Iced Lavender Matcha Latte
Lavender matcha pairs two flavors that shouldn't work together and absolutely do. The floral sweetness of lavender rounds off matcha's vegetal edge, and over oat milk the whole thing drinks like a spring morning. The Starbucks Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha put this combination on the map; the homemade version uses real lavender instead of a powdered flavor mix, costs about a quarter as much, and lets you control the sweetness. The only extra step is a five-minute lavender syrup that keeps in the fridge for two weeks.
- Prep time
- 10 minutes (5 for the syrup)
- Servings
- 1 glass (400 ml), syrup for ~8 drinks
- Difficulty
- Easy
Ingredients
- 1 tsp matcha powder (culinary or premium grade)
- 60 ml warm water (~75 °C / 165 °F)
- 240 ml cold oat milk (or whole milk)
- Ice — fill the glass
- For the lavender syrup: 100 g sugar, 120 ml water, 1 tbsp dried culinary lavender
Instructions
- 1Make the syrup: simmer sugar, water, and dried lavender for 5 minutes, turn off the heat, and let it steep another 10. Strain out the buds and store in a jar. It keeps refrigerated for about two weeks.
- 2Sift the matcha into a bowl, add the warm water, and whisk until smooth and frothy — about 20 seconds.
- 3Fill a tall glass with ice. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of lavender syrup, then pour in the cold milk and stir.
- 4Pour the matcha slowly over the back of a spoon onto the milk for a layered green-on-lilac look — or stir it straight through.
- 5Taste and adjust: more syrup for a sweeter, more floral drink; a splash more milk if the lavender is too forward.
Tips
- Use culinary lavender (sold for cooking), not craft-store potpourri lavender, which is often treated.
- Less is more with lavender — over-steeped syrup tastes like soap. Five minutes of simmering plus ten of steeping is the ceiling.
- For the Starbucks-style lavender cream top: whip 60 ml cold heavy cream with 1 tsp lavender syrup to soft peaks and spoon it over the finished drink.
- A drop of vanilla extract in the milk makes the floral note rounder and less perfumey.
FAQ
What does lavender matcha taste like?
Floral, lightly sweet, and grassy in the best way — the lavender sits on top of matcha's vegetal umami like a perfume note. With oat milk it reads creamy and dessert-adjacent without being heavy.
How does this compare to the Starbucks Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha?
Starbucks builds theirs from a sweetened matcha powder and a lavender-flavored cream cold foam. The homemade version uses real matcha and real lavender syrup, so the flavor is cleaner, the sugar is roughly half, and the cost per drink is about a quarter of the café price.
Where do I buy culinary lavender?
Spice shops, health food stores, and online — look for 'culinary lavender' or 'culinary grade' on the label. A small 30 g bag makes syrup for months.
How much caffeine is in a lavender matcha latte?
About 33 mg from 1 teaspoon of matcha — roughly a third of a drip coffee. The lavender adds none.