Who knew making matcha fluffy would give it such a fluffy, airy texture? Normally, you whisk matcha into a smooth liquid, but with this small tweak, you can make a fluffy matcha that takes your latte to the next level. Seriously, I need to make it fluffier more often, and it’s so easy to make.

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

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s super easy and fun!
• The fluffy matcha tastes super aerated and more aromatic.
• Learn how the matcha flavor changes with a different preparation.
• It looks like something you would get from a cafe!

What is Matcha?

Matcha is a finely ground green tea that originated in China but has now spread all over Asia, most notably, Japan. It’s made from shade-grown tea leaves called tencha and harvested in the early spring season. Depending on the farm, terroir, leaf variety, and processing, matcha can take on a variety of flavors, from sweet, nutty, floral, creamy, and so on.

This powdered tea has been around for decades, but only recently has it exploded in popularity thanks to social media. Now, there’s a matcha cafe popping up every week (it’s hard to keep up), and there’s even a matcha shortage with popular brands.

How to Whisk Matcha Properly

The proper way to prepare matcha is by whisking it in water with a bamboo whisk, known as a chasen. Since matcha is a ground tea powder, you need to whisk it into a smooth liquid for consumption. Much like how flour can’t make pancakes unless it’s whisked into batter, it’s the same principle here.

And like most teas, matcha tastes much better when prepared with hot water, but not boiling water. The ideal range for water temperature is from 170 – 175 F, which is when the steam rolling off the water comes up in soft wisps.

To make matcha, first add your powder to a matcha bowl or round bottomed bowl. Then, add your hot water and start whisking in a zigzag motion, as if you’re writing letter M’s and W’s in the bowl. You want to whisk for 20 – 30 seconds until a froth forms with tight bubbles forming on top. It’s essentially like making espresso crema. Once the powder suspends in the water evenly, it’s ready to enjoy.

What is Fluffy Matcha?

Fluffy matcha is when you whisk matcha powder with milk and froth it to get a fluffy texture. It’s not a traditional way of preparing matcha, but it is fun and innovative. Some people even aerate the entire latte to get a fluffy texture throughout the drink, but I think the flavor becomes too light that way.

How to Get Fluffy Matcha?

Fluffy matcha is made by making a matcha paste, known as koicha, then adding some milk and whisking with a handheld frother until fluffy. You could also use a chasen, but exposing it constantly to milk can damage the wood, so I would do it sparingly.

Since milk has protein in it, the matcha foam is more stable than just tea and water alone. It’s similar to how you can froth matcha for a velvety texture!

Fluffy Matcha Latte Recipe: Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make a fluffy matcha latte:

• Matcha Powder — Use your favorite powder! I love Ippodo, Rocky’s Matcha, and other Japanese brands like Marukyu Koyamaen and Yamamasa. But there are plenty of local matcha brands that make great matcha powder, too.
• Hot Water — The best matcha water temperature is 170 F – 175 F. You can boil the water in a kettle and measure with a thermometer or use a temperature controlld one!
• Milk — 2% or whole milk is my top pick, but you can use non-dairy milk or other types of milk too!
• Ice — Larger pieces of ice help give you a better matcha layer since there’s more surface area to break the impact of the whisked matcha.
• Sweetener — I love using agave or maple syrup for matcha lattes since it’s easy to mix into cold liquids. You could also use simple syrup or a flavored syrup. I would avoid hard sugars like granulated sugar or brown sugar unless you dissolve them in hot water first.

How to Make a Fluffy Matcha Latte

1. Make Koicha. Sift matcha powder into a matcha bowl, then add a little bit of hot water. Using the chasen, knead the tea into the water, creating a paste. Continue kneading until there are no clumps and a silky paste.
2. Whisk Matcha. Add milk into the koicha and whisk with the chasen (or a handheld frother) until fluffy and frothy. The longer you whisk, the fluffier the foam will be. Work fast, though, because the foam doesn’t last forever!
3. Assemble Drink. Add ice, sweetener, and milk into a separate glass. Then, top with your fluffy matcha. Pour it directly onto the ice to make a matcha layer.
4. Mix and Enjoy! Stir with a straw and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Fluffy Matcha

• Clean Your Chasen Well: Since bamboo is porous, it’s not good to expose it to liquids other than water for too long. Once you whisk your matcha, immediately rinse it in warm water to get as much milk residue off as possible. Then, whisk it in warm water and let it dry on a chasen holder.
• Work Fast: The fluffy matcha foam won’t hold forever, so you want to use it quickly once you make it. It’s best to prepare the base of the latte first, then whisk the matcha so you can preserve as much foam as possible!

FAQ’s

Can I use a handheld frother?

Yes! To use a handheld frother, make the matcha in a higher and bigger bowl. The frother will splatter the liquid, so you want to make sure it’s contained in the bowl. You could also use it in a tall cup or glass as well, but note that the foam will rise if the cup is skinnier.

Why isn’t my matcha fluffy?

If you don’t have a fluffy foam, try using a different milk. For example, almond milk is notorious for not frothing well, and the same applies to other less fatty milks. Oat milk and dairy milk generally froth the best.

How to make matcha without a whisk?

There are many ways to make matcha without a whisk, but in this recipe, you can use a fork or a spoon to make koicha. All you need is a utensil that can mix the matcha powder into a paste, and doesn’t require something with prongs like usucha does.

Other Matcha Recipes to Try

If you love this fluffy matcha variation of a classic matcha latte, then you probably want to experiment with matcha more! Here are some delicious matcha recipes you should try next:

• Brown Sugar Shaken Matcha
• Black Sesame Cream Matcha Latte
• Guava Matcha Latte
• Tiramisu Matcha Latte
• Egg Matcha