Welcome to Sweet Emily, where we make baking simple for busy parents and beginners! Discover a delightful banana matcha latte that’s incredibly easy to prepare. This recipe creates a creamy, earthy, and naturally sweet drink, perfect for a refreshing treat. You’ll love its smooth texture and the vibrant flavor of matcha, perfectly balanced with ripe banana. Best of all, it’s quick to whip up and easily customizable to your taste.
Why You’ll Love This Banana Matcha Latte
This isn’t just another drink; it’s a delightful experience waiting for you. Here’s why this banana matcha latte will become your new favorite:
- Quick and effortless: Enjoy a delicious beverage ready in under 5 minutes, perfect for busy mornings.
- Naturally sweet & creamy: The ripe banana blends beautifully, adding natural sweetness and an irresistible velvety texture without extra effort.
- Unique flavor twist: It takes traditional matcha to the next level, offering a subtly fruity note that perfectly complements the earthy green tea.
- Customizable: Easily adapt the sweetness, milk type, and even add other flavors to match your dietary needs and preferences.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Creating a delicious banana matcha latte starts with fresh, quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll gather for this simple recipe:
- Matcha powder: 4 g, about 2 tsp, ceremonial or latte grade. High-quality matcha provides the best flavor and vibrant green color.
- Hot water: 50 g, about ¼ cup, at 175°F (79°C). This temperature is crucial for smooth, non-bitter matcha.
- Milk of your choice: 120 g, about ½ cup, dairy or non-dairy. Use your favorite for the best results.
- Overripe banana: 1 tbsp, add more for a stronger banana flavor. Look for bananas with brown spots.
- Sugar: 5-10 g, about 1-2 tsp, or your preferred sweetener. Adjust to your taste preference.
- Vanilla extract (optional): A tiny splash adds a lovely depth of flavor.
- Ice: For serving a refreshing iced banana matcha latte.
Notes & Substitutions
Matcha quality significantly influences the final flavor of your latte. Ceremonial grade offers a smoother, less bitter taste, while latte grade is also suitable. For ultimate creaminess, whole milk or oat milk are fantastic choices, but almond or soy milk work beautifully for dairy-free options. Overripe bananas are key; their natural sugars are more developed, making them sweeter and easier to blend into a smooth mixture. Maple syrup, honey, or agave are excellent alternative sweeteners. For an extra twist, a pinch of cinnamon or cardamom can elevate the flavor profile of your delightful banana matcha.
Equipment
Gathering your tools beforehand makes the process smooth and enjoyable. Here’s what you’ll need to prepare your banana matcha latte:
- Matcha whisk (chasen) or electric frother: Essential for creating smooth, frothy matcha.
- Small bowl or matcha chawan: For whisking your matcha powder.
- Blender or immersion blender: To achieve a silky smooth banana milk mixture.
- Measuring cups and spoons: For accurate ingredient portions.
- Tall glass: For beautifully layering and serving your iced latte.
- Fine-mesh sifter: To prevent any matcha clumps.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Making your creamy banana matcha latte is simple with these easy-to-follow steps. You’ll be enjoying this delightful drink in no time!
- Sift the matcha: Into a small bowl, sift 2 teaspoons (4g) of matcha powder to prevent any clumps. This step ensures a silky smooth finish.
- Whisk the matcha: Add ¼ cup (50g) of hot water (around 175°F or 79°C) to the sifted matcha. Whisk quickly in a “W” or “M” motion for about 20 seconds, or until it becomes frothy with a nice layer of foam. For a micro-foam, lift the whisk slightly and gently whisk out larger bubbles. Set your whisked matcha aside.
- Prepare banana milk: Combine ½ cup (120g) of your chosen milk with 1 tablespoon of overripe banana, 1-2 teaspoons (5-10g) of sugar, and an optional tiny splash of vanilla extract in a blender.
- Blend until smooth: Blend the mixture until it’s completely smooth and creamy. Ensure no banana chunks remain.
- Assemble the latte: Fill a tall serving glass with ice. Pour the blended banana milk mixture over the ice.
- Add remaining milk: If you used only half the milk for blending, add the remaining portion to the glass and stir gently to combine everything well.
- Layer the matcha: Carefully pour the whisked matcha directly over the banana milk mixture. This creates a beautiful layered effect.
- Serve and enjoy: Serve your perfect banana matcha latte immediately and savor every sip!
Optional: Brûléed Banana Garnish
Elevate your banana matcha latte with a stunning and delicious brûléed banana garnish. It adds a touch of gourmet flair.
- Prepare banana slices: Slice a small piece of banana into thin rounds.
- Sugar and torch: Sprinkle a generous layer of sugar over one side of the banana slices. Using a kitchen torch, caramelize the sugar until it bubbles and turns golden brown.
- Broiler alternative: If you don’t have a torch, place the sugared banana slices on a baking sheet under a broiler for a minute or two, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Garnish: Gently place the caramelized banana slices on top of your finished latte before serving.
Pro Tips & Troubleshooting
Achieving the perfect banana matcha latte is easy with these expert tips and tricks.
- Blend milk partially: Blend only about half of your milk with the banana to create a concentrated, creamy base. This prevents the blender from creating too much foam on the entire milk volume, allowing for better layering.
- Choose ripe bananas: Overripe bananas (with brown spots) are softer, sweeter, and blend into a silkier texture, making your latte naturally more delicious.
