blueberry matcha latte

This blueberry matcha latte is creamy, fruity, earthy and a little bit dessert-like.

It starts with a quick homemade blueberry mixture, then a sweet condensed milk layer, ice, milk, whisked matcha and a soft vanilla cream on top. The blueberries make it sweet and jammy, the matcha keeps it earthy and slightly bitter, and the cream makes the whole drink feel like something from a little café.

It looks layered and fancy, but it’s actually very simple once the blueberry mixture is made!

why you’ll love this blueberry matcha latte

• it tastes like a café drink at home – sweet blueberry, creamy milk, earthy matcha and soft vanilla cream.

• the blueberry mixture is really easy to make – just blueberries, sugar and water cooked together until syrupy and thick.

• it looks beautiful!! – especially with all of the layers: the blueberry on the bottom, milk in the middle, matcha on top and soft whipped cream to finish.

• you can adjust the sweetness – add more or less blueberry mixture, condensed milk or cream depending on your taste. you can adjust the sugar in the blueberry mixture and the cream as well.

• it’s refreshing and perfect for summer, but still feels cosy – cold, creamy and fruity, but with that soft, subtle matcha flavour that makes it feel calm and comforting.

what does blueberry matcha taste like?

blueberry and matcha work really well together because they balance each other out beautifully.

The blueberry mixture is sweet, fruity and slightly jammy. The matcha is earthy and little bit bitter. The condensed milk makes the drink creamy and sweet, while the soft vanilla cream on top makes it feel more like a dessert drink.

It’s sweet, but not in a sharp or artificial way. The blueberry gives it a fruity base, and the matcha keeps it from tasting too heavy.

blueberry matcha latte ingredients

• blueberries — fesh or frozen blueberries both work here. i’m using fresh blueberries here, but you’re welcome to use frozen. just keep in mind that Frozen blueberries may release more liquid as they cook, so you might need to cook the mixture for a little longer until it thickens slightly.

• granulated sugar or light brown sugar – sugar helps the blueberries break down into a syrupy mixture. You can adjust the amount depending on how sweet your blueberries are.

• water – a little water helps the blueberries cook down without catching on the pan..

• sweetened condensed milk – condensed milk adds sweetness and creaminess. I mix it with boiling water first so it dissolves smoothly before going into the glass. this is optional.

• boiling water – this used to loosen the condensed milk and make it easier to layer into the drink.

• ice – use plenty of ice so the drink stays cold once the milk and matcha are added.

• milk – use any milk you like. whole milk makes the drink richer, while oat milk works really nicely with matcha because it’s naturally creamy. i also like to use a bit of whole milk in the cream topping to keep it soft.

• matcha powder – use a matcha you enjoy drinking. use ceremonial grade matcha for the best colour and flavour. culinary grade works too but will be a little more bitter. Since this is a latte with blueberry and cream, it doesn’t have to be the most expensive ceremonial matcha, but it should still taste smooth and not too bitter.

• hot water – this is used to whisk the matcha into a smooth mixture before pouring it over the drink. I like using hot water rather than boiling water for matcha so it doesn’t taste too harsh.

• heavy cream or double cream – this makes the soft cream topping. You want it lightly thickened, not stiff like whipped cream.

• icing sugar or powdered sugar – this lightly sweetens the cream and helps it feel soft and smooth.

• vanilla extract or paste – a little vanilla in the cream topping makes the cream taste more café-like and dessert-like.

tools:

• small saucepan – for the blueberry mixture

• spoon or spatula – to mash the blueberries

• fine mesh strainer – to remove any chunky pieces of blueberry so that you can get a smooth blueberry mixture

• glass – for serving

• small bowl for matcha

• small whisk or matcha whisk – to whisk the matcha

• small bowl for the cream

• hand mixer or small whisk – for whipping the cream

step by step instructions

for full measurements, keep scrolling down to the recipe below.

step one: add the blueberries, sugar and water to a small saucepan.

step two: cook over medium heat until the blueberries soften, burst and turn syrupy. stir every so often so the mixture doesn’t catch on the bottom of the pan, and mash the blueberries every so often so that there aren’t too many chunky blueberry pieces.

step three: once the blueberries have broken down and the mixture looks glossy, remove it from the heat, strain the mixture to remove any chunky pieces and transfer the blueberry mixture to another bowl so that it can cool.

step four: prepare the condensed milk mixture. in a small bowl or cup, mix the condensed milk with boiling water. stir until smooth. this makes it easier to pour into the glass and helps the condensed milk mix into the drink more evenly.

step five: make the cream topping. add the heavy cream or double cream, milk, icing sugar and vanilla extract to a small bowl. whip or whisk until the cream is softly thickened. It should be almost pourable and soft, not stiff. You want it to sit on top of the drink like a cold foam or soft cream layer. set this aside in the fridge while you build the drink.

