This rose matcha latte is soft, fruity, and floral, which is the perfect drink for spring! You get the delicate rose flavors with earthy matcha and a creamy milky base, which, together, is balanced yet flavorful.

Plus, making a rose matcha latte is so easy and quick, you’ll save so much money from buying it out!

Here’s how to make an aromatic rose matcha latte at home!

What is a Rose Matcha Latte?

A rose matcha latte is a matcha latte with rose flavor added either via syrup, extract, water, or powder. It’s a floral-flavored matcha drink that’s perfect for spring or when you want a touch of floralness that’s not overpowering.

Usually, rose doesn’t have a color unless you add it separately, either via food dye or natural dyes.

What Does a Rose Matcha Latte Taste Like?

Rose by itself has a soft floral and subtly fruity flavor, which people often describe as soft and delicate. It’s light and airy, so it doesn’t punch you in the face with florals.

It kind of reminds me of lychee ice cream, almost! And lychee and rose are also a popular pairing in desserts.

With matcha, the rose is the perfect overhead flavor, and the matcha’s bitterness supports it through the latte.

Is Rose Good with Matcha?

Matcha pairs nicely with floral flavors, like lavender, orange blossom, sakura, so naturally it’s good with rose! I like this combination a lot, especially when it’s in a cold foam because you get the smooth rose cream and then the earthy matcha latte.

Rose milk on its own is also super creamy and delicious, and the florals are light, which balances out the earthiness of matcha. The rose also adds a nice aroma, and it’s soft and sweet, which makes it so addicting.

Plus, you can bring out different rose strengths depending on how you add rose flavor to your latte.

How to Add Rose Flavor

There are multiple ways to add rose flavor to your matcha latte, but rose syrup is probably the best, easiest, and most convenient way to add it.

You can buy syrup from well-known brands like Monin, 183, or Torani, or also make it yourself at home! All you need to do is make simple syrup and steep dried rose petals in the hot syrup until they infuse. You can infuse it as long as you’d like; the longer you steep the syrup, the stronger the rose flavor.

You can also use rose extract to flavor your lattes, but it may have an artificial rose flavor. However, it’s super convenient to use and most Asian grocery stores sell a small bottle for less than $5, and it will last you years. You’ll have to add sweetener to your drink since the extract is unsweetened.

Rose water is also another alternative, but it’s not as concentrated as extract and can dilute your drink if you use a lot of it. However, rose water is quite strong and readily accessible at any Middle Eastern or Mediterranean grocery store.

I’ve also seen rose powder, but I haven’t tried it personally. I would think it gives you a nice pink color, though, since you’re adding the whole petal to your latte.

How to Make Rose Syrup

As mentioned, it’s easy to make rose syrup at home, and you’ll just need to make a simple syrup base. You can make this syrup by infusing the syrup with dried rose petals or by adding rose water to the simple syrup, and letting it simmer for a little longer after.

Using rose water is the better way to make this syrup because it’s more potent and less time-consuming. You can let the dried rose petals sit and infuse into the syrup, but it will take a couple of hours, and you’ll need a lot of rose petals to get the same strength as rose water. However, if you want a subtle rose syrup, then this is the perfect one for you!

If you want a pink syrup, add pink food coloring after the syrup is off the heat. You can use regular food dye or a natural food powder like beet root, strawberry, pitaya, etc.

How to Make a Rose Matcha Latte

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

• 1½ tsp matcha powder
• ¼ cup water
• ⅛ tsp rose extract (or 1 tsp rose syrup)
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup ice
• A sprinkle of  dried rose petals

Rose Matcha Latte Recipe

1. Make or Buy Rose Extract or Syrup. Get some rose extract or make rose syrup at home! You can make syrup by making simple syrup, then steeping dried food grade rose petals in the hot syrup for a couple of hours until infused.
2. Whisk Matcha. Sift matcha powder into a matcha bowl, then add your room temperature or hot water. Using a bamboo whisk, vigorously whisk your matcha in a zigzag motion until a foam forms on the top layer. The foam should be velvety with tiny bubbles close together.
3. Make Rose Milk. Add rose extract or syrup into your milk and mix to dissolve. If you want pink milk, add pink food coloring or beetroot powder for a natural pink color.
4. Assemble Drink. Add ice and rose milk to a glass, then top with your whisked matcha. Garnish with a sprinkling of dried rose petals (optional).
5. Mix and Enjoy!

How to Make a Rose Cold Foam

To make a creamy version of this rose matcha latte, you can add the rose extract or syrup to a mixture of cream and milk to make a rose cold foam. This will give you a super fluffy rose cold foam that sits on your matcha latte.

The rose cold foam will have a super soft and fluffy texture, which makes any matcha latte fun to drink!

To make sweet cream cold foam, you’ll need 1/4 cup heavy cream, 2 tbsp milk, and rose extract or syrup. You’ll also need an electric frother or mixer to whip your cream into an airy foam. Whip the cream for 10-20 seconds until the cream gets nice and fluffy. It should double in size and still be pourable, not stiff.

You can also omit the milk and just make rose whipped cream for an extra decadent and fluffy drink.

Other Floral Drinks to Try

If you are one of the rare people who love floral flavors, and you like this matcha rose latte, you have to try these other floral drinks! From sakura, jasmine, and more, here’s some floral drink inspiration for your next treat:

• Sakura latte
• Sakura matcha latte
• Rose latte
• Strawberry rose latte
• Jasmine matcha latte
• Earl grey matcha latte (Must Try!)
• Orange blossom latte
• Lavender cream oat milk matcha
• Hibiscus matcha latte
• Lavender matcha latte
• Lavender cold foam matcha latte

Tips:

Here are some tips for making a delicious rose matcha latte at home:

• Add Sea Salt or Vanilla: For an extra kick of flavor, try adding a little pinch of salt or vanilla syrup or extract. Rose is such a lovely, soft flavor, and it really benefits from complementary flavors.
• Add Beetroot for Color: For a pretty pink color, add some pink food coloring or beetroot powder, or juice for a natural pink color. You get the prettiest pink hue, and it makes your latte more appealing!
• Garnish with Rose Petals: Sprinkle some dried rose petals on top of your latte for a nice garnish! It’s subtle, but it makes a big difference in your presentation.