This is the ultimate sweet and salty fall combo that is a flavor bomb for coffee and matcha! Miso is an insanely umami and savory soy paste that tastes incredible with maple syrup, which makes it the most amazing sweetener for beverages. If you love salted caramel, then you’ll love this maple matcha latte!

It’s so easy to make at home, and it’s a drink that will impress all your friends! (You’ll be the cool barista friend!)

What is Miso?

Miso (味噌 (みそ)) is a traditional Japanese soybean paste made from fermenting soybeans with salt and koji, a type of fungus. It’s thick in texture and varies from shades of yellow-ish brown to almost light tan. If you’ve had any type of Japanese food, then you’ve for sure had miso, think: miso soup, miso-glazed vegetables, miso-flavored fish, or miso cookies!

Different types of miso. There are many types of miso depending on the koji strain and aging time of the miso. Typically, you can categorize it by color (which is influenced by fermentation time) and grain.

The longer you ferment miso, the darker it gets, starting with white, moving to yellow, then red. Respectively, it tastes light and mild, then gets more robust and savory as fermentation continues.

Commercially, rice koji is most common in miso globally, and what you’re probably most familiar with!

What Miso to Use For This Recipe

I use white miso for this matcha latte because it’s lighter, less savory, and slightly sweet! Miso is quite salty, especially the longer it ferments, so you really only need a mild flavor in this drink. A little goes a long way! It’s kind of like soy sauce, in a way.

Where to buy white miso? Miso is the cornerstone of Japanese cuisine, so you’ll find white (and other types of miso) at any Japanese grocery store. You can also find it in general Asian stores or other East Asian grocery stores. Look for a plastic tub in the refrigerated section with the words white miso on it—make sure it says the color on it!!

Do Miso and Matcha Go Together?

Surprisingly, matcha and miso go well together in both savory and sweet applications. I’ve seen miso matcha ramen floating around the internet, and I’ve definitely seen matcha ramen in Japan. I’ve also seen matcha salt and matcha seaweed, too! So, matcha and savory is already an established flavor combination, which makes sense considering matcha has a savory and umami flavor already!

Since miso is savory and umami (albeit in a much more straightforward way), matcha pairs perfectly with it! I’ve never tried it in savory form personally, but it already tastes great in a latte!

What Does This Miso Matcha Latte Taste Like?

You’re probably curious if you can taste the miso in this, and the answer is that it’s actually really subtle! Especially if you use white miso, the milk, maple, and matcha help neutralize any strong flavors of the miso, and what really comes through is its delicious umaminess.

If you have miso on its own, it’s quite strong, but with the maple syrup, it transforms into this sweet and salty syrup that’s soooo good. It reminds me of salted caramel syrup! This maple miso matcha latte has a nice balance of sweet and savory, with a nice creaminess. It’s addictive!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s a unique flavor combination to try!
• Very easy to make at home!
• Only takes 4 ingredients to make a cafe-quality beverage.
• Practice making matcha at home.
• You’ll wow guests with this delicious drink!

Maple Miso Latte: What You’ll Need

Equipment

• Matcha tea set: matcha bowl, tea sift, bamboo whisk (If you don’t have these tools, you can also make matcha at home without a whisk.)
• Your favorite glass! Preferably 12 or 16 oz

Ingredients

• 1½ tsp matcha powder
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup milk
• ½ tbsp maple syrup
• ¼ tsp white miso

Maple Miso Latte Recipe

1. Whisk Matcha: Soak the bamboo whisk in warm water for 2 minutes and set aside. Sift matcha powder into a matcha bowl, then add water.
2. Using the bamboo whisk, vigorously whisk the matcha and water in a zigzag motion for 20 – 30 seconds. A froth that resembles espresso crema should form at the top.
3. Mix Miso and Maple: Add miso and maple syrup to the bottom of your glass or in a separate small cup. Mix them together using a spoon until no clumps of miso remain. You can add a little bit of warm or hot water to loosen it up as well.
4. Assemble Drink: Add the miso maple syrup and ice to a glass, then add milk and whisked matcha.
5. Mix and Enjoy!

Tips for the Best Flavor

• Adjust the Amount of Miso: If you’re unsure about miso or it’s your first time using it in a drink, start with half the amount in this recipe, then work your way up. You can always add, but you can’t take back! On the other hand, if you want more miso flavor, add a little bit more!
• Use a Good-Quality Maple Syrup: If you’ve never had pure maple syrup, trust me, it makes a huge difference. I was able to try a pure Vermont maple syrup recently, and it’s so mapley. It has the most amazing, rich flavor, and it’s not too sweet, which adds the perfect flavor to miso.
• Whisk the Matcha Well: If you’ve ever bought a matcha latte from a cafe and got clumps in your drink, it’s because the barista didn’t whisk it enough. It’s important to get a good suspension of the tea in water so it’s smooth! Don’t skip out here!

Ingredient Substitutions

• Miso: If you don’t have miso, the second-best option is to use soybean paste, which you can find in most Korean and Asian grocery stores. You can replace it with salt, salted caramel, or, if you’re brave, soy sauce. A not-so-close substitute would be tahini, but it doesn’t have that same umami flavor.
• Maple Syrup: You can use agave or brown sugar as the best replacement that gives a similar flavor and consistency. But regular sugar, sugar-free sweeteners, or any other sweetener works here, too!
• Milk: Swap milk for your favorite non-dairy or plant-based alternative! I think oat milk is the best replacement here because of its creamy texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do maple and matcha go together?

Yes, maple syrup is a great sweetener to use with matcha. It has a similar flavor to brown sugar, which is more molasses-forward and almost smoky. Maple has a lighter, almost caramel sweetness that makes it perfect in drinks, but it’s not so strong that it overpowers matcha.

What other flavors go well with miso?

Miso is such an amazing flavor enhancer, both savory and sweet. It pairs really well with nutty and creamy flavors, like fish, butter, potatoes, tomato, etc. In the sweet realm, it goes well with honey, fruit, and chocolate, and makes a great dessert balancer for cookies and cakes.

Can I use yellow or red miso?

Yellow and red miso are a lot stronger in flavor than white miso. But you can still use them if you don’t have white miso on hand! I would use half the amount in this recipe, then if you want more umami flavor, you can add more after you taste it.

Other Sweet and Salty Matcha Drinks to Try

If you’re like me and loveee a sweet and salty combination, then you’re bound to love this miso maple matcha latte and more! I’m always experimenting with sweet and salty pairings in drinks, so here are some I think you’ll love to try next:

• Salted Tahini Honeycomb Matcha Latte
• Sea Salt Cream Matcha Latte
• Salted Vanilla Matcha Latte
• Honey Salted Pistachio Matcha Latte
• Salted Maple Matcha Latte