Have you ever wondered what a perfume tastes like? A matcha perfume by Étrange London inspired this drink, which has notes of bergamot, jasmine, mandarin, cedar, and white chocolate. It’s soft, citrusy, and earthy all at once. I remember thinking, if this scent were a drink, it would taste amazing.

So I tried recreating it as a matcha latte.

This orange jasmine matcha latte uses an orange jasmine tea syrup that’s bright and floral with a burst of orange scent. The flavor is delicate, refreshing, and a little unexpected! Here’s how you can recreate it at home!

Why You’ll Love This Orange Jasmine Matcha Latte

• It tastes like spring in a cup; it’s floral, citrusy, and perfectly balanced.
• The jasmine syrup adds a light floral sweetness that gives matcha a refreshing experience.
• It’s inspired by a perfume, so it feels extra special and creative to make.
• It’s a cafe-quality latte that looks and tastes like something from a boutique tea shop!

Do Matcha and Jasmine Go Together?

Jasmine and matcha make a surprisingly delicious pairing. Just take it from HEYTEA, a popular Chinese milk tea brand that has an extremely popular jasmine matcha latte, which is super aromatic.

Jasmine has a light floral sweetness that brightens matcha’s deeper, earthy flavor. When you combine the two, the floral notes tend to lift and lighten the matcha, bringing out more of its grassy and vegetal side rather than its creamy, umami flavors.

It’s a great combo if you like your matcha on the refreshing side instead of rich or dessert-like. Plus, jasmine tea syrup is sooo fun to make!

Orange Jasmine Matcha Latte Recipe: Ingredients You’ll Need

• Orange Jasmine Tea Syrup:
• 1 tbsp jasmine tea leaves
• ½ cup of water
• ½ cup sugar
• Zest half an orange
• Matcha Latte:
• 1½ tsp matcha powder
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup ice

How to Make Jasmine Tea Syrup

While most jasmine matcha drinks use jasmine tea, I like making a jasmine tea syrup so it’s less intense. I find that sometimes brewed jasmine can overpower matcha.

1. Add tea leaves, water, and sugar to a small pot and bring to a rolling boil.
2. Reduce for 5-10 minutes until you get a thicker consistency and the sugar is completely dissolved.
3. Set aside and cool before transferring to a sealable bottle or jar, then storing in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.

Tip: To make this process faster, pre-boil the water in a kettle, then add it to your pot.

How to Add Orange Flavor

There are a few ways to add orange flavor to your matcha: orange juice, orange extract, or orange syrup. But each one comes with its own challenges. Fresh juice can make your latte too tangy or even curdle the milk if you’re not careful. Extracts, on the other hand, can taste artificial or too sharp if overused. And orange syrups, while convenient, often lean more sweet than citrusy.

That’s why I prefer using orange zest.

Why Using Only Zest Is Better

Orange zest gives you all the fragrant, aromatic oils from the peel — the part that makes citrus smell incredible — without the acidity of the juice. It infuses the drink with a clean, fresh orange aroma that complements both the jasmine and matcha. Plus, it’s easier to control the flavor intensity. A little zest goes a long way and gives the most delicate, amazing orange aroma.

Just make sure to wash your orange really well, and use a fine grater to zest into your syrup. Be careful of your fingers!

How to Make the Orange Jasmine Matcha Latte

1. Make or buy jasmine syrup. Follow the steps above for making jasmine syrup at home. Before boiling the syrup, add the zest directly into the mixture.
2. Whisk matcha. Preheat your matcha whisk with warm water. Add matcha powder and water to a matcha tea bowl, then vigorously whisk in M or Z motions for 10-20 seconds. Make sure to break up any clumps of matcha. You’ll see a froth form on the surface. Continue whisking until you get a velvety, green microfoam.
3. Add ice, syrup, and milk to a separate glass, then top with your whisked matcha. Garnish with an orange citrus peel or orange zest.
4. Mix and enjoy!

Tips for Success

• Use fresh orange zest: Avoid the white pith! It’s bitter. Try only zesting the bright orange outer layer for the best citrus aroma.
• Strain the zest if needed: If you prefer a smoother drink, strain out the orange zest from the syrup before adding to your latte.
• Try with oat milk or almond milk: Plant-based milks let the floral and citrus notes shine more clearly than dairy.

Substitutions and Variations

Orange substitutions: If you don’t have an orange, you can use mandarin or tangerine zest for basically the same flavor. Grapefruit, yuzu, or lemon zest also works if you want something more aromatic or tart.

Jasmine alternatives: Try steeping other floral teas like rose, lavender, or chamomile for a different type of floral.

Sweetener swaps: Jasmine syrup gives this drink its unique floral sweetness, but you can substitute it with honey syrup or vanilla syrup.

Iced or hot version: This latte is delicious both hot and cold! For a hot version, use warm milk and dissolve the syrup into it. Then, garnish with some jasmine tea leaves or dried jasmine flowers!

Matcha intensity: Adjust the amount of matcha to your preference. Use 1 teaspoon for a normal serving or 1½ teaspoons for a stronger matcha flavor. (Watch out for the caffeine in matcha!)

Other Flavors That Complement Matcha

If you love how the orange and jasmine pair with matcha, there are so many other flavors you can experiment with! Matcha is incredibly versatile; it can go earthy, floral, fruity, nutty, or even creamy depending on what you mix it with. Here are some ideas to spark your creativity:

Floral pairings: Lavender, rose, and elderflower all highlight matcha’s lighter, grassy side. Try them as simple syrups or infused milks.

Fruity pairings: If you prefer something sweeter, strawberry, mango, or peach adds a tropical note that’s amazing iced.

Nutty pairings: Pistachio, almond, and coconut bring out matcha’s creamy qualities. These are great bases for cozy lattes or richer drinks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is matcha?
Matcha is a finely ground powder made from shade-grown green tea leaves. Unlike regular tea, where you steep and discard the leaves, you whisk matcha directly into water so you’re consuming the whole leaf. This gives it a richer flavor, a vibrant green color, and a boost of antioxidants and natural caffeine.

Can I use store-bought jasmine syrup?
Yes! It saves time, though homemade tastes fresher (and better imo).

Can I use orange extract instead of zest?
You can, but it’s stronger and might be artificial, so start with just a drop or two.

Can I use tea bags instead of loose-leaf jasmine tea?
Definitely! Just make sure to use high-quality tea bags. Loose-leaf jasmine tea will have a stronger floral aroma, but tea bags work well for convenience. Use 2 tea bags for every tbsp of looseleaf.

Will the milk curdle?
It shouldn’t if you use orange zest! Acid + protein = coagulation!

Can I make it ahead of time?
You can prep the syrup and whisked matcha ahead, then assemble when ready to serve. Just be sure to rewhisk the matcha so the powder is evenly dispersed.

What kind of matcha works best?
A matcha powder that has more floral and vegetal flavors works best! A richer, umami, and creamy matcha also tastes great, but might be overpowered.

Other Matcha Latte Recipes to Try Next

If you liked this fragrant orange jasmine matcha latte, then you need to try these other amazing matcha recipes! Try more aromatic flavor combinations that are super refreshing:

• Peach Jasmine Cloud
• Fig Vanilla Matcha Latte
• Mango Cream Matcha Latte
• Date Cream Matcha Latte
• Sakura Matcha Latte