If you’re looking for a warm, comforting drink that offers a health boost without the jitters of regular coffee, these vibrant lattes are your perfect solution. This guide provides simple, at-home recipes for two of the most popular wellness drinks: the bright, earthy Matcha Latte and the warm, spiced Golden Turmeric Latte. Both are quick to prepare and loaded with beneficial ingredients.
These two drinks offer a wonderful balance. The Matcha Latte provides a gentle, sustained energy and calm focus, while the Golden Turmeric Latte offers comforting warmth and powerful anti-inflammatory benefits. They are both incredibly flexible, easily made with any milk you prefer, and are a delicious way to incorporate healthy spices and greens into your daily routine.1
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Wellness Focus: Both ingredients are renowned for their health properties—Matcha for antioxidants and Turmeric for anti-inflammatory effects.
- Simple Preparation: You can whip up either of these lattes faster than waiting in a coffee shop line.
- Dairy-Free Friendly: Both recipes work beautifully with any milk alternative, such as oat milk, almond milk, or coconut milk.
- Rich and Comforting: The warm milk base combined with the deep, layered flavors creates a satisfyingly cozy beverage.
- Customizable Sweetness: You control exactly how much or how little sweetener goes into your mug.
Ingredients
For the Matcha Latte (Per Serving)
- 1 tsp (2 g) high-quality Matcha powder (sifted is best)2
- 2 oz (60 ml) hot water (just below boiling)
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1–2 tsp (5–10 ml) maple syrup or honey (or to taste)
For the Golden Turmeric Latte (Per Serving)
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk (coconut or oat milk adds great flavor)
- 1 tsp ground turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- Pinch of black pepper (essential!)
- 1 tsp coconut oil or clarified butter (ghee) (optional, for richness)
- 1–2 tsp (5–10 ml) maple syrup or honey (or to taste)3
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Small whisk or milk frother
- Fine-mesh sieve (for sifting powders)4
- Bamboo whisk (Chasen, optional for Matcha)
- Measuring cups and spoons
Step-by-Step Instructions
A. How to Make a Matcha Latte
- Whisk the Matcha Paste: Place the Matcha powder in a mug or small bowl. Pour the hot water (ensure it is NOT boiling, around 175°F / 80°C is perfect) over the powder. Whisk vigorously using a small whisk or bamboo whisk until no clumps remain and a smooth, foamy paste forms. This step is crucial for a smooth drink.
- Heat Milk: In a small saucepan, gently heat the milk and sweetener over medium heat until hot but not boiling.
- Combine and Froth: Pour the hot, sweetened milk into the mug with the Matcha paste. Whisk quickly to combine. If you have a milk frother, froth the entire drink or just the milk before combining for a thick, foamy top. Serve immediately.
B. How to Make a Golden Turmeric Latte
- Combine Spices: In a small saucepan, combine the milk, turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, black pepper, coconut oil (if using), and sweetener.
- Heat Gently: Heat the mixture over medium-low heat, whisking constantly for 3–5 minutes. Do not boil. The goal is to heat the spices gently and infuse their flavor into the milk.
- Strain and Serve: Remove from heat. For the smoothest drink, pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into your mug to remove the pulp from the spices. Serve immediately with a sprinkle of extra cinnamon on top.
Substitutions and Variations
- Spice Boost: For the Golden Latte, add a pinch of cardamom or a small slice of fresh ginger root (remove before serving) for an extra warming flavor.
- Sweeteners: Substitute maple syrup or honey with agave, coconut sugar, or your favorite sugar-free sweetener.
- Milk Base: Oat milk and cashew milk generally froth the best and add a naturally sweet flavor to both drinks. Coconut milk adds a rich tropical taste, especially to the Turmeric Latte.5
- Iced Version: To make either drink iced, prepare the mixture as directed (Matcha paste or Turmeric spice mix), then pour over a glass filled with ice cubes and cold milk.6
Pro Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Black Pepper is Essential: For the Golden Turmeric Latte, the pinch of black pepper is not just for flavor. It significantly increases your body’s ability to absorb the benefits of the Turmeric (curcumin). Don’t skip it!
