Sweet, nutty, and vanilla. That’s what taro tastes like! It’s a nostalgic flavor for many Asian folks who ate it growing up. But what if you made it into a taro matcha latte? It’s creamy and elevates the tea flavor, making it such a delicious drink! It’s super easy to make and tastes just like if you ordered it from a cafe.

So, here’s how to make a taro matcha latte at home!

Taro Matcha Latte Takeaways:

• Use premade taro milk for an easy taro matcha latte!
• Taro is caffeine-free as a vegetable, but sometimes not in a drink.
• Taro powder is most convenient, but real taro flavor comes from homemade taro paste.d

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

• It blends two beloved Asian flavors to make an incredible latte!
• It’s a creative and unique flavor combination that you might find at a boba shop.
• You can make this for a party or homecafe as a seasonal special.
• It’s super easy to make and very consistent in flavor.

What is Taro?

Taro is a starchy root vegetable with a light pinkish-white flesh with purple fibers. It’s hairy and brown on the outside, similar to a coconut. It’s a super popular root veggie in Asia, and featured in many dishes across China, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and more.

Similar to a potato, raw taro cannot be eaten raw as it has calcium oxalate that makes the skin super itchy. It must be steamed or boiled to be edible, which is usually how it’s consumed, or mashed.

Like many root vegetables, taro can be both savory and sweet. In the dessert world, it’s most famous for being a caffeine-free milk tea, as well as made into chewy, sweet glutinous rice balls.

What is a Taro Matcha Latte?

It’s a matcha latte made with taro milk, made from taro powder or paste. Taro root is extremely tedious to cook and process, so most taro-flavored beverages, such as milk or milk tea, are made with a flavored powder. If you ever cook taro, you’ll know that the flesh turns a light purple-gray color, nowhere near the vibrant light purple that most drinks have.

What is taro powder made of, you ask? Mostly artificial flavoring and sugar, with creamer powder, there’s usually no hint of actual taro in it. But it tastes dang good, and it’s so familiar that actual taro might throw people off.

What Does a Taro Matcha Latte Taste Like?

A taro matcha latte tastes like a sweet and creamy matcha latte with a subtle nuttiness and vanilla flavor. The taro tastes similar to a sweet potato or ube, but much nuttier and milder. Because taro isn’t too overpowering, it’s one of the best base flavors for a matcha latte! Matcha can get overpowered easily, but it really shines with taro.

Do Taro and Matcha Taste Good Together?

Yes, taro and matcha taste amazing! Matcha pairs really well with creamy flavors like white chocolate, condensed milk, and vanilla. Taro has hints of vanilla in it and is pretty mild, so it’s one of the best pairings in a latte. It has a nutty creaminess that balances out the umami in matcha, and makes it so satisfying.

If you use a milder matcha powder with more delicate flavors, it might still come through with taro when other flavors normally overshadow it.

How to Add Taro Flavor

As mentioned, people normally use taro powder to flavor drinks since it’s convenient, tastes good, and is affordable. I, too, love using taro powder when I want that sweet, creamy, not-really-taro flavor. However, it’s not the healthiest for you and doesn’t taste like taro.

To amp up the taro flavor, you can use premade taro paste, which is much nuttier and less sweet. It kind of reminds me of a hybrid between chestnut and sweet potato. While it’s delicious, the paste is quite thick and starchy, so it makes a grainy texture when you add it to milk. It’s great as a topping, though.

The final boss is to boil or mash real taro to make homemade taro paste, which you can use in your lattes. To get a smooth texture, you can strain it after blending with milk.

Taro Matcha Latte Recipe: Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make a taro matcha latte:

• Matcha Powder — Use your favorite matcha powder! My favorites are Ippodo, Rocky’s Matcha, and Little Matcha Studio.
• Water — Boil water until 175 F for the perfect matcha whisking temperature. Use a temperature-controlled kettle for the most accurate results.
• Taro Powder — This is the key component for this latte! You can get taro powder online from Amazon or boba tea-specific retailers. Some small, local tea shop brands might sell it as well, but it’s mostly from distributors.
• Taro Paste (Optional) — You can also use premade taro paste or make taro paste to make taro milk. You can find it at some Asian grocery stores, sometimes in the freezer aisle. For homemade taro, you’ll need to boil, mash, and sweeten the taro into a smooth paste.
• Taro Milk (Optional) — The easiest option is to get premade taro milk, usually by the brand Binggrae. Since it’s extra sweet, I like to dilute it with more milk to make a less sweet taro milk.
• Milk — 2% or whole milk works best! But you can also use your favorite non-dairy alternative.
• Ice

How to Make a Taro Matcha Latte

1. Make Taro Milk. Add taro powder to ½ cup milk and froth using a handheld frother until smooth. If the powder has a hard time dissolving, use warm milk or mix with a little bit of hot water instead.
2. Using Taro Paste. Add taro paste to ½ cup warm milk and mix until smooth. If chunky, strain with a small sieve to remove chunks. You can also leave it for texture.
3. Using Premade Taro Milk. If using a milk box, unbox the corners to create a pointy edge. Then, use a sciccor and cut the corner for easy pouring.
4. Whisk Matcha. Sift matcha powder into a matcha bowl and add hot water. Vigorously whisk using a chasen in a zigzag motion for 20 – 30 seconds until the matcha is frothy and velvety.
5. Assemble Drink. Add ice, taro milk, and milk to a separate glass, then top with whisked matcha.
6. Mix and Enjoy! Stir with a straw and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Taro Matcha Latte

• Use Store-Bought Taro Milk: Using premade taro milk is the quickest way to make a taro matcha latte. You don’t need to mix or prep anything, just snip, pour, and enjoy! The downside is that it’s usually super sweet, so dilute it with milk.
• Add Vanilla Extract: For extra flavor, you can add a little vanilla extract to enhance the nutty flavor. Since taro powders are already flavored, a little goes a long way.
• Make a Cold Foam: For extra creaminess, you can make a sweet cream cold foam to add on top. You can also make a taro-flavored cold foam for double the taro flavor! Just add some of the powder to the heavy cream and whip until soft and fluffy.

FAQ’s

Does taro have caffeine in it?

No, taro does not have caffeine in it. However, there’s a misconception that it does because many people discover taro in taro milk tea, which is sometimes mixed with black or green tea and therefore caffeinated. But the root itself is caffeine-free!

What is taro made of?

Taro is a root vegetable made mostly of carbohydrates, fiber, and water. It’s starchy, hard when fresh, and soft when cooked. It’s a great meal starch and a popular rice replacement!

Where do I buy taro powder?

You can buy taro powder online on Amazon or specialty tea retailers; you can even ask your local boba shop if they sell their taro powder. You can sometimes find it in Asian grocery stores in the tea or dessert aisle as well.

Other Matcha Recipes to Try

Taro and matcha are an amazing drink combination add taste amazing together. If you want more sweet, creamy matcha drinks, here are some matcha recipes to try next:

• Yakult Matcha Latte
• Sugar Cookie Matcha Latte
• Cannoli Matcha Latte
• Maple Miso Matcha Latte
• Ube Cream Matcha Latte