Inspired by Jenki matcha’s vanilla and sea salt matcha latte, here is my take on a salted vanilla matcha latte! It’s salty, sweet, creamy, and earthy, and it’s so addicting. Once you try this combination, you’ll make it again and again and again.

The best part is that you can make this with ingredients that every kitchen has: salt, vanilla, milk, and ice (plus matcha). This salty vanilla matcha latte only takes 6 ingredients and less than 10 minutes to make.

Here’s how to make this incredible salted vanilla matcha latte at home!

What is a Salted Vanilla Matcha Latte?

This matcha latte has milk, ice, whisked matcha, vanilla bean, and a little salt for an incredible flavor profile. You get the salty, sweet creaminess of the vanilla bean followed by the delicious matcha. It’s seriously one of the best combinations I’ve tried and it’s so addicting!

You can enjoy it iced or hot, with your favorite milk and sweetener, or even with a cold foam top. But honestly, it’s pretty delicious on its own. Simple is sometimes best!

What Does a Salted Vanilla Matcha Latte Taste Like?

A salted vanilla matcha latte is satisfying sweet yet savory. There’s also the rich earthiness from matcha that brings the two flavor, salty and vanilla, together. To me, it tastes similar to kettle corn, but without the corn flavor.

The salt adds complexity and layers to a regular vanilla matcha latte, which makes it such a satisfying drink. This matcha latte is sweet, creamy, milky, slightly floral from the vanilla, umami, and earthy.

It honestly is better than a vanilla matcha latte and once you try it, you’ll want it over and over again.

Salty and Sweet

There’s a scientific reason why adding salt to sweet works so well! Salt interacts with your taste buds to amplify sweetness while masking any bitterness. This is why salted caramel and salted maple syrup are so irresistible.

Food Science Break: Salt binds to the sweet receptors on your tongue, making sweet flavors pop while toning down any bitterness. This trick, called cross-modal perception, is why adding a pinch of salt to desserts or sweet drinks works. When you mix a little salt into maple syrup, not only does it balance the sweetness, but it also tricks your tongue and brain into taste flavor layers.

The salt cuts through the sugar, making desserts and drinks feel less cloying and more balanced. That pinch of salt can take a regular vanilla matcha latte and turn it into something great!

Do Vanilla and Matcha Go Together?

You really can’t go wrong pairing vanilla with any flavor, especially since it’s one of the world’s most popular flavors. Every coffee shop will have vanilla syrup, every ice cream brand will have a vanilla flavor, the default flavor for most sweets is vanilla… you get the picture!

Matcha goes well with any sweet and creamy ingredient, like condensed milk, milk, white chocolate, custard, etc. So, by default, it also goes well with vanilla, which takes away some of the bitterness and earthiness of matcha.

Together, they balance each other out and create a nice blend of aromas, like floral, creamy, sweet, umami, and nutty.

What Vanilla to Use

You can use whatever vanilla you have at home for this recipe, whether that’s vanilla extract, vanilla syrup, vanilla sugar, vanilla bean, vanilla bean paste, etc. All versions of vanilla work!

For the best flavor, I recommend using a vanilla bean paste or syrup. I prefer vanilla beans to vanilla extract since the former has a stronger and fresher flavor. Sometimes, vanilla extract can taste dull or one note, and vanilla bean always has that extra creaminess that makes vanilla so good.

What Salt to Use

Same thing as above, you can use any salt you have at home. While not all salt tastes the same, any salt works. Iodized salt, sea salt, smoked sea salt, kosher salt, Himalayan pink salt, fleur de sel, you name it.

I personally prefer sea salt or Maldon salt as it has a slightly better taste (to me), but I’ve also used table salt in this recipe and it works the same!

Just note that if you use a fancier salt like a Maldon salt or chunkier salt that you might need a little more for the same flavor that a 1/8 teaspoon of table salt will give. Start with the same amount and add more if needed.

How to Whisk Matcha

Whisking matcha is the most important part of any good, smooth matcha latte. No one likes grainy, clumpy matcha (I’m looking at you, Starbucks) and whisking prevents that!

You’ll need a matcha bowl (chawan), small sieve strainer, water, a matcha whisk (chasen), and matcha powder.

How to Whisk Matcha. First, soak your chasen in warm water so the bristles soften. Sift your matcha into your bowl, then add room temperature or hot (but not boiling) water. Then, using your softened whisk, vigorously whisk the matcha in a zigzag or M shape motion.

Keep whisking until a foam forms on top! The foam should have very tiny bubbles that are close together, and form almost a velvety texture. Then, your matcha is ready to add to your milk! (See a full step by step matcha whisking tutorial for more guidance!)

You can also whisk matcha without a whisk!

How to Make a Salted Vanilla Matcha Latte

Here’s what you’ll need to make this salted vanilla matcha latte at home:

• 1 tsp matcha powder use an extra ½ teaspoon for a strong matcha
• ¼ cup water
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup milk
• ¼ tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
• 1 tsp sugar or agave (any sweetener works)
• ⅛ tsp salt
• A little warm water

Salted Vanilla Matcha Latte Recipe

1. Dissolve Salt and Vanilla. Dissolve the salt and vanilla extract or paste in a little warm water. Stir until all the salt dissolves. If using regular sugar, dissolve it here as well.
2. Whisk Matcha. Sift matcha powder into a matcha bowl and add water. Using a bamboo whisk, vigorously whisk the matcha in zigzag motions until a foam forms on top. See matcha whisking tutorial for a step by step.
3. Assemble Drink. Add ice, salt and vanilla mixture, agave (if you did not mix it with the warm water), and milk into a glass, then top with your whisked matcha.
4. Mix and Enjoy!

Other Salted Matcha Recipes to Try

If you love sweet and salty, here are some other matcha recipes to try next:

• Salted honey matcha latte
• Maple sea salt matcha latte
• Salted pistachio matcha latte (Must Try!)

Tips:

Here are some tips for making a great salted vanilla matcha latte at home!

• Dissolve Salt and Vanilla Together: The salt and vanilla paste are difficult to mix into cold milk, so dissolving them in a little warm water beforehand will make it a lot easier! Use about a teaspoon of warm water, you don’t need a lot!
• Use Vanilla Bean Paste: Vanilla bean will always have a fresher, stronger, and better flavor than vanilla extract. If you have vanilla beans at home, vanilla bean syrup, or vanilla bean paste, use that in this drink! It makes a big difference!