Looking for a fun and festive drink for fall? Try a pumpkin spice matcha latte. The flavors work so well together and, dare I say, better than coffee. It’s the perfect way to get some energy and change up your coffee or matcha routine.

You can opt for just pumpkin spice or use jam or butter with pumpkin puree. The earthy notes in pumpkin perfectly complement that in matcha. Plus, you’ll get a cool orange and green drink that’s just like a pumpkin!

Here’s how to make a delicious pumpkin spice matcha latte at home!

What is Pumpkin Spice?

Pumpkin spice, or pumpkin pie spice, is a blend of allspice, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon used to flavor pumpkin pie. Sometimes, a brand can omit one of the five listed spices, but generally, you’ll find at least three of the five as ingredients.

This spice blend is synonymous with pumpkin pie, and even smelling it or having it in a drink makes you think you’re about to eat pumpkin pie. In the United States, pumpkin spice is synonymous with fall, and it has a cult following.

Right around mid-September, you’ll see all the major food and beverage brands, as well as coffee chains, roll out pumpkin spice flavored milks, creamers, desserts, drinks, etc.

Pumpkin Spice vs. All Spice

Pumpkin spice is not the same thing as allspice. In fact, all spice is a key ingredient in pumpkin spice!

People often mistake all spice as a blend of spices but it’s actually one spice. Allspice is dried up and ground unripe berries from the Jamaica pepper plant. In flavor, it tastes like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and pepper (hence the name).

It’s an incredibly versatile spice you can use in savory and sweet dishes, like glazing ham or chicken or making cakes and cookies.

Why Do Americans Love Pumpkin Spice?

As an American myself, I think we love pumpkin spice because of a combination of nostalgia and marketing.

Pumpkin spice screams the holidays, and it’s an often joyous celebration with friends and family, as well as holiday traditions. Most obvious: pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving or spiced treats during the fall.

The holidays are a great time to relax, enjoy the chillier weather, and cozy up inside. However, we can’t deny that marketing also plays a huge part in our love of the spice.

Starbucks always brings in autumn with their cult favorite pumpkin spice lattes, and the grocery store is flooded with pumpkin spice-flavored products like cookies, cakes, yogurts, creamers, ice cream, and more.

Is There Pumpkin in Pumpkin Spice?

Contrary to popular belief, there is actually no pumpkin in pumpkin spice.

Don’t worry. I was, like, 21 when I found this out. I remember going to Starbucks, getting a PSL, and thinking there was actually pumpkin in it…

The spices are so associated with pumpkin pie, though, that it really tastes like there’s pumpkin. But, it just refers to the spices in the pie itself.

However, a lot of drink creators, including myself, have added pumpkin puree or jam into drinks to stick true to the name. And, honestly, it works!

Where to Find Pumpkin Spice

You can find pumpkin spice in any grocery store in the spice section. Usually, it is where all the other spices are and is labeled as pumpkin pie spice.

A typical spice bottle of pumpkin spice will cost around $6, and it should last at least a year, if not more, depending on how often you use it.

If you can’t find it near you, you can also make your own pumpkin spice by mixing preground spices or grinding the spices yourself. All you need is ginger powder, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice.

How to Use Pumpkin Spice

Obviously, you use pumpkin spice to make pumpkin pie. But you can also use it in any other dessert or drink! It’s great in cookies, muffins, banana bread, cakes, coffee, milk, and any other fall-related treat you can think of.

Usually, you mix it in the batter or liquid, or top the item with spices for a garnish or extra flavor. You can make it into a syrup for easy use in drinks and baking, too!

This spice isn’t just for pumpkin, either. Add it with bananas, apples, pears, or any other fruit that would go well with warm spices. You can also add it to yams, sweet potatoes, oatmeal, or even roasted veggies.

What is Matcha?

Matcha is finely ground green tea leaves that are shade-grown to force the plant to produce more chlorophyll, which is what gives matcha its earthy and umami flavor.

It’s a very specific type of tea that doesn’t require brewing. You whisk the tea in water to drink or combine it with milk for a latte.

Good quality matchas are deep green, almost like emeralds, and have a rich earthy, umami, and sometimes nutty flavor. The flavors depend on the type of matcha blend and how the tea leaves are processed.

It originated in China but was brought to Japan, now famous for its matcha-growing regions, like Uji.

How to Make Matcha

To make matcha, whisk together 1-2 tsps of matcha powder and water in a shallow bowl using a tea whisk. You want to create microfoam on top so that the texture is smooth.

You can also use a handheld frother or even a mason jar, as long as you combine the matcha and water well.

Then, you can drink it straight or add it to milk and ice. Many people flavor it with honey, agave, or sugar, but you can also use flavored syrups as well.

Does Pumpkin Spice Go Well with Matcha?

Matcha is a mild-tasting tea that pairs well with many flavors. You might think that pumpkin spice will overwhelm the matcha, but they actually go together quite well!

The spices enhance the matcha flavor and complement each other, especially in a latte. It tastes even better when you add some pumpkin puree or jam.

Adding pumpkin spice to your matcha latte is a great way to celebrate fall in a festive way.

Tips

Here are some tips on making a pumpkin spice matcha latte at home:

• If you’re using pumpkin puree or jam, I would blend the milk and the pumpkin in a blender and strain it to get the bits out. That way, you’ll have super smooth milk without any pulp.
• If you want to add another layer of flavor, add some vanilla paste or extract! It helps mellow out some of the spices and tastes so good with pumpkin and matcha.
• For stronger matcha flavor, use more matcha powder or invest in a high-quality matcha. Not all matchas are alike, and there are definitely less flavorful matchas out there.