Matcha Latte

I’m someone who as a hard time meeting my protein goals on the best of days ... and it’s become quite apparent that any hope I have at weight loss is QUITE dependant on my daily protein intake.

At the same time, we recently bought an RV. Let me tell you - without careful planning, it’s even MORE difficult to get my protein in while camping.

So, I’ve been working on healthy smoothie options - and today it’s all about my creamy matcha lattes!

This matcha tea latte tastes like the delicious matcha green tea drink options you’re used to seeing at local coffee shop ... just with a hefty dose of protein involved!

I do it up as a matcha protein powder mix that can be used to make traditional hot tea lattes, or also done up as an iced matcha latte recipe.

Whichever way you serve it, it’s just a good matcha latte - it doesn’t taste or feel like you’re doing a protein shake.

I get SO bored of protein shakes, and this just feels like having something I’d get from coffee shops.

Just a delicious drink in its own right - it just happens to be high protein!

Protein Matcha Latte Mixes

While you CAN make this recipe up as a single green tea latte, the real beauty of it is that you can make this delicious drink ahead of time, meal prep style!

I’ll measure the ingredients out for 10 or so mixes at a time, into snack sized Ziplock baggies.

Then I seal and label them, and they’re ready to use as instant mixes, when I want them.

Super easy!

I’ve made about a dozen recipes for protein based drink mixes now - see towards the bottom of this post for a link list.

It’s one of the main reasons I’ve been able to break through my YEAR LONG plateau and start losing again.

I’ll generally do one drink up as a healthy breakfast, then have another as an afternoon snack.

It goes SUCH a long way to helping me meet my protein goals, and it just feels luxurious and kind of bougie to be having fancy coffee drinks twice a day.

I love it when dieting basically feels like the opposite of dieting!

Anyway, let’s get to that creamy matcha latte recipe...

Ingredients

This recipe uses just 3 simple ingredients! I do have some notes for you, though - to ensure the best results!

Vanilla Protein Powder

Because this is a vanilla matcha protein shake, it should be no surprise that a Vanilla Flavored Whey Protein Powder is a main ingredient!

Not only does it contribute the protein content to this recipe, it also brings a good level of sweetness, gives the drink the “latte” texture (so you can make it up with water if you like), AND negates the need for vanilla extract!

Personally, I love Revolution Nutrition's High Whey in Vanilla Cake.

It’s got quality ingredients, a good profile of essential amino acids, and has done wonders for my weight management & muscle growth, since I started regularly making these drinks.

That said, feel free to use your favourite vanilla protein powder - ideally one that you love the taste of, with the cleanest ingredients you can find, and that suits your dietary needs and restrictions.

Avoiding animal products? Just buy a vegan protein powder.

I’ve seen everything from organic pea protein and brown rice protein, to pumpkin seed protein!

Oh, and if you’d prefer strawberry matcha lattes?

Just use a tasty strawberry flavoured protein powder!

Matcha Powder

Matcha Powder is the other main ingredient.

This is a fine powder with an earthy flavor, made from green tea leaves. There are different grades of matcha, which are determined by the quality of the whole leaf, and when it was harvested.

More on that in a minute, though.

This Japanese green tea powder boasts a whole host of health benefits, from stimulating collagen production - for better skin, hair, and joints - to heart disease and cancer prevention.

More of the numerous health benefits associated with good quality matcha powder include a high dose of antioxidants, is seen as good for your immune system, bones, cholesterol levels, AND is supposed to be good for helping with mental clarity and focus.

Part of that could be the fact that it has a fair amount of caffeine - 3x the amount of most teas, more than twice as much as regular green tea, and around the same as a cup of coffee!

Between the caffeine and the L-theanine (an amino acid), it’s seen as a good source for sustained energy, and doesn’t come with the caffeine crash associated with energy drinks and coffee.

Ceremonial Grade Matcha

This is the highest quality grade matcha, and is pretty much exclusively used for drinking - especially in traditional ceremonies.

