Creamy Cocoa Matcha Latte Recipe

Cocoa Matcha Latte
Stephanie Clarke, MS, RD & Willow Jarosh, MS, RD
Total Time: 5 min
Prep Time: 2 min
Cook Time: 3 min
Servings: 1

Nutrition Highlights (per serving)

138 calories
3g fat
20g carbs
9g protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving  
Calories 138
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 12mg 4%
Sodium 109mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 20g 7%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 19g  
Includes 5g Added Sugars 10%
Protein 9g  
Vitamin D 3mcg 15%
Calcium 310mg 24%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 428mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.

This flavorful subtly sweet drink offers a double boost of antioxidant power by combining matcha green tea powder and cocoa.

Matcha is powdered green tea leaves and an antioxidant powerhouse. Because you ingest the entire tea leaf, you get more nutrition than from steeped green tea leaves.

Cocoa powder provides even more antioxidants and anti-inflammatory benefits than other forms of chocolate. And we’ve added just a touch of honey, so you won’t have sugar overload. Honey has flavor, along with sweetness, so you can use less with more impact. It even has some antioxidants, itself!

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon matcha
  • 1.5 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup low-fat milk, or unsweetened soy milk

Preparation

  1. Heat water for 1 minute in a microwave-safe dish or on the stove in a small saucepan until steaming (not boiling).

  2. Whisk the matcha powder into the water until no lumps remain, about 30 seconds.

  3. Add cocoa powder, honey, and vanilla extract and whisk again until fully combined.

  4. Pour the hot matcha mixture into a large mug or glass.

  5. In the same saucepan, add the milk. Heat over medium heat until steaming. To create foam, whisk the hot milk vigorously for about 1 minute or use an electric whisk.

  6. Pour the milk into the mug of matcha, then spoon the foam over the top.

  7. Top with a sprinkle of cocoa powder and a sprinkle of matcha powder.

Ingredient Variations and Substitutions

Try maple syrup instead of honey to add a hint of maple flavor. The honey we used in the recipe contributes flavor, along with sweetness, so you can use less with more impact; it even has some antioxidants, itself! However, regular sugar, maple syrup, agave, and other sweeteners contribute roughly the same amount of calories and sugar, so use whichever sweetener you enjoy most.

Swap vanilla extract for a few drops almond extracts to create a chocolate-almond cocoa. If you want your drink extra cocoa-y, feel free to up the cocoa powder to 2 teaspoons or more. Just be sure your cocoa is the unsweetened variety.

If you don’t eat dairy, choosing unsweetened soy milk as a milk alternative will give you the same protein benefits as cow’s milk. Other unsweetened dairy beverages are also good healthy options, but do not deliver protein and are lower in total calories. For instance, using almond milk in place of low-fat cow’s milk won't provide as much protein.

Cooking and Serving Tips

Whisk the matcha well to remove all clumps before adding any other ingredients—this keeps your latte very smooth and clump-free.

Make an iced variation by using cold milk and adding ice cubes made of frozen milk (so you don’t dilute your latte).

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3 Sources
Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Bhagat A, Delgado A, Issaoui M, Chammem N, Fiorino M, Pellerito A, Natalello S. Review of the Role of Fluid Dairy in Delivery of Polyphenolic Compounds in the Diet: Chocolate Milk, Coffee Beverages, Matcha Green Tea, and Beyond. J AOAC Int. 2019;102(5):1365-1372. doi:10.5740/jaoacint.19-0129

  2. Ahmed S, Sulaiman S, Baig A, Ibrahim M, Liaqat S, Fatima S, Jabeen S, Shamim N, Othman N. Honey as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Its Molecular Mechanisms of Action. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018:8367846. doi:10.1155%2F2018%2F8367846

  3. Verduci E, D'elios S, Cerrato L, Comberiati P, Calvani M, Palazzo S, Martelli A, Landi M, Trikamjee T, Peroni D. Cow's Milk Substitutes for Children: Nutritional Aspects of Milk from Different Mammalian Species, Special Formula and Plant-Based Beverages. Nutrients. 2019;11(8). doi:10.3390%2Fnu11081739

By Stephanie Clarke, MS, RD & Willow Jarosh, MS, RD
Stephanie Clarke and Willow Jarosh are both registered dietitian-nutritionists with master's degrees in nutrition communications.