A few months ago I started drinking green tea lattes. I regularly make my own lattes at home, for years my fix was a chai tea latte using soy or almond milk.
Then, my friend Julieanna introduced me to Starbucks’ green tea latte.
What took me so long? I’ve created recipes with matcha powder (there’s a matcha biscotti recipe in LTEV), but drinking matcha tea never appealed to me, until now!
I decided to recreate my matcha fix at home. I’ve always relied on soy or almond milk for lattes, Silk introduced their new Creamy Cashew milk. I was excited to use it in recipes and also whisk it up in my morning green tea latte recipe.
As easy as it is to make cashew milks and other nut milks at home, I’m one mom that appreciates the convenience of purchasing vegan milks. Cooking and baking for a family of 5, it’s so helpful to have milk at the ready.
Before getting to the green tea latte recipe, let’s talk about the milk. As I mentioned, normally I use almond milk or organic soy milk in my homemade lattes as well as in baking, as I find them the most versatile. Silk Creamy Cashew is similarly versatile. It’s thick and creamy much like soy, and slightly nutty like almond milk. I don’t drink non-dairy milks straight up, but our youngest daughter does, and she loves this new milk.
Overall, it’s a good choice for baking and enjoying straight or in hot drinks. It does have some added sweetener, so I wouldn’t use it in cooking. Hopefully Silk will introduce an unsweetened cashew milk to their product line, I’d definitely use it in cooking (and also for baking and in hot drinks).
Nutritionally, this cashew milk is probably most similar to almond milk. Like most non-dairy milks, Silk Creamy Cashew milk is fortified, and is an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D. And, good news for those concerned about carrageenan – it’s not an ingredient.
On to the Green Tea Latte recipe! A few notes:
- You do NOT need any fancy tools for this latte. I don’t have any. Not even a frother. I do plan to pick up an inexpensive frother. But for now, I use a saucepan and a whisk. You can too!
- If you cannot find the cashew milk, you can substitute another plant-based milk (as per recipe note).
- You can find matcha green tea powder in most natural food stores (and natural food sections of larger grocery stores). I also buy it online, so have included that link in the recipe.
- I use powdered stevia to sweeten my lattes, especially using unsweetened milks. Matcha is naturally quite bitter and I don’t enjoy other sweeteners in teas. If using a sweeteened vegan milk, you may choose to omit it or adjust to taste.
- A shout-out to Nicole Axworthy for these unbelievably beautiful food photos. Thanks Nicole!
Enjoy the latte, guys!
x Dreena
Let me know how you like the green tea latte recipe. Also, have you tried the cashew milk? If you have, and love it, Silk welcomes your feedback on their facebook page!
Vanilla Green Tea Latte
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups non-dairy milk of choice ex: organic unsweetened soy milk, Silk Creamy Cashew milk, almond milk, etc; see note
- 2 tsp matcha green tea powder
- 2-4 tbsp hot water I boil in kettle, then use shortly after
- 1/8 - 1/4 tsp stevia powder or less/more to taste and based on brand; can use other sweeteners like maple syrup or coconut nectar to taste
- 1/8 tsp vanilla bean powder optional, see note
- Optional toppings: 1 tsp coconut sugar; dusting of extra matcha powder
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, add milk over medium/medium high heat. Whisk, allowing the milk to heat through and start to simmer. Meanwhile, prepare the matcha. In a small bowl (or wide-mouthed mug) use a small whisk to mix the matcha powder with water. It’s helpful to first sift the matcha, but not essential if you whisk well. If mixing in a bowl, transfer the blended mix to a mug. Continue to watch milk as it heats. Once at a low simmer, gently bubbling, add stevia (I use about a scant 1/4 tsp, you can adjust to taste) and vanilla, and quickly whisk through and remove from heat. Pour into your mug with the matcha mix. (If you have a frother, you can first froth the milk before pouring into mug.) Taste, and if you’d like a little extra sweetener, add to taste. Makes 1 large latte.
