section. You’ll need:

• 1 – 2 tsp brown sugar
• ½ ripe banana
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
• ½ tbsp white miso (optional)

1. Slice the banana lengthwise in half so you can put the banana flat side down onto a pan or skillet with brown sugar on it.
2. Roast the banana over medium-low heat until the sugar caramelizes into a golden brown color and the bananas get a nice golden sear. You may need to lift the banana up to see.
3. Flip the banana onto the other side and roast until brown. Let cool slightly before dusting with ground cinnamon or mixing with white miso.
4. Let cool, then blend this caramelized banana directly into your milk.

Banana Matcha Latte Variations

Discovered your love for matcha and banana (it’s a great combination!)? You’ll have to try these other amazing banana matcha latte variations:

• Banana Cream Matcha Latte
• Banana Bread Matcha Latte
• Salted Banana Matcha Latte
• Banana Matcha Smoothie
• Banana Pudding Matcha Latte

Tips:

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

• Use Store-Bought Banana Milk: Store-bought banana milk is super easy and convenient to use, especially if you’re in a rush. While it is sweeter, it’s perfect if you want a sweet, convenient banana matcha latte.
• Prevent Starchiness: Unripe bananas have that unpleasant mouthfeel from the excess starch, so use a ripe banana for the sweetest flavor and smoothest texture. If you don’t have a ripe banana, you can roast your banana in the peel until it’s brown for the best flavor.
• Enhancing Flavors: Add a small pinch of salt and some vanilla extract for extra flavor layers in this latte. Banana is an amazing ingredient, and different spices help bring out some of its aromatics.