It has a vibrant green color, a sweet, grassy flavour, and is made from the first-picked leaves

Culinary Grade Matcha

Culinary-grade matcha is a slightly lower quality of matcha, though not LOW quality.

It’s what’s most commonly used in mixed matcha drinks, and as an ingredient to bring the flavor of matcha to cooking and baking.

This is the grade I use for making my matcha lattes - no sense paying the upcharge for ceremonial, when it’s going to be mixed with protein powder!

Industrial Grade / Ingredient Grade

This matcha is made from tea leaves harvested later in the season, and doesn’t tend to have the same vibrant green that the higher quality matcha powders do.

It also has a more bitter flavor, and tends to be used commercially in things like supplements and beauty products.

Milk of Your Choice (or Water!)

You can use either milk or water - hot or cold - to make these high protein matcha lattes.

The only caveat being that any type of milk will give a more creamy texture than water does.

Personally, I’m limiting my dairy milk consumption, so I tend to use Unsweetened Almond Milk.

Creamy Oat milk
Cashew Milk
Flax Milk
Macadamia Milk, and coconut milk are all great dairy-free milk options.

I’m not a fan of soy milk, but if you are - go for it!

That said, if you’re not limiting your dairy, feel free to use skim milk, 2% milk or whole milk when making these protein matcha lattes.

The higher the milkfat percentage, the creamier the drink!

Shaker Bottle

Rather than using a traditional bamboo matcha whisk when blending this drink, I like to use regular protein shaker bottles.

Specifically, I love my 20 oz BlenderBottle - I’ve got several of them!

They’re the perfect size for these instant protein powder drink recipes I’ve been doing, and the included ball whisk thing ensures that the drinks blend up smoothly every time!

That said, you could also use an immersion blender, mason jar, handheld milk frother, or even a bamboo whisk to blend these up!

How to Make High Protein Matcha Lattes

The full recipe is in the recipe card at the end of this post, here is the visual walk through:

Before Getting Started

SIFT YOUR MATCHA!

Not sifting the matcha will usually result in clumps of undissolved matcha powder in your finished drink.

You may even want to sift the dry ingredients mix, if you find your brand is extra prone to clumping.

For Hot Protein Matcha Latte:

Combine sifted matcha and protein powder in a shaker bottle, mason jar, or blender.

Add hot water or warm milk of choice*; shake until well combined and smooth.

Pour into a large mug, enjoy right away!

For Protein Iced Matcha Latte

Combine dry ingredients in a shaker bottle or blender.

Add cold water or milk*; shake until well combined and smooth.

Pour into a large glass filled with ice, enjoy right away!

Pro Tip: For easier dissolving, you can add a small amount of warm water or milk* to the dry mix, shake until dissolved, then top up with cold liquid.

Another option is to make it with hot liquid, and chill it in the fridge for later use.

For Protein Powder Matcha Latte Mix Pouches:

Measure dry ingredients directly into individual snack-sized plastic baggies, seal and shake well to combine.

Press as much air as possible out of each baggie, seal the zipper.

Transfer baggies to an airtight container, labeled with the date, recipe name, and a note to use 12 oz of water or milk*, if you like.

More High Protein Drink Mixes!

Looking for more high protein, low carb drink mixes that can be made ahead? I've developed a whole series of instant drink mix recipes:

Chai Latte (Low Carb, High Protein)
Cream of Chicken Soup (Low Carb, High Protein)
Cream of Mushroom Soup (Low Carb, High Protein)
Fortified Instant Bone Broth
Gingerbread Latte (Low Carb, High Protein)
Mocha Latte (Low Carb, High Protein)
Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate (Low Carb, High Protein)
Peppermint Mocha (Low Carb, High Protein)
Protein Cappuccino (Low Carb, High Protein)
Protein Hot Chocolate (Low Carb)
Pumpkin Chai Latte (Low Carb, High Protein)
Pumpkin Spice Latte (Low Carb, High Protein)

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