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This Easy Copycat Dunkin’ Donuts Iced Matcha Latte tastes just like the one at the popular chain! You don’t need to rush out to Dunkin’ for their matcha, you can make one at home with just 4 ingredients, and you can do it in about 5 minutes! It’s that simple!
Dunkin’ Copycats are a thing here, because pretty much everything that Dunkin’ makes is delicious. Case in point: this iced matcha.
You can also make this Copycat Dunkin’ Chai Latte (you can make it hot or iced). After you make the iced matcha, of course 🙂
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Ingredients + substitutions
To make this copycat recipe at home, you’ll just need four ingredients!
We will discuss how you can customize this a bit further on down the post, but for now let’s focus on the main ingredients. You'll need:
- Hot water - Filtered is best, tap water can taste a little funky and I find that using filters water will give you the best results. Matcha is typically prepared with 176 degree F water, but for a softer, more muted flavor, use 158 degree F water. If your electric tea kettle has a temperature gauge, you can experiment with temperatures and flavors. If not, just use hot (but not boiling) water.
- Sugar - you can use raw sugar (like I did), or granulated white sugar. Brown sugar is also a great substitution.
- Matcha powder - be sure to use a quality matcha powder, one without extra flavors or sugar added.
- Milk - whole milk (this is what Dunkin' uses) or 2% is best. You can also use plant-based milk to make it vegan.
*See recipe card below for quantities.
Instructions
- Step 1: Froth, with a hand frother or a whisk, the matcha and sugar in hot water (the ideal temperature is 176 degrees F or 80 degrees C, remember that the water should be hot but not boiling. Set it aside to cool off while you assemble the rest of your ingredients.
- Step 2: Fill a glass with ice.
- Step 3: Pour the milk over the ice.
- Step 4: Top it with the frothed matcha mixture. Enjoy watching the green matcha swirl into the white milk! So pretty!
That’s all there is to it, just give it a stir and you’re ready to rock. (Rock a nice matcha buzz).
Variations
- Vegan or plant-based - you can easily make Dunkin’s iced matcha vegan-friendly. Just use a plant based milk such as almond, vanilla almond, oat milk, or soy milk. Any of those will work, but just avoid using anything with flavors other than vanilla added.
- Make it indulgent - with vanilla extract and whipped cream. Just make the recipe and stir in 1 tsp of vanilla extract and top it with whipped cream. Maybe even a little sprinkle of nutmeg!
- Make it a chai matcha latte - after you froth the sugar and match in hot water, add a chai tea bag and let it steep for a minute or two while you assemble the rest of your ingredients. That bit of chai infusion will give it a great flavor.
- Refined sugar free - Instead of using white sugar, you can swap it for honey or pure maple syrup. (Maple syrup is my preference, it gives the latte a fall-flare).
Equipment
A hand frother: A hand frother is super *handy* because it doesn’t take up a lot of space and you can froth both hot and steamed liquid. I actually use it all the time for many things in the kitchen, not just for frothing milk. I also use it for hollandaise sauce, whipped cream, and aioli; these are just a few!)
Matcha whisk: If you’re a serious matcha person, having one of these (even if you never use it) is pretty much a must! Frankly this is a frivolous purchase. I know that it’s technically the proper way to prepare matcha (by whisking it with a bamboo whisk), but I think a regular kitchen whisk or a hand frother is more efficient.
Beer can glasses: These are very trendy and fun, pick up a pack of these for Instagram-worthy drinks!
Electric kettle: An electric gooseneck kettle with a temperature gauge is nice to have if you’re a big tea drinker. This is the one I have (and it looks great on the counter).
Storage + Make Ahead
If you wish to make this ahead of time, simply don’t add the ice and store it in the refrigerator in an airtight mason jar.
When you’re ready to drink it, add the ice.
FAQ
There are four main reasons why matcha is so expensive:
Labor-Intensive Production: Because matcha leaves are grown in the shade and the ground into a fine powder, this requires skilled workers to harvest the leaves, steam them, dry them, and then remove the stems and veins before grinding them into a powder. This manual process is a lot of work and demands a higher pay.
Specialized Growing Conditions: Matcha is green tea grown in the shade. The tea plants require a lot of care and precise conditions in order to produce the gorgeous matcha that we love to drink. Again, because this requires meticulous care, skilled workers and higher pay is needed.
Limited Harvest: The growing process naturally restricts the growth of tea leaves, so this leaves a limited window to harvest the leaves. This fuels supply and demand and drives the cost up a bit.
Quality Control: You can find cheaper matcha, but high-quality matcha has characteristics such as a vibrant color, sweet flavor, and a smooth texture. Achieving these characteristics requires careful selection and processing. This is another factor that contributes to the higher cost of matcha.
There are a few different reasons, you may want to try a few brands of matcha along with various sweeteners before writing it off completely.
The reasons that matcha can be bitter include:
Growing conditions: matcha must be grown in the shade and this does produce that “bitter” flavor.
Harvesting: when matcha is harvested matters. Older tea leaves produce a more bitter flavor while younger tea leaves taste more mild.
Processing: The process of grinding the whole tea leaves into a fine powder can release some bitterness. When the tea leaves are ground, certain compounds, including tannins, are released, contributing to the bitter taste.
Quality and grade: Lower-grade matcha, which may contain older or lower-quality leaves, can be more bitter compared to higher-grade matcha made from younger, more tender leaves.
Storage: Improper storage conditions, such as exposure to heat, light, or air, can cause matcha to become stale and bitter over time.
To increase your enjoyment of matcha, learn to prepare it properly and sweeten it to your liking. Most often not liking matcha can be attributed to preparations and personal preferences.
More recipes you'll love:
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Easy Copycat Dunkin' Donuts Iced Matcha Latte
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp hot water
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp matcha powder
- ¾ cup milk
Instructions
- Froth, with a hand frother or a whisk, the matcha and sugar in hot water (the ideal temperature is 176 degrees F or 80 degrees C, remember that the water should be hot but not boiling. Set it aside to cool off while you assemble the rest of your ingredients.
- Fill a glass with ice.
- Pour the milk over the ice.
- Top with the frothed matcha mixture.
Notes
Nutrition
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