Notes
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Silk. The opinions and text are all mine.
Rebecca says
I like Trader Joe’s organic stevia in the small bottle, because it is organic (the one at my food co-op isn’t), the flavor is consistent, and it has a teensy little measuring scoop, which makes it easy not to get too much stevia. Without this tiny scoop it is easy to dole out far too much and get an unpleasant bitter flavor. It takes MANY little scoops full to make a teaspoon.
Thanks for all your great recipes. I can always find something tasty to make on your site.
Erma says
Hi Dreena,
Awesome post! I also love Starbuck’s Green Tea Latte (served hot and with Soy Milk, no syrup)…have never tried it though with creamy cashew milk. Will for sure check if we have any in our local grocery now after reading your post. 🙂
miss Elizabeth says
Hi Liz,
I know you have probably forgotten about “that wooden utensil”, but because the curiosity was KILLING you I thought I would respond anyways. It is a bamboo whisk which is traditionally used to whisk matcha powder.
Lana says
I noticed the question above about smoothies in the winter. I am not as excited about a cold smoothie now like I am in warm weather. I love the idea of having “greens” in my morning meal though. Any other ideas for incorporating greens into breakfast?
BTW–your recipes are the best. When I want something new to try you are my “go to” girl. I can always find something great!
Mie says
Hi Dreena, thank you for posting such a delicious recipe! It’s right down my alley. Speaking of what’s good to drink in winter, do you still drink your smoothies in winter? I find it a little cold for me when it’s chilly out but don’t want to drink it at room temp either! Maybe I’ll switch it with Matcha Latte as my regular!
Liz says
Dreena,
Can you tell me what that wooden (?) utensil is that is in the pics? (Am I a total culinary moron for not knowing what that is? LOL) It looks a little like a primitive whisk. The curiosity is KILLING me. 🙂
The cashew milk sounds really interesting. When they come out with an unsweetened version, I’ll give it a go. (Why does milk need to have SUGAR added to it?? Especially CASHEW milk? Cashews already have a natural sweetness to them, I find.) It’s good to see other plant-based milks popping up on the shelves, though, I suppose.
Daneen says
I have the same wee addition to the Starbucks green tea latte :). I’m a huge fan of cashew milk. Nice to see a commercial brand to come out.
Helyn says
I was wondering when someone would come out with a commercial cashew milk… I’ve been making my own for years. Too bad they have to add all those other ingredients. But I guess it’s better that people have more non-dairy choices than not. Thanks for the recipe, Dreena! Looks yum.
Dreena says
Thanks Helyn, and yes, it’s so great to have another non-dairy choice! Thanks for the note.
Lisa says
I have to admit I’ve never used matcha green tea powder and I haven’t seen cashew milk at the store but your pictures make this look like something I have to try! I can always use almond milk for now. 🙂
Dreena says
Oh great! I also found an organic matcha powder that had some natural cane syrup added to the blend – actually found it at London Drugs in Canada. But, I do find it can be a touch sweet on its own, so using straight matcha and adjusting to taste works better for me. Hope you enjoy, Lisa!
Veganopoulous says
What a great latte combination– I really must use more of my matcha. I have a wee tin of the stuff but because it was so expensive I tend to avoid using it 😉 Not much use that way obviously, and this recipe looks wonderful. I haven’t seen cashew milk in cartons here in Australia, though I never really look for it as I make my own if I need it but I would certainly give a carton a try!
Dreena says
Hilarious, I did the same thing! Used it in recipes and then “kept” it b/c it was special. Ummm. And then it goes stale. Thanks for the note, hope you give the matcha latte a whirl!
Angelina says
Hi Dreena, bless you for doing what you do. Ive recently been diagnosed with major food intolernces. I recently picked up creamy cashew and love it. Although until they come out with unsweetened
it will be in moderation.
Dreena says
Hi Angelina, that’s so kind of you. I’m hoping they introduce the unsweetened soon too. Best of luck, hope you enjoy it!