- Matcha Water Temperature: Never use boiling water for Matcha. Extreme heat causes the delicate compounds to break down, resulting in a bitter, burnt taste.
- Sift Powders: Turmeric and Matcha powders are very fine and tend to clump.7 Sifting them into your mug or saucepan ensures a smoother, sediment-free drink.
- Whisk Thoroughly: The spices in the Turmeric Latte will settle at the bottom of the cup as you drink. Give your mug a quick swirl or whisk before the first sip.
Storage, Make-Ahead, and Reheating
- Make-Ahead (Turmeric Paste): You can mix all the dry spices and sweetener for the Golden Latte with a small amount of oil to form a paste. Store this paste in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Use 1–2 teaspoons of the paste per cup of hot milk.
- Storage (Matcha): Matcha powder should be stored in an airtight container away from light and heat to preserve its color and flavor.8
- Reheating: Both lattes are best consumed fresh. If you must reheat a Golden Latte, do so gently over low heat, whisking constantly. Do not attempt to reheat a Matcha Latte, as the flavor will degrade quickly.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your Matcha Latte with a touch of unsweetened whipped cream or a sprinkle of Matcha powder on top for color. For the Golden Turmeric Latte, serve with a cinnamon stick stirrer and a side of ginger snaps or a healthy fruit scone.
Approximate Nutrition
- Yields: 1 serving
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Matcha Latte (with Almond Milk & Maple Syrup):
- Calories: 90 kcal
- Protein: 3 g
- Fat: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Turmeric Latte (with Oat Milk & Honey):
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Protein: 4 g
- Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
Note: These are approximations and vary significantly based on the type of milk and sweetener used.
FAQs
Q: Why do I need to add black pepper to the Turmeric Latte?
A: Black pepper contains a compound called piperine, which has been shown to dramatically increase the body’s absorption of curcumin (the beneficial compound in Turmeric).9 Without pepper, the anti-inflammatory benefits are significantly reduced.
Q: What is the difference between ceremonial and culinary grade Matcha?
A: Ceremonial grade is the highest quality.10 It has a brighter green color and a smoother, less bitter taste, making it ideal for drinking straight. Culinary grade is better for baking or mixing into strong lattes because its flavor is more robust and bitter, which stands up well to milk and sweeteners.
Q: Can I make the Golden Latte with just water?
A: You can, but it won’t be a “latte.” It will be a turmeric tea. Using milk or a creamy plant milk is essential for getting the rich, velvety texture and flavor of a latte.
Q: Can I use ground ginger instead of fresh ginger?
A: Yes, you can use ground ginger for convenience, as listed in the recipe. If you use fresh grated ginger, the flavor will be brighter and stronger, but you will need to strain the drink at the end to remove the pulp.
Q: My Matcha is clumpy at the bottom. What went wrong?
A: Clumping happens when the Matcha powder is not fully whisked into a smooth paste before adding the milk. Whisking the powder with a small amount of hot water first breaks up the clumps and ensures a smooth final drink.
Matcha Latte
Equipment
- Small saucepan
- Small whisk or milk frother
- Fine-mesh sieve Optional for sifting Matcha
- Bamboo whisk (Chasen) Traditional tool for Matcha
Ingredients
- 1 tsp (2 g) Matcha powder, sifted
- 2 oz (60 ml) hot water (175°F / 80°C)
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1–2 tsp (5–10 ml) maple syrup or honey, to taste
Instructions
- Whisk Matcha powder with hot water until smooth and foamy paste forms.
- Heat milk and sweetener in a small saucepan until hot but not boiling.
- Pour milk into the Matcha paste and whisk or froth until creamy. Serve immediately.
