Light, fluffy, soft, and sweet. This dalgona matcha latte is so easy to make and it’s the perfect way to add some fun to your matcha lattes. It’s super creamy and yummy to drink, and you can make it vegan, too.

Whipped matcha is one of the easiest drinks to make and you can add it to anything and everything.

Here’s how to make dalgona matcha at home!

What is Dalgona Matcha?

This dalgona matcha, or whipped matcha, drink is a product of the dalgona coffee trend turned matcha. However, instead of instant coffee, sugar, and water, it’s made with matcha powder, a little bit of water, sugar, and heavy cream.

Matcha powder does not have the same protein structure that instant coffee does, so it needs a thicker foundation to create that same fluffiness. One could say that it’s just matcha whipped cream, but newly marketed, and you know, I agree.

Dalgona matcha is a fun way to spice up your matcha latte routine and it’s a creamy matcha drink!

What is the Dalgona Coffee Trend?

If you’re chronically online, you’ll know that the dalgona coffee trend took the internet by storm during Covid quarantine years. Dalgona coffee is a soft and fluffy coffee foam made from equal parts instant coffee, water, and sugar, beaten with a whisk or fork until a soft, brown, fluffy foam forms triple its size.

Because of how easy it is to make, it blew up on TikTok after being featured in a Korean TV show. It was actually created by an ex-shipbuilder in Macau who started handbeating coffee to strengthen his arm after an injury.

And, as trends do, the idea of whipping drinks took off and now you have all sorts of variations, including dalgona matcha.

What Does Dalgona Matcha Taste Like?

A dalgona matcha latte tastes like a very creamy matcha latte. It’s almost reminiscent of matcha ice cream from the heavy cream. It’s light and fluffy, and when you mix the whipped matcha into the milk, the drink becomes super frothy. It’s similar to the texture of a dalgona coffee or Greek frappe.

Depending on how much sweetener you add, it can taste more or less like a matcha dessert, like matcha cake even. The extra creaminess makes the matcha taste lighter, so if you prefer a richer matcha taste, add extra matcha powder.

Dalgona Matcha vs. Latte

While dalgona matcha and a matcha latte are similar, they’re not quite the same. A matcha latte has whisked matcha and steamed milk, or ice and cold milk for an iced version.

Dalgona matcha has the matcha cream on top of ice and milk, so it’s essentially the same thing as the latte but with a creamier finish. The amount of matcha in both is the same, so whipped matcha is just a creamy matcha latte! But most people don’t refer to dalgona matcha as a latte, but just as its name.

How to Add Matcha

I’ve made this several times using different methods, but I’ve found that sifting matcha, then mixing it into a paste before adding it to cream makes the smoothest whipped matcha.

Matcha powder, like most fine powders, is hydrophobic, meaning it likes to stick to each other when it touches liquid. The result? Small clumps of matcha that make your whipped matcha grainy and unpleasant to drink.

So, if you add straight matcha powder to heavy cream, you will end up with matcha clumps and grainy dalgona matcha! While you can definitely do this in a pinch (or when you’re lazy, I’ve done it so many times haha) it’s not worth the extra convenience.

So, if you can, make the matcha into a paste (called koicha) and then mix it with heavy cream for the best result.

How to Make a Dalgona Matcha Latte

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

• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp matcha powder
• 1 tsp powdered sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup ice

Dalgona Matcha Recipe

1. Make Koicha. Sift matcha into a small cup, then add a tiny amount of water. Mix the matcha until it forms a thick paste or sauce-like consistency (called koicha.) This ensures there’s no lumps in your cream.
2. Make Whipped Matcha. Add cream to your koicha and using an electric frother or mixer, whip the cream until it’s soft and fluffy. You can make it softer or thicker, depending on if you want the cream to be pourable or more whipped cream like.
3. Assemble Drink. Add ice and milk to a glass, then top with your whipped matcha.
4. Mix and Enjoy!

Whipped Matcha Without Heavy Cream

There are many ways you can make this drink lactose-free or even vegan! Here are heavy cream substitutions for dalgona matcha:

• Egg white: Much like how meringue is made, you can make whipped matcha with whipped egg whites and matcha powder. Note that this uses raw eggs and is not cooked, so consume this at your own risk!
• Aquafaba: This popular vegan alternative to eggs also easily replaces egg whites and gives that same foamy and fluffy texture. It’s not as creamy as cream, but it will give you that same fluffy sensation.
• Coconut cream: Coconut products are a popular vegan alternative for making desserts and drinks, and are perfect for a vegan whipped matcha. It might impart a coconut flavor to your drink, but if you don’t mind that, then it’s super creamy and delicious.
• Vegan heavy cream: This is the most similar vegan alternative to heavy cream and doesn’t have that coconutty flavor that coconut cream has. I’ve only seen this at a handful of places like Trader Joe’s, but if you can get your hands on it, it tastes almost exactly like dairy!

Whipped Matcha Variations

If you love this recipe and dalgona matcha, you’re in luck because you can add this to so many other drinks! Here is some matcha recipe inspiration for your next sweet treat:

• Double matcha
• Pink drink with matcha cold foam
• Whipped matcha on a latte
• Coconut matcha cloud (MUST TRY)
• Apple matcha cream drink

Tips:

Here are some tips for making a fluffy dalgona matcha at home!

• Sift Your Matcha: Sifting your matcha before you add it to the cream helps make your cream smoother and grainless. While you can just whisk it in the water without sifting, it helps get rid of the larger clumps that might take time to break up.
• Add Different Flavors: You can add different sweeteners or flavored syrups to your milk to make a fun matcha latte. Some examples include strawberry, blueberry, lavender, chocolate, etc. The possibilities are endless!