- Adjust sweetness: Taste the banana milk mixture before pouring. Add more sweetener if you prefer a sweeter drink.
- Sift matcha always: Always sift your matcha powder. This crucial step prevents clumps and ensures a smooth, uniform texture in your banana matcha latte.
- Whisk properly: Use a bamboo whisk (chasen) or an electric frother to achieve a vibrant green, frothy matcha layer. Whisk vigorously in a “W” or “M” pattern.
- Prevent bitterness: Use hot, but not boiling, water (175°F or 79°C) for whisking matcha. Boiling water can burn the matcha, leading to a bitter taste.
- Fresh banana vs. syrup: Fresh banana offers natural sweetness, essential nutrients, and a truly creamy, wholesome texture that syrup cannot replicate.
- Matcha latte golden ratio: A good starting point is 1:2:3 for matcha powder to hot water to milk. Adjust based on your preferred strength and creaminess.
Serving, Storage, & Variations
This delicious banana matcha latte is best enjoyed immediately for the freshest taste and ideal texture. If you want to prepare ahead, whisk the matcha just before serving. You can prepare the banana milk mixture and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Give it a quick stir before pouring.
Flavor Variations
Get creative with your banana matcha latte!
- Fruity twist: Add a handful of frozen strawberries or blueberries to the banana milk for a berry banana matcha.
- Decadent treat: Drizzle caramel or chocolate syrup into the banana milk before blending for a sweeter, more indulgent drink.
- Spiced warmth: A pinch of ginger, nutmeg, or cinnamon can add a cozy, aromatic touch to your creamy banana matcha.
Dietary Adjustments
This recipe is incredibly versatile for various dietary needs:
- Vegan options: Easily make this latte vegan by using your favorite plant-based milk like oat, almond, or soy milk.
- Sugar-free: Opt for sugar-free sweeteners such as erythritol, stevia, or monk fruit to make this a keto-friendly treat.
Nutrition Information
Enjoying a banana matcha latte isn’t just a treat for your taste buds; it offers some great nutritional benefits too.
Matcha is rich in antioxidants, which can help prevent cell damage and lower the risk of certain diseases.
Here’s an approximate breakdown for one serving:
| Nutrition Name | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Serving | 1 | serving |
| Calories | 116 | kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 14 | g |
| Protein | 6 | g |
| Fat | 4 | g |
| Saturated Fat | 2 | g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1 | g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1 | g |
| Cholesterol | 14 | mg |
| Sodium | 48 | mg |
| Potassium | 233 | mg |
| Fiber | 0.4 | g |
| Sugar | 13 | g |
| Vitamin A | 404 | IU |
| Vitamin C | 1 | mg |
| Calcium | 150 | mg |
| Iron | 1 | mg |
Note: Nutritional information is an estimate based on ingredients used and may vary depending on specific brands and quantities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can this banana matcha latte be made hot?
Absolutely! To make a hot banana matcha latte, simply warm your milk and banana mixture gently on the stovetop or in the microwave before blending. Then, combine with freshly whisked hot matcha.
What type of matcha should I use?
For the best flavor and vibrant green color in your banana matcha latte, use ceremonial grade or a good quality latte grade matcha. Avoid culinary grade as it can be too bitter for drinking.
Can I use frozen bananas?
Yes, using frozen banana slices will make your latte even thicker and colder, almost like a milkshake. Just be sure your blender is powerful enough to handle frozen fruit.
How do I prevent matcha from clumping?
Always sift your matcha powder through a fine-mesh sieve before adding hot water. This breaks up any lumps and ensures a smooth, uniform consistency when whisking.
Is this recipe vegan-friendly?
Yes, this recipe is easily vegan-friendly! Simply swap dairy milk for your favorite plant-based milk like oat, almond, or soy milk.
Why use fresh banana over banana syrup?
Fresh banana provides natural sweetness, dietary fiber, and a wonderfully creamy texture that banana syrup cannot replicate. It’s a healthier and more flavorful option.
Conclusion
You now have all the tools to create an exquisite and easy banana matcha latte right in your own kitchen! This recipe truly embodies Sweet Emily’s mission of making delicious drinks simple and accessible. Embrace the creamy texture, the earthy notes of matcha, and the delightful sweetness of banana. Give this recipe a try, customize it to your heart’s content, and share your delicious creations. We can’t wait to hear how much you love your homemade banana matcha latte!
Easy & Creamy Banana Matcha Latte
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Sift matcha powder into a bowl to prevent clumping, then add hot water and whisk quickly in a W motion for 20 seconds until frothy.
- Optionally, lift the whisk slightly and slowly whisk out larger bubbles to achieve a microfoam, then set aside the matcha.
- Combine half of the milk with the banana, sugar, and optional vanilla extract, then blend until the mixture is smooth.
- Pour the blended banana milk into a glass over ice, then stir in the remaining milk.
- Gently pour the prepared matcha over the banana milk mixture in the glass.
- Optionally, garnish your latte with a brûléed banana slice before serving and enjoying.
- Sprinkle a generous layer of sugar over a banana slice, then use a torch or broiler until the sugar caramelizes and turns golden brown; repeat on the other side.
Notes
Taya Bennett is the founder of YumEasyMeals, a platform dedicated to easy, delicious, and quick-to-prepare recipes for busy families. Passionate about everyday cooking, she simplifies meals with practical, accessible, and always delicious ideas.
Discover her creations at: yumeasymeals.com
