Here’s a twist on the classic horchata with nutty, umami, and earthy matcha that makes the perfect sweet drink. This matcha horchata latte is refreshing, light, and has a balanced flavor that makes the matcha taste less bitter and the horchata not shockingly sweet.

Matcha tastes so good with sweet and cream flavors, so there’s no doubt this matcha horchata is a must-try for any matcha or horchata lover.

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

What is Horchata?

Horchata is a sweet, milky liquid most commonly made with white rice. It’s a staple drink in Mexico and Spain, where horchata originated from! Originally made with tiger nuts (and barley way back when), this drink was introduced to Mexico by Spaniards in the 16th century.

As with many food recipes and drinks, the local people in Mexico adapted the drink to their produce and swapped the tiger nut for rice. And voila, you have the famous Mexican horchata or agua de horchata!

There are so many variations of horchata out there, from adding sliced almonds, vanilla extract, and more, but the base ingredients are always the same.

What is Horchata Made Of?

Horchata (Mexican) is made from white rice, water, cinnamon, milk, evaporated milk, and condensed milk. This is the base of most Mexican horchata recipes and every family has their own take.

As mentioned, some people like to add other ingredients like sliced almonds, salt, star anise, or other spices. Some people even toast their ingredients before soaking for extra flavor!

The result is a creamy, milky, sweet beverage that’s light and refreshing yet satisfying. It’s like drinking a thinner version of ice cream!

What Does a Matcha Horchata Taste Like?

Horchata is notoriously sweet, like dessert or soda sweet! If you’ve ever ordered it from a taco shop, stand, or Mexican restaurant, you’ll know that their horchata can be quite sugary. Don’t get me wrong, it tastes good, but man does it pack a punch!

Since horchata’s main flavor is cinnamon, it tastes like sugary cinnamon milk, like how Cinnamon Toast Crunch milk tastes after you soak the cereal. It also tastes like any dessert or breakfast food made with cinnamon and sugar, like cinnamon rolls or cinnamon pancakes, but more milky. It’s probably closest to tasting like melted cinnamon ice cream.

With matcha, the sweetness is balanced out and the creaminess works so well with matcha’s umami flavor. Since matcha is a little bitter and slightly savory, it’s the perfect tea to add to sweet horchata. It’s a great pairing!

How to Make Horchata

This creamy drink is so easy to make at home! Homemade horchata honestly tastes better than storebought horchata and it costs a fraction of the cost to make. This easy horchata recipe only requires white rice, water, cinnamon, and 3 types of milk, 2 of which are canned.

The full horchata recipe is just down below, but for an overview, you’ll want to soak the rice and cinnamon in water for a couple of hours beforehand. Then, once soft, you’ll blend, strain, and add the milks and you have creamy horchata!

It’s so easy to make and it’s a crowdpleaser!

How to Whisk Matcha

To add matcha to horchata, you’ll need to whisk it with water. Whisking matcha is the most important step for making matcha lattes, as it makes your latte smooth and not gritty.

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 a foam forms on top.

You’ll need to whisk for 10-20 seconds (or more depending on how fast you whisk) for a nice matcha froth. First, you’ll make larger bubbles which, as you keep whisking, will give way to smaller and smaller bubbles.

You can see a full matcha whisking tutorial here.

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

How to Make a Matcha Horchata Latte

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

• Whisked Matcha:
• 1½ tsp matcha powder
• ¼ cup water
• Horchata:
• 1 cup long grain white rice
• 3 cups water
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 can evaporated milk (14 oz)
• ½ can condensed milk (6 oz)
• 2 sticks cinnamon sticks
• A dash of ground cinnamon (optional)
• 1 cup ice

Matcha Horchata Latte Recipe

1. Soak Rice. Combine your rice, 2 cups of water, and cinnamon sticks in a large bowl or pitcher. Let the rice and cinnamon soak for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible on the counter or fridge, covered.
2. Make Horchata. Once soaked, blend the mixture (cinnamon and all) in a blender on medium or high until the rice grains and cinnamon are small and the water is milky. Careful not to overblend!
3. Strain Horchata. Strain the horchata 2-3 times with a strainer of cheesecloth until the remaining liquid has no residue. Some silt is normal.
4. Whisk Matcha. Sift matcha into a tea bowl and add water. Using a softened whisk, vigorously whisk the matcha in a zigzag motion until a foam forms on the top. The foam should have tiny, dense bubbles that make a light green froth.
5. Assemble Drink. Add ice, horchata, and ground cinnamon in a glass, then top with your whisked matcha.
6. Mix and Enjoy!

Is Horchata Vegan?

Horchata is traditionally vegan, made with soaked rice or nuts, sugar, and water. However, modern takes on horchata are made with dairy milk in multiple forms: regular milk, evaporated milk, and condensed milk.

Safe to say, this drink isn’t vegan or lactose-intolerant friendly. However, you can make homemade horchata vegan easily by replacing the dairy with non-dairy alternatives!

Instead of soaked, white rice, you can use soaked almonds or tiger nuts. You can use oat, coconut, or almond milk to make horchata, just substitute the ingredients 1 to 1. For an evaporated milk alternative, you can use a barista-blend of the milk you like or use half the amount but in cream form, like oat or coconut cream.

You might have to experiment with ratios to get the flavor to something you like, but it’s very easy to veganify!

Other Horchata Drinks

Now that you’ve made a bunch of horchata, you can make an endless amount of fun drinks! Horchata is a great base for coffee, tea, matcha, and more. Here are some creative horchata drinks to try next:

• Iced horchata latte
• Tres leches latte (Similar!)
• Horchata chai
• Horchata frappe
• Chocolate horchata
• Hot chocolate horchata
• Horchata boba
• Horchata shake
• Dirty horchata
• Horchata tea
• Coconut horchata
• Almond milk horchata

Tips:

Here are some tips for making a delicious matcha horchata latte at home!

• Super Creamy Horchata: If you want an ultra creamy horchata, use less water and substitute it with milk! You’ll get a much creamier horchata that’s perfect for creamy matcha or iced lattes.
• Use Different Milks: If you’re lactose intolerant or vegan, you can easily swap out the milk for your favorite nondairy milk like oat milk or coconut milk. You can also use coconut or oat condensed milk and different vegan creams as an evaporated milk replacement.
• Grainy Horchata? You can get grainy horchata from either not soaking the rice enough or straining out the horchata enough. Softer rice makes the texture smoother, but straining out the horchata multiple times also gets rid of the gritty sediment that makes it unpleasant to drink. You might need to use a finer strainer or a cheesecloth if, after straining, there’s still sediment leftover.