What Milk Goes Best with Matcha? Find Out Today!

Traditionally, matcha is consumed with water. However, matcha with milk becomes more and more popular. You can find matcha latte in most coffee shops around the world. You can use as much milk as you want with matcha, be it 3 tbsp. or 1/2 cup, depending on your preferences.

But what milk should you choose for your matcha? Coconut, almond, soy, oat, macadamia nut milk… The choice is huge! Read our guide to see what milk goes best with matcha and what milk you should never use with this drink.

What milk goes best with matcha? Almond and coconut milk goes best with matcha as they gave it a sweet, creamy, nutty flavor and rich, smooth aroma. Oat milk can also go well with matcha giving it a thicker texture and not making it too sugary. Cow milk does not go with matcha as it is too rich and changes the taste completely.

Best Milk for Matcha

Can I put milk in matcha tea? Traditionally, matcha is made with just powder and water. However, plant milk will be a good supplement for your matcha drink giving it a stronger and sweeter taste and unique creamy aroma. You should not add cow milk to matcha as it is too strong and changes the flavor of the drink significantly.

If you want to get the maximum health benefits from drinking matcha, adding milk to it is really not the smartest choice, as it will diminish the benefits, although it will not eliminate all of the positive properties of the drink. For example, a small amount of milk does not greatly reduce the benefits of matcha tea.

Is matcha better with water or milk? Even though traditional matcha is made with just matcha powder and water, more and more people add milk to the drink saying that matcha tastes better with milk and is sweeter, creamier, and thicker. Indeed, plant milk gives matcha a sweet and delicate taste and a rich, smooth aroma.

To keep your matcha whisk in good condition, head over to Ultimate Guide on How to Care for a Matcha Whisk (Chasen)

If you have decided to try matcha with milk, make sure the milk:

Does not have a strong, specific taste. Otherwise, the delicate taste of matcha will simply be lost. Any dairy milk has a strong, pungent aroma due to its high fat content. Some plant milk, for example, buckwheat milk, can also have a strong smell, so it is not recommended to add it to matcha.
Is not bitter. Even tart green matcha does not go well with bitter milk, which clogs up all the notes of taste and aroma. Bitter milk includes sesame and rice milk, so you should not add them to matcha.
Is not too thick. If the milk’s texture is thick, the matcha flavor is also at risk of being lost. Buckwheat, goat, or sheep milk will not be a good choice for matcha.

Whips well. If you make matcha latte, you will want to have froth. Froth is easy to get from any dairy milk, but it usually changes the taste of matcha and alters the way your body absorbs matcha’s nutrients. Coconut or any nut milk gives a fairly high froth and can be used for matcha latte.

For matcha to retain its naturally sweet and vegetal flavor and nutty, creamy aroma, it is important to use a high-quality Japanese bamboo whisk (chasen). Check out Useful Tips on How to Pick a Good Matcha Whisk for more info.

What non-dairy milk is best for matcha? Almond and coconut milk are the best non-dairy milk for matcha as they don’t alter the flavor of the drink but rather give it a tender texture and sweet, nutty flavor. Macadamia nut and oat milk can also go well with matcha, but they have a more watery consistency and a mild taste.

Are you wondering why your matcha is not frothing? Check out 7 Reasons Why Your Matcha Does Not Foam!

If we talk about the maximum benefits that can be obtained from matcha tea, then it is better to prepare it using plant milk rather than dairy. Matcha contains 100 times more powerful antioxidants (epigallocatechin gallate-3 (EGCG)) than any other green tea. And it really has no analogs.

Epigallocatechin has a positive effect on the body: it protects the cardiovascular system and the liver, balances the nervous system, accelerates metabolism, promotes the burning of fats and neutralizes toxins, and also changes the metabolism of cancer cells by suppressing the enzymes that support their vital activity, reduces the manifestation allergic reactions.

But epigallocatechin gallate has the ability to bind to casein, which prevents its rapid absorption and weakens its action. If you want to get all matcha benefits, then drink it with coconut, soy, or nut milk, as well as in pure form.

Oat Milk for Matcha

Oat milk is good with matcha as it gives additional sweetness and creaminess to the drink. Oat milk makes matcha nuttier and improves the flavor. Add 1/2 cup of oat milk and 1/2 cup of water to matcha to make it smoother and sweeter.

Plant-based milk is a great alternative to regular cow’s milk for people who are lactose intolerant. Oat milk is better absorbed and provides the body with all the necessary vitamins and minerals. A very pleasant bonus of the drink is its low-calorie content: only 30 kcal per 100 ml of milk! Oat milk normalizes metabolism and even promotes the elimination of excess fluid, which helps to get rid of edema. It reduces sugar and cholesterol levels, which also has a beneficial effect on the process of weight correction.

Does adding oat milk to matcha reduce benefits? Oat milk does not reduce the benefits of matcha as it does not change the way how your body absorbs matcha nutrients. Adding oat milk will make your matcha sweeter and creamier, and the health benefits will remain the same.

Almond Milk for Matcha

Can you mix matcha with almond milk? Matcha can be mixed with almond milk. You can either mix matcha with almond milk in equal proportions of 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of almond milk or add 2-3 tbsp of almond milk to your matcha drink made with water.

Is almond milk good with matcha? Almond milk is good with matcha as it has a thick, smooth texture and extremely sweet and creamy flavor. Almond milk is often added to matcha latte as the drink becomes much softer and sweeter.

