Recently, mixing matcha with other types of tea has become the new craze, from jasmine, oolong, osmanthus, and other light and floral teas. There’s something so satisfying about a floral and earthy tea drink that’s perfectly balanced with a nice creamy milk. And this matcha cloud jasmine latte, inspired by HEY Tea, is no exception. And best of all, it’s crazy easy to make at home for a fraction of the price!

Here’s how to make HEY Tea’s matcha cloud jasmine latte at home!

Matcha Cloud Jasmine Latte Takeaways:

• Add cream cheese to the matcha cloud for a version closer to HEY Tea’s drink.
• Use loose-leaf tea for the best flavor!
• Add milk powder to get that signature milky flavor without diluting the tea.

Why Make This Drink?

• Save yourself money by making this almost $8 drink at home for less than half the price.
• See how easy it is to make your favorite cafe drinks at home; you’ll be surprised.
• It’s a great way to experiment with different flavors or come across unexpected pairings.
• It’s fun and creatively fulfilling! Plus, you get a delicious beverage at the end.

What is Matcha?

Matcha is a green tea powder made from shaded, young green tea leaves that give the tea its unmistakable vegetal, umami flavor. Unlike brewing tea leaves, you whisk matcha with water to get a potent tea concentrate, which you consume on its own or with milk as a latte.

Depending on the growing conditions and variety, matcha can have different flavors, colors, textures, and even grades. From the coveted first flush harvest to the second, and even the third, you can taste deeply rich, umami tea to a more bitter, astringent powder great for lattes and cooking.

And in recent years, there’s been a craze for matcha, from home baristas to large corporations like Starbucks and HEY Tea, which leads you to this page, for the matcha cloud jasmine latte recipe!

What is the Matcha Cloud Jasmine Latte?

This delectable tea drink is one of HEY Tea’s most popular items. It’s a jasmine milk tea latte topped with a fluffy, slightly savory matcha cloud cream. You get a fragrant, floral jasmine aroma that balances the rich matcha. You wouldn’t think that the two go together, but they make a great pair!

But wait, who is HEY Tea? “New-style” milk tea shops have exploded in popularity (especially in the Bay Area, where I live), featuring tea-forward, fragrant tea drinks that are lighter, fresher, and healthier than the decade-long popular bubble tea. HEY Tea (喜茶) is a Chinese brand that opened in 2012, promoting healthier drinks made with real fruit and milk. They’re wildly popular in China, and recently expanded to the US, giving people overseas a taste of high-quality, tea-forward drinks.

They are also the creators of the salted cheese foam, which is featured in this matcha cloud jasmine latte. The cream cheese gives it a nice, subtly savory finish, which perfectly balances the sweetness.

What Does the Matcha Cloud Jasmine Latte Taste Like?

The matcha cloud jasmine latte is a flavor explosion. You get the sweet, creamy, slightly bitter, and savory cream on top that tastes basically like liquid matcha cheesecake. Then, the smooth and silky jasmine milk tea on the bottom contrasts so nicely with the rich cream. It tastes unlike anything you’ve ever had! It’s equal parts sweet, salty, umami, bitter, floral, milky, and nutty.

HEY Tea is probably one of the first tea stores I know that combined matcha with jasmine tea, and now it’s its own trend! They have their own HEY Tea lab, where they brew up different concoctions, so it makes sense they’re the pioneers of some incredible combinations.

Do Jasmine and Matcha Go Together?

I used to be skeptical, but now I’m a fan! Jasmine has a very strong, floral aroma which can be overwhelming for some people. It’s great in doses, like in jasmine green tea, where it adds a nice aroma.

If you love strong floral teas, then you’ll love jasmine and matcha together. The jasmine makes matcha taste less grassy and earthy, so you get more of that umami and nutty flavor. Together, the matcha takes more of a secondary role, with jasmine as the primary flavor.

However, if you’re more of a matcha purist, then you might not like how strong the jasmine flavor comes through. During my first time trying the two teas together, I thought the jasmine overpowered the matcha. But since tweaking recipes, I find using less of the jasmine tea balances the two better!

