White matcha hot chocolate, or matcha hot cocoa, is one of the best holiday drinks. It’s sweet, creamy, a little earthy, and so addicting! Matcha pairs perfectly with white chocolate, and it’s not too sweet!

Plus, matcha hot chocolate is so easy to make at home and only takes 3 ingredients. You can make this delicious beverage in under 10 minutes, and once you try it, you’ll want to make it again and again.

So, here’s how to make a great matcha hot chocolate at home!

What is Matcha Hot Chocolate?

Matcha hot chocolate is a matcha-flavored hot chocolate or matcha hot cocoa, which you can make using matcha tea powder and chocolate. Most recipes use white chocolate instead of actual chocolate for a smoother, creamier flavor.

Similar to hot chocolate, matcha hot chocolate is chocolate dissolved into hot milk with the added whisked matcha. It’s creamy, sweet, and perfectly balanced for a cozy matcha treat. It’s great with a pinch of salt and some vanilla extract!

Some people also call this a matcha white mocha or an iced white chocolate matcha latte, but they’re virtually the same base, just with different names.

What is in Matcha Hot Chocolate?

This recipe uses matcha tea powder, milk, and white chocolate instead of cocoa powder for a creamier, sweeter version. Matcha goes great with subtle flavors like white chocolate, while cocoa powder can overpower the delicate matcha flavor.

This recipe also includes vanilla extract, which always elevates creamy flavors, and a small pinch of salt to bring out the sweetness!

I prefer dairy milk in my hot chocolate, but you can use any milk or milk alternative you’d like. Oat or coconut milk works great in matcha hot cocoa because it has more creaminess and fat, which will help make the drink more cozy and delicious.

Does Chocolate Go Well with Matcha?

Certain types of chocolate go well with matcha.

Matcha goes great with white chocolate because it’s a neutral, mild, creamy chocolate that is sweet and milky. The flavor profile helps support matcha’s earthiness and bitterness, rounding out some stronger flavors.

Cocoa powder also goes nicely with matcha, as it’s not as intense as dark chocolate, and you can adjust the quantity easily. It gives matcha a nice satisfying, bitter aftertaste that people love in chocolate. Their slightly bitter flavor profiles also complement each other nicely.

Dark chocolate, as mentioned, can overpower matcha due to its strong flavor and essentially wipe out all pleasant matcha flavors from a drink. That’s why most matcha chocolates on the market use white chocolate instead of regular chocolate as the base.

Which White Chocolate to Use

You can use any white chocolate for this recipe and in any form.

White chocolate baking chips, bars, or even melts work perfectly for this drink. Since we are melting the chocolate into hot liquid, we don’t need to worry about the types of chocolate to use.

You can even use white chocolate truffles. However, your drink will be a little oilier due to the extra fats in the truffles.

If you don’t have white chocolate, you can also use store-bought white chocolate syrup, which works just as well. The flavor will lean toward the sweeter end, but it will still give you that signature sweet and creamy taste.

Best Matcha to Use

You want to use a nice, bold matcha for this drink to balance nicely with the creaminess of the white chocolate.

A medium-priced matcha is perfect for this drink, as it’s strong enough to come through in the drink but not too delicate that the white chocolate washes away the nuanced flavor of matcha.

I recommend either a sweet and creamy or umami matcha from a Japanese brand like Ippodo or Marukyu Koyamaen. They have great, affordable, high-quality matcha powders that work perfectly in milky drinks.

If you use a lower quality matcha powder, which is dull green or brown in color, you won’t get much matcha taste, and your drink will only have a hint of matcha rather than being one of the core flavors.

How to Prepare Matcha

To enjoy matcha, you need to mix the powder with water until it’s smooth and frothy. Then, you add it to milk or drink it straight up. Traditionally, you’d use a tea bowl (chawan) and a bamboo whisk (chasen) to get that perfect, silky texture. But if you don’t have those tools, you can use these methods for preparing matcha:

• Shaking matcha and water in a lidded jar or bottle until well mixed and frothy.
• Use a handheld frother to froth matcha and water in a small cup.
• Use a fork and shallow bowl to whisk matcha.

These methods work in a pinch and will help you incorporate the matcha powder into water to make it smooth and drinkable. However, the bamboo whisk really gives you the best froth and smoothness. If you’re serious about matcha, it’s worth investing in a set—you can find them online or in specialty stores, and they’ll take your matcha game to the next level.

How to Make Matcha Hot Chocolate

Here’s what you’ll need to make matcha hot chocolate:

• 1/2 tsp matcha tea powder
• 1/8 cup water
• 1 cup milk
• 1/3 cup white chocolate
• 1/8 tsp vanilla extract
• A small pinch of salt

Matcha Hot Chocolate Recipe

1. Whisk matcha. Whisk matcha powder and water in a shallow bowl in a zigzag motion using a bamboo whisk for 10-15 seconds until frothy. You can also prepare matcha without a whisk using other methods like shaking in a jar or a handheld frother.
2. Make white chocolate milk. Heat milk on medium heat for 2-3 minutes until hot but not boiling, then melt white chocolate into it. Once all melted, add a tiny splash of vanilla extract.
3. Assemble drink. In a heatproof cup, add white chocolate milk, then add whisked matcha. Top with toasted marshmallows.
4. Mix and enjoy!

Does Hot Water Destroy Matcha?

Most people think matcha must be whisked with boiling water, which is a mistake!

Unlike tea leaves, matcha is so finely ground and delicate that boiling water will destroy some of the yummy flavors of matcha.

Since you are not extracting any tea flavors from matcha, there is no need to use boiling water. Instead, you can use either room temperature or hot water to whisk matcha. You want to whisk matcha in a zigzag motion for the best froth.

I prefer using room-temperature water to preserve some of the matcha’s more nuanced flavors. Plus, it saves me a step from having to heat water.

Tips

Here are some tips for making a delicious and cozy matcha hot chocolate at home:

• Garnish with toasted marshmallows: No matcha hot chocolate is complete without toasted marshmallows on top! You can either use a kitchen torch to toast the marshmallows on top of your cup or toast them on a skewer using a gas burner and add them later.
• More matcha flavor: Want more matcha flavor? Use an extra half teaspoon for a more intense matcha flavor in your hot cocoa.