Almond milk is the most popular of all types of plant milk. It has an unobtrusive taste, which is delicate, sweetish, and slightly creamy. Almond milk is slightly fatter than coconut milk and has a more pronounced taste.

Is matcha with almond milk healthy? Matcha with almond milk is healthy as almond milk does not alter the way your body digests matcha nutrients, unlike cow’s milk. Add 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of almond milk to enjoy the health benefits of matcha and almond milk.

Almond milk is a great plant-based alternative to regular milk. It improves vision, helps to lose weight, and strengthens bones and the heart. It gives strength to muscles, normalizes blood pressure, and helps kidney function. Almond milk is low in fat, but it is high in calories, and also has enough protein, lipids, and fiber. Almond milk is rich in minerals, for example, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and zinc. It also contains thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate, and vitamin E.

Coconut Milk for Matcha

Is coconut milk good with matcha? Coconut milk is good with matcha as it similar to cow’s milk with its thick texture and sweet flavor. Coconut milk makes matcha more dense and smooth. It also gives additional creaminess and sweetness to the drink, therefore, making it more pleasant to drink.

Plant milk has a huge advantage over dairy milk. Usually, cow’s milk has a rather strong smell and taste, which often slightly cancels out the taste of the matcha powder itself. But plant-based milk is light, delicate, and saturated with microelements. In particular, coconut milk is quite tender, with a mildly sweet aftertaste, and is ideal for making matcha latte.

Coconut milk is a high-calorie product with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and microelements. It contains vitamins B, C, A, PP; minerals such as potassium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, zinc, sodium, selenium, iron, and healthy dietary fiber.

As the milk is obtained from coconuts, it is full of useful elements and fats that have a beneficial effect on the body. Coconut milk normalizes the digestive tract, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels, stabilizes hormones, and tones the body as a whole, which is very important in the process of body shaping.

Is matcha better with soy or coconut milk? Soy milk is better with matcha as it is sweeter and has a more mild texture while coconut milk is more similar to cow’s milk. However, if you like the taste of coconut milk more than soy milk, you should add it to matcha. Both coconut and soy milk go well with matcha.

Soy Milk for Matcha

Is soy milk good with matcha? Soy milk is good with matcha and is much better than coconut or almond milk as it is sweeter and creamier. Soy milk’s mild taste will not cancel out matcha’s tender and delicate taste or nutty aroma, so soy milk is a perfect choice when it comes to adding milk to matcha.

Soy milk has a mild taste and will not cancel out matcha’s delicate flavor and rich aroma. Soy milk can be used for making matcha latte as well as for adding just a little bit to make matcha sweeter and creamier. Soy milk will not reduce the health benefits of matcha and will be a good source of amino acids and protein.

Matcha can be consumed with soy milk if you want to make the drink smoother and sweeter. Soy milk gives a pleasant aftertaste to matcha and makes the drink more chocolaty and caramel-like. If you like soy milk, you will like it in the matcha, too.

Soy milk does not decrease matcha’s health benefits, so adding it will not harm you in any way. Soy milk is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and protein, that are good for organs and muscles, which will make your matcha drink even healthier.

Soy milk contains a huge amount of amino acids and protein compounds, as well as oils rich in lipoids and triglycerides. The carbohydrate component includes glucose, starch, pectins, sucrose, and fructose. Since their concentration is moderate, soy milk has an energy value of only 55 kcal per 100 ml, becoming an invariable component of a healthy diet. In terms of lipid concentration, soy milk is practically equal to medium-fat cow’s milk. The calcium content is low, therefore, during the production of a soy drink, the enrichment of this microelement, which is most valuable for bones, occurs artificially.

A soy drink is a great alternative to cow’s milk for those who are lactose and animal-protein intolerant. It will also be useful for people suffering from diabetes and wanting to get rid of those extra pounds. The soy product will help normalize the work of the cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal tract.

Best Milk for Matcha: The Bottom Line

Matcha goes well with coconut, almond, oat, and soy milk as they do not cancel out matcha’s unique and tender flavor and rich nutty aroma. Coconut milk is by far the most popular milk used for matcha latte. However, you can add any other plant-based milk that you like. Do not add cow’s milk or any other dairy to matcha, as it will destroy the taste of the matcha and alter the way your body absorbs matcha nutrients.

Matcha with Milk FAQ:

Is matcha with milk unhealthy?

While milk in matcha can alter the way your body absorbs matcha’s nutrients, there are no scientific studies that conclude matcha with milk is unhealthy. Milk is an excellent source of protein and magnesium, and it goes well with matcha.

Can matcha be mixed with milk?

Matcha can be mixed with almond, coconut, oat, or macadamia nut milk. Add 1/2 cup of milk and 1/2 cup of water, and whisk until everything mixes and is foamy. Do not add sugar, as milk will sweeten up matcha enough.

Does milk cancel out matcha?

Cow milk’s calcium may cancel out matcha taste and change the way your body absorbs nutrients. Plant milk (coconut, almond, oat, macadamia nut) goes well with matcha and does not cancel out its sweet and nutty taste and makes it more flavorful and delicate.

Does matcha lose its benefits with milk?

Some of the matcha’s nutrients may not absorb as well if matcha is consumed with cow milk, which changes the bioavailability of the drink. Milk can also slow down the absorption of catechins that prevent cancer. However, plant milk will not make matcha much less healthy.

ItsFoodtastic