Matcha Cloud Jasmine Latte Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make the matcha cloud jasmine latte at home:

• Jasmine Milk Tea
• Jasmine Green Tea (Loose Leaf) — Any loose-leaf jasmine green tea works! You can find it at virtually every Asian grocery store. Tea bags also work, but the flavor might be duller and less vibrant. You’ll want to use 2 tea bags for every tbsp of loose-leaf.
• Milk — Fresh 2% or whole milk works best! It will give you that creamy, milky flavor without having to use nondairy creamer (like Coffeemate).
• Milk Powder — For an extra creamy flavor, use milk powder. This is the secret ingredient to making any home milk tea taste like the store. You can use nondairy or 2% milk powder.
• Hot Water
• Sugar — I like using white sugar or simple syrup to sweeten my milk tea, but you can use any sweetener you’d like.
• Ice
• Matcha Cloud
• Matcha Powder — Use a matcha powder that’s bold, slightly bitter, and more umami for a well-balanced flavor. This flavor profile will come through the cream, whereas something more floral or sweet gets washed away.
• Hot Water
• Sugar
• Heavy Cream — Use cream with 35% or more milk fat for best results. Half and half won’t hold the same texture or taste the same.
• Cream Cheese (Optional) — HEY Tea uses this in their version, but you can also make this without that tangy, savory flavor.
• Salt (Optional) — For the cheese version, add a small, small pinch of salt to bring out the flavors.

You’ll also need a handheld whisk or frother.

How to Make HEY Tea’s Matcha Cloud Jasmine Latte

1. Steep Tea. Use hot water just under boiling temperature for green tea. Brew loose-leaf tea in a heatproof mug for 3 – 5 minutes or until fully steeped, then remove tea leaves.
2. Make Milk Tea. To the hot tea, add fresh milk, milk powder, and sweetener, stirring to combine until there are no clumps or undissolved bits. Set aside to cool.
3. Whisk Matcha. Sift matcha powder into a matcha bowl, then add hot water. Using a moistened matcha whisk, gently knead the powder and water into a paste. Add a tablespoon of water if your paste is too thick.
4. Make Matcha Cream. To the matcha paste, add heavy cream and sugar, then whip to a soft and fluffy consistency using a handheld frother.
5. Cream Cheese Version. For a more HEY Tea accurate version, add softened cream cheese and a small pinch of salt to the cream. Whip until soft and fluffy.
6. Assemble Drink. To a glass with ice, pour the semi-chilled jasmine milk tea and top with the fluffy matcha cloud cream. Garnish with a dusting of matcha powder.
7. Mix and Enjoy! Stir with a straw and enjoy!

Other Ways to Make This Drink

While the default is to make a jasmine milk tea, you can also make this drink a couple of different ways:

• Jasmine tea syrup: Instead of brewing tea, you can make a jasmine tea syrup that adds the jasmine tea flavor and sweetness simultaneously. Just brew a tea concentrate on the stove, then add sugar and reduce until the desired consistency. Cool and store in the fridge!
• Jasmine steeped milk: For a more convenient option, steep jasmine green tea in milk overnight in the fridge. This creates a milky, tea-forward base that is richer than the brewed tea version.
• Cream-less version: You can also enjoy this with whisked matcha instead of the matcha cream. Just whisk matcha until frothy, then add it to your iced jasmine milk tea for a jasmine matcha latte!

Tips for the Best Drink

• Don’t Skip Whisking — If you add matcha powder straight to cream and whip, you might end up with clumps of matcha powder that you can’t get rid of. By whisking the matcha with water first, you ensure a smooth, creamy texture!
• Avoid Oversteeping Tea — Accidentally take your eyes off brewing tea and end up with a really bitter tea? This won’t translate well into the finished drink, as you’ll end up with astringency and a bitter flavor. Although if it’s light, you can mask it with some milk and sugar.
• Add More Sugar Than You Think — As someone who likes lightly sweetened beverages, this drink might need a regular amount of sugar to balance out the intense tea flavors. Start with the recipe amount, then add more if desired.

FAQ’s

Can I make this non-dairy?

Yes! Just swap out the heavy cream for your favorite non-dairy alternative, like coconut cream, vegan cream, or oat cream. Same with the milk—you can use oat milk, soy milk, or a lactose-free milk.

How much caffeine is in the matcha cloud jasmine latte?

I hate to break it to you, but this drink has a lot of caffeine in it. One serving of matcha has around 50 mg of caffeine, which is close to the amount a single espresso shot has. One serving of jasmine green tea can have 30 – 50 mg of caffeine, so you’re looking at roughly 80 – 100 mg of caffeine, which is enough to get your day started!

Can I use a different tea?

Yes, you can use any other floral tea you’d like. A good alternative is osmanthus oolong tea, which has a sweeter floral scent! You could also try magnolia oolong, darjeeling black tea, or white tea. Black teas have a malty flavor, while green teas have a grassy, lighter flavor.

Other Matcha Recipes to Try

If you love recreating cafe drinks at home, then this recipe is a must-save! Who doesn’t love saving money and enjoying a delicious treat? After you try this one, here are some other matcha recipes to try next:

• Maple Miso Matcha Latte
• Salted Guava Matcha Latte
• Earl Grey Matcha Latte
• Cheese Foam Matcha Latte
• Jasmine Matcha Latte