Sakura, or cherry blossoms, are delicate, pink flowers known for their soft, subtly sweet flavor! It’s most popular in Japan, where you’ll find sakura-flavored everything, from sakura KitKats, sakura cookies, and sakura lattes. This sakura latte is inspired by Starbucks Japan’s sakura latte, which they bring back every spring and is a regional exclusive! Luckily, you don’t need to travel to Japan to taste it, as you can make it right in your own home.

Here’s how to make a sakura latte at home!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Enjoy all the floral flavor of sakura! It only blooms once a year for a short week or two.
• Remind yourself of a taste of Japan (or another city where you can see the cherry blossoms bloom).
• It’s super easy to make and only takes 5 minutes to put together.
• Make a cafe-quality beverage right from the comfort of your own kitchen.

What is Sakura?

Sakura is the Japanese word for cherry blossoms, which are light pink or pinky white blossoms famous for their color! You can find cherry blossom trees practically all over the world, but most notably on the West and East coasts of the United States and in Japan. However, you’ll only find an abundance of sakura-flavored items in Japan. 

Cherry blossoms famously bloom in the spring, but have a short blooming time so people come out in droves to appreciate the flowers. Not only is sakura an important flavor in Japanese cuisine, it’s also an important part of Japanese culture called ___. It’s the idea that you should appreciate every moment while it’s here.

What Does Sakura Taste Like?

Some people say sakura tastes subtly like cherries, but I think it tastes more similar to a soft rose, but sweeter and creamier. It’s quite a subtle flavor, but like most florals, it still comes through even in creamy beverages and coffee. Sakura is delicate, floral, aromatic, and unique! Once you try it, it’s pretty identifiable in drinks, desserts, etc.

What is a Sakura Latte?

A sakura latte is a sweetened sakura-flavored milk, which is basically sakura milk (like chocolate milk). Although it has the word latte in it, it normally doesn’t have coffee in it unless stated, like the Starbucks sakura latte d. But generally, it’s caffeine-free. This recipe will make both the caffeine-free version and one with espresso, so you can make either depending on your mood. 

Sakura lattes are normally served hot, but the coffee versions are typically served iced. Not sure why that came to be, but I guess it tastes better that way! 

How to Add Sakura Flavor

Cherry blossoms are edible and commonly preserved in a salty brine for consumption. However, sakura powder is also extremely popular for culinary use and easily flavors doughs, creams, milks, and more. In Japan, it’s really common to find at grocery stores or department stores, but in the States, it’s hard to find unless you go to a specialty Japanese shop. You’re more likely to encounter sakura latte powders, which are sakura powder mixed with sugar, milk powder, and other creamers. You have to look closely, though; sometimes it contains other flower powders and not sakura.

Sakura syrup is also popular, but usually made with artificial flavors. I’ve yet to find one made from real sakura!

Sakura Latte Recipe: Ingredients

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

• Sakura Latte Powder — If you can find 100$ sakura powder, that’s the best for this drink. Unfortunately, it’s hard to find it where I live, so I use a sakura latte powder instead that I got from Amazon. It’s pre-sweetened and has creamer in it, so it’s more milky and doesn’t need sugar. For sakura powder, you’ll need to add some sugar.
• Hot Water — I like dissolving any powder with a little bit of hot water to make it into a thick syrup or paste so it prevents clumps. You can skip this if you like, but you may have clumps if you don’t mix properly. 
• Milk — I like using dairy milk, either 2% or whole milk, but you can use your favorite milk or milk alternative! 
• Ice
• Beetroot Powder (Optional) — You can add a little bit of beetroot powder to make it more pink, or use pink or red food coloring.
• Espresso (Optional) — Make a coffee-based sakura latte with your favorite espresso beans and an espresso machine! You could also use instant espresso powder or coffee concentrate as a replacement 
• Sakura Flower or Preserved Sakura (Optional) — There’s nothing like garnishing a sakura latte with a real flower! If you can get your hands on the real flower, it’s the perfect garnish. Otherwise, preserved sakura flowers also work!

How to Make a Sakura Latte (Caffeine-Free)

1. Mix Sakura Powder with Water. Mix the sakura powder with hot water until it becomes a paste or syrup. If using unsweetened sakura powder, add sugar and dissolve.
2. Mix with Milk. Add steamed or frothed milk to the sakura syrup and stir until fully combined. Add food coloring if you want a darker pink color. 
3. Assemble Drink. Top your sakura latte with a bit of frothed milk foam and garnish with a sakura flower. 
4. Mix and Enjoy!

Sakura Coffee Latte: 

1. Follow steps 1-2 above.
2. Brew Espresso. Brew 1-2 shots of your favorite espresso beans using an espresso machine.
3. Assemble Drink. Add the espresso to a latte mug and pour the warm sakura milk over it. Garnish with milk foam and a sakura flower.
4. Mix and Enjoy!

Tips for the Best Sakura Latte

• Mix Thoroughly: Sakura latte powder can sometimes be grainy if it’s not mixed with liquid properly, so make sure that you stir it really well until it’s smooth. You can also use a handheld frother to achieve this faster. 
• Use Sakura Syrup: For convenience, premade sakura syrup is the easiest way to make a sakura latte. The downside is that if the sakura flavor is not strong enough, you won’t be able to control the sweetness and sakura flavor separately. Also, it might taste artificial compared to the real flower, but close enough, right?

FAQ’s

What’s a close sakura substitute?

Sakura is a unique flower that doesn’t really have a true dupe. The closest you can get to it would be rose syrup with a little bit of vanilla and condensed milk. 

Other Iced Coffee Recipes to Try

Here are some other delicious floral iced coffee recipes to try next:

• Honey Lavender Latte
• Lavender Cold Brew
• Rose Latte