You’re probably familiar with the popular Korean banana milk for its cute bottle design and nostalgic, creamy flavor. But did you know you can also make it at home at a fraction of the sweetness? This banana matcha latte uses fresh bananas to make an insanely creamy and fruity matcha latte!

Banana milk is so easy to make at home with bananas and milk, and it gives you a thick, almost smoothie like texture. It’s great for making iced matcha lattes with and it’s healthy!

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

What is Banana Milk?

You’ve probably been 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 arguable 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 simple 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. Banana’s 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 don’t overpower each other. This banana milk matcha is definitely one you should add to your matcha latte flavor rotation!

Is Banana Milk Healthy?

Banana milk is supposed to be healthy, haha. Much like how bananas and milk separately are healthy, but if you combine them with a lot of sugar, it becomes much less healthy.

The store-bought banana milk isn’t the healthiest and it also has a bunch of different stabilizers and gums added which may cause digestive issues. Most flavored milks also have a lot of sugar, hovering around 25-40g a serving. That’s as much sugar that soft drinks have!

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 to make at home, too.

How to Make Banana Milk

There are multiple ways to make banana milk, but the easiest method is to blend bananas directly into your milk! It’s similar to how you would make a smoothie, and it gives you a thicker mouthfeel for your latte.

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 were the holy grail to preventing muscle cramps.) It also has 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 are better for you the greener they are, it’s similar to matcha!

Matcha is a specific shadegrown green tea that has a lot of chlorophyll in them (the compound that makes plants green.)

Matcha is full of antioxidants like catechins that makes 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 (along side 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
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2-1 tbsp condensed milk
• 1½ tsp matcha powder
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cup ice

Banana Matcha Latte Recipe

1. Make Banana Milk: Add half a banana, milk, and condensed milk to a blender, then blend until smooth. Make sure there are no visible chunks.
2. Whisk Matcha: Soften your matcha whisk in warm water. Sift matcha powder into a matcha bowl, add water, and vigorously whisk for 10-15 seconds in a zigzag motion until a forth forms. You want a light green froth with small, tight bubbles.
3. Assemble Drink: Add ice and banana milk to a glass, then top with your whisked matcha.
4. Mix and enjoy!

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 Pudding Matcha Latte
• Caramel Banana Matcha Latte
• Salted Banana Matcha Latte
• Chocolate Banana Matcha Latte
• Banana Matcha Smoothie

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.
• Use a Ripe Banana: 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.
• Extra 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.