step six: add the cooled blueberry mixture to the bottom of a glass. spread it around the sides of the glass.

step seven: pour over the condensed milk mixture.

step eight: sift matcha powder into a small bowl. pour over a small amount of hot (not boiling) water and whisk into a smooth, lump-free paste.

step nine: once you have a smooth paste, add a little bit more water to the bowl, and continue whisking the matcha until it’s completely smooth and slightly foamy.

step ten: add ice to your blueberry matcha latte.

step eleven: pour in your milk of choice.

step twelve: slowly pour the whisked matcha over the top.

step thirteen: add the soft whipped cream on top of your iced matcha latte.

step fourteen: serve the blueberry matcha latte straight away. You can drink it layered, or stir everything together so the blueberry, milk, matcha and cream mix into one creamy drink.

tips for the best blueberry matcha

• let the blueberry mixture cool before you begin building your drink. if the blueberry mixture is too hot, it can melt the ice and make the drink watery. Let it cool completely before adding it to the glass.

• cook the blueberries until they become syrupy. You don’t need a thick jam (i did cook them until jam-like, so it’s up to you) but the mixture should look glossy and slightly syrupy. however, If it’s too watery, the blueberry flavour can get lost once the milk and matcha are added.

• make sure to sift the matcha first before whisking it. matcha clumps easily, so sifting it before whisking makes a smoother drink. it’ll just make the whole process a lot easier.

• adjust sweetness to taste. the blueberry mixture, condensed milk and soft cream all add sweetness. Start with less if you prefer a less sweet drink, then add more if needed. i thought this blueberry matcha was fairly balanced in terms of sweetness, but if you think that the sugar in the blueberry mixture and the condensed milk will make this too sweet for you, you can reduce this. the sugar will also depend on how sweet your blueberries are.

• don’t over whip the cream. the cream should be softly thickened and almost pourable. If you whip it too much, it becomes too stiff and sits heavily on top instead of melting into the drink.

• this drink looks prettiest in a clear glass because you can see the blueberry, milk, matcha and cream layers.

make-ahead notes

you can make the blueberry mixture ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for a few days.

the soft cream is best made fresh, but you can make it a little ahead and keep it chilled until you’re ready to assemble the drink. Give it a quick stir before using.

the matcha is best whisked fresh so it stays smooth and vibrant.

variations

• make it without condensed milk: you can skip the condensed milk and sweeten the milk with sugar or a sugar syrup, maple syrup, honey or vanilla syrup instead. The drink will be a little less creamy, but still good.

• make it dairy-free: use oat milk or another milk you like. For the cream topping, use a dairy-free whipping cream if you have one that whips softly.

• make it sweeter: add extra blueberry mixture, condensed milk or icing sugar to the cream.

• make it less sweet: use less sugar in the blueberry mixture, skip the condensed milk or skip the sweetened cream topping.

• make it strawberry matcha instead of blueberry: use chopped strawberries instead of blueberries and cook them down the same way with sugar and water.

• make it without the cream topping: the soft cream makes it feel a bit more fancy and café-like, but the drink still works without it. You’ll have a simpler blueberry matcha latte with blueberry, condensed milk, milk and matcha.

frequently asked questions

1. can i use frozen blueberries?

   – yes. Frozen blueberries will work well for the blueberry mixture. They may release more liquid than fresh blueberries, so cook the mixture until it looks glossy and slightly syrupy. you might need to cook for longer.

2. can i make this blueberry matcha latte without condensed milk?

   – yes. The condensed milk adds sweetness and creaminess, but you can use vanilla syrup, sugar syrup, maple syrup or honey instead. The flavour will be slightly different. or if you think the drink is already sweet enough, you can just skip this entirely.

3. can i make the blueberry mixture ahead of time?

   – yes. you can Make the blueberry mixture as stated, let it cool, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Use it when you’re ready to make the latte.

4. why is my matcha clumpy?

   – the matcha may not have been sifted, or there may not have been enough water at the beginning to make a smooth paste. Sift the matcha first, then whisk with a small amount of hot water before adding the rest.

5. can i use oat milk ?

   – yes. you can use any kind of milk that you like! Oat milk works really nicely in this drink because it’s creamy and naturally sweet.

6. can i make this a hot drink?

   – personally, i wouldn’t make this exact version hot because the blueberry mixture, matcha, milk and soft cream work best as an iced drink. For a warm version, you could skip the ice, warm the milk and use the blueberry mixture more like a syrup, but the texture and layers will be different.

7. do i have to make this with the cream topping ?

   – no. the soft cream makes the drink feel more like a café dessert drink, but you can leave it off for a simpler blueberry matcha latte.

recipe