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Making matcha tea with almond milk is easy: whisk your matcha with a little hot water first, then add warmed or frothed almond milk for a smooth, creamy drink.
It’s a simple swap that keeps the earthy matcha flavor intact while giving you a dairy-free latte you can make at home in minutes.
Whether you’re cutting back on dairy or just love a cozy drink, making matcha tea with almond milk is a skill worth learning.
In this post, we’ll walk through how to make matcha tea with almond milk step by step, the ratio that works best, and how to avoid the clumps and bland flavor that ruin a good cup.
Let’s get to it.
How to Make Matcha Tea With Almond Milk
Here’s how to make matcha tea with almond milk the right way, starting with the basics:
1. Start With Good Matcha and Good Almond Milk
The result of making matcha tea with almond milk depends heavily on what you pour into the cup.
Use ceremonial or premium culinary-grade matcha for drinking, since cheaper grades taste bitter and chalky.
For the almond milk, unsweetened plain works best because it lets the matcha flavor shine.
Sweetened or vanilla almond milk works too if you like a sweeter drink, just adjust any added sweetener.
2. Sift the Matcha First
Sifting matcha before you make matcha tea with almond milk is the step most people skip, and it’s the reason they get clumps.
Push the powder through a fine-mesh strainer into your bowl so it’s light and airy.
This one step makes whisking smoother and gives you a silkier final drink.
3. Whisk With Hot Water Before Adding Almond Milk
The key to making matcha tea with almond milk properly is whisking the matcha with water first, not with the milk.
Add about 2 ounces of hot water (around 175°F, not boiling) to your sifted matcha.
Whisk in a zigzag motion with a bamboo chasen or a small electric frother until a smooth, frothy paste forms.
Only then should you add your almond milk, because whisking matcha directly into milk makes it clumpy and harder to blend.
4. Warm and Froth Your Almond Milk
Cold almond milk makes a thin drink, so warm it gently on the stove or in the microwave for about 60–90 seconds.
For a latte-style cup of matcha tea with almond milk that has foam on top, use a milk frother or shake the warmed milk in a jar with a tight lid.
Pour the frothed almond milk slowly over your matcha base, holding back the foam with a spoon and adding it last.
5. Sweeten to Taste and Adjust the Ratio
The classic ratio for making matcha tea with almond milk is 1 teaspoon of matcha to about 6–8 ounces of almond milk.
For a stronger drink, use less milk or a little more matcha, and for a milder tea latte, add extra almond milk.
Sweeten with honey, maple syrup, or a pinch of sugar while the drink is still hot so it dissolves fully.
Add the sweetener before you pour in the almond milk for the smoothest result.
Best Almond Milk for Matcha Tea
Not all almond milk behaves the same when you make matcha tea with almond milk, so choose wisely:
1. Unsweetened Plain Almond Milk
This is the safest choice for matcha tea with almond milk because it won’t overpower the tea.
It also gives you full control over sweetness and flavor.
2. Barista-Style Almond Milk
If you want a frothy cup of matcha tea with almond milk, barista blends have added stabilizers that froth beautifully.
They stay creamy and don’t separate in hot tea, making them ideal for matcha almond milk lattes.
3. Vanilla or Sweetened Almond Milk
These work when you make matcha tea with almond milk for a dessert-style drink.
Skip extra sweetener and enjoy the built-in flavor, which pairs well with matcha’s grassy notes.
Just remember they can mask delicate matcha flavors.
Mistakes to Avoid When Making Matcha Tea With Almond Milk
Avoid these common mistakes when you make matcha tea with almond milk:
1. Using Boiling Water
Boiling water burns matcha and turns it bitter, which ruins the whole drink.
Let the water cool for a minute or so before you whisk it into the matcha tea with almond milk mixture.
2. Skipping the Whisk
Stirring with a spoon won’t dissolve matcha, so whisking is non-negotiable when you make matcha tea with almond milk.
A bamboo whisk or electric frother gives you the smooth texture you want.
3. Pouring Milk Over Dry Matcha
Always make matcha tea with almond milk by whisking the matcha with water first, or you’ll end up with gritty clumps.
The water paste is what makes the powder dissolve evenly.
So, How Do You Make Matcha Tea With Almond Milk?
To make matcha tea with almond milk, sift the matcha, whisk it with hot water, then pour in warmed, frothed almond milk and sweeten to taste.
Use unsweetened plain or barista-style almond milk, keep the water below boiling, and adjust the matcha-to-milk ratio to suit your taste.
Making matcha tea with almond milk takes just a few minutes once you get the rhythm, and the result is a creamy, dairy-free drink you’ll want to make on repeat.