Not all matcha drinks are made with milk! This matcha cream soda is the perfect creamy and fizzy beverage that is not too heavy or sweet. All you need are 5 ingredients to make this refreshing matcha soda! Make it for yourself or a party to impress your guests!

Here’s how to make this delicious matcha cream soda at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s creamy and refreshing!
• Super easy matcha recipe to make at home
• A fun and creative way to make matcha drinks
• Easy step-by-step recipe for a cafe-style matcha drink!

What is Matcha?

Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder made from shade-grown tea leaves called tencha. It’s an antioxidant-rich superfood that gives you a slow, sustained caffeine boost! Recently, it’s garnered a lot of attention on social media, leading to an unprecedented matcha shortage!

Depending on the blend, matcha can taste sweet, creamy, nutty, umami, savory, and more. However, most matcha tastes earthy, vegetal, and umami.

What is a Cream Soda?

Contrary to popular belief, cream soda is actually a soda flavor derived from ice cream floats! It’s a vanilla-flavored soda made with carbonated water and vanilla syrup, which tastes like an extremely sweet caramel but in liquid form. It tastes similar to a root beer float but without the sarsaparilla flavor.

You’ll usually find it made with vanilla ice cream at the store or diner, but some shops will make it with heavy cream. For example, Swig (a popular U.S. dirty soda chain) adds heavy cream to some of their soda recipes for that creamy flavor.

What is a Matcha Cream Soda?

A matcha cream soda is a vanilla and matcha flavored cream soda made with carbonated water, whisked matcha, vanilla, and whipped cream or heavy cream. It’s not a traditional soda flavor as matcha is not as popular in chains or in soda, but it’s a great addition!

You can easily make it at home with the ingredients below, and it’s a great creamy and refreshing treat!

What Does a Matcha Cream Soda Taste Like?

To me, matcha cream soda tastes like a lighter and more refreshing matcha ice cream in soda form. Since I don’t like my drinks too sweet, this is on the more refreshing side than the dessert side. It’s like a creamy matcha popsicle or matcha creamsicle.

It’s light, creamy, slightly sweet, with that nice earthy flavor; it’s an adult creamsicle!

What Carbonated Water to Use

I thought soda water, tonic water, and sparkling water were the same for the longest time. Well, news flash, they’re not! All of the below are carbonated water but differ in 2 ways: mineral content and flavor.

• Sparkling water (seltzer): unflavored carbonated water with no added minerals or flavors
• Club soda: unflavored carbonated water with added minerals and sometimes salt
• Tonic water: carbonated water with quinine and sugar added
• Sparkling mineral water: unflavored carbonated mineral water

Any of these carbonated waters work for this matcha cream soda, but sparkling water or club soda works best! I generally use sparkling water for all my drinks because it has a more neutral and clean flavor, but use whatever you have!

How to Make Cream Soda

You can make cream soda in 3 ways: soda and whipped cream, heavy cream, or ice cream.

Typically, cream soda is made with vanilla ice cream (so basically an ice cream float), but heavy cream is the main ingredient in ice cream, so you can use it instead! To make any cream soda, all you need is your soda or carbonated beverage of choice and a scoop (or two) of vanilla ice cream.

You can use whipped cream as a substitute for ice cream as well! It will be lighter and more airy. You can also use just regular heavy cream and add your sugar if desired.

How to Whisk Matcha

Whisking matcha is the most important step for making smooth matcha lattes! It helps eliminate any matcha powder clumps that can make your drink unpleasant to drink.

You’ll need a matcha whisk (chasen) and a tea bowl (but any bowl with high-ish walls is usable). First, soak your chasen in warm water, then start whisking your matcha in zigzag motions until foam forms.

Whisk for 10-20 seconds (or more, depending on whisking speed) for a nice matcha froth. The bubbles should be small, tiny bubbles that are close together, almost like espresso crema!

You can see a full matcha whisking tutorial here.

No bamboo whisk? You can make matcha without a whisk using the tools you have at home!

How to Make Matcha Cream Soda

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 2-3 tsp sugar or sweetener
• 1 cup carbonated water
• 1 cup ice
• 1½ tsp matcha powder
• ¼ cup water
• ¼ tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Matcha Cream Soda Recipe

1. Add heavy cream and sugar to a cup or bowl. Whip for 10 – 20 seconds using a handheld frother until light and fluffy but still pourable.
2. Sift matcha powder into a matcha bowl, then add water. Whisk for 20 – 30 seconds in a zigzag motion using a matcha whisk until a foam forms.
3. Add ice, carbonated water, and whisked matcha into a separate glass. Then, garnish with softly whipped cream and a dusting of matcha powder.
4. Mix and enjoy!

Other Refreshing Matcha Recipes

If you like this creamy and refreshing matcha cream soda, then you have to try some of these other incredible, refreshing matcha recipes! They’re all super easy to make at home and save you money from buying matcha drinks out:

• Watermelon cold foam matcha latte
• Mango matcha soda
• Coconut matcha water
• Mango matcha latte
• Apple matcha cloud

Tips:

• Use Flavored or Sweetened Carbonated Water: To make this drink more interesting, use flavored or sweetened sparkling water. This will make it easier to make and eliminate a step from this recipe! I personally love any berry-flavored sparkling water with cream, but you can also use citrus for a refreshing flavor.
• Skip Whipped Cream: Instead of whipping cream to make whipped cream, you can use just heavy cream and pour it directly into the drink. It will taste the same and be easier to mix. It won’t be as velvety in texture, but it’s quick and easy.
• Make Layers: This cream soda is perfect for making pretty layers! You’ll need to add the sugar to the bottom of the drink, and you can easily dissolve it into carbonated water. Then, add ice and pour the whisked matcha directly onto the ice so it breaks the impact and creates a nice layer. Once you add the whipped cream on top, it looks like a cloud as well!
• Make Matcha Whipped Cream: For more matcha flavor, you can make matcha whipped cream. Whisk up some extra matcha powder and add it to the heavy cream and sugar mixture for ultra-smooth matcha cream.