The Best Starbucks Matcha Drinks - 12 To Be Exact!

What is the Best Starbucks Matcha Drink?

1. Iced Matcha Tea Latte “The Zendaya”

Best Iced Matcha Drink

Is anyone up for “The Zendaya?

You may already be green with envy at Zendaya; she’s got a superhero boyfriend, she’s a talented actress, she’s rich, and she’s good-looking.

And while you may not have any of those things (unless you kidnap Tom Holland which we advise against), you can get “The Zendaya”, her favorite green drink from Starbucks.

That’s according to a Starbucks barista anyway. In February, Zendaya apparently ordered a venti iced matcha green tea latte with coconut milk which saw an increase in the popularity of the drink according to some Starbucks employees.

One reviewer from Buzzfeed said the drink tasted like “ambition and confidence”. While we can’t claim to know what that tastes like, we can say it’s an energizing drink that’s light, and slightly sweet from the coconut milk.

The green color of this iced matcha latte isn’t particularly appealing to some, but if you like matcha and iced drinks in general, then this is a refreshing iced matcha tea latte drink.

The green tea matcha can feel a bit dusty because the powder is dissolved in the drink and some of the minuscule leaves can stay in it or sit at the bottom.

Go ahead and try it! Ask your barista for an iced matcha tea latte with coconut milk!

For a tall cup size 12 oz (354 ml) serving:

• 140 calories
• 20g sugar
• 4g fat
• 60mg of caffeine
• Ingredients: coconut milk, ice, matcha tea blend (ground Japanese green tea and sugar) 

2. Matcha Tea Latte

Best for Subtle Flavor

Starbucks matcha latte is similar to the iced matcha tea latte except it is hot.

The green froth at the top has a delicate light texture because matcha lattes themselves have the same matcha taste as umami. 

Umami is a savory taste that is often applied to seaweed, beef, or other savory foods, but don’t worry, a matcha tea latte, while it can be described as a slightly ‘weird’ flavor, doesn’t have hints of the sea or cow fields.

While the iced version of this drink is refreshing, the hot version has a subtle flavor that doesn’t leave you feeling heavy like regular coffee.

But, it still gives you a nice caffeine buzz without the comedown, thanks to the amino acid called L-Theanine, of which matcha has plenty.

For a tall cup size 12 oz (354 ml) serving:

• 190 calories
• 24g sugar
• 5g fat
• 60 mg of caffeine
• Ingredients: matcha green tea blend and steamed milk

3. Matcha Crème Frappuccino Blended Beverage

Best for Creaminess

You’ll either like this blend of matcha and cream or you’ll turn up your nose.

The matcha crème Frappuccino blended beverage has a nice balance between the bitterness of the green tea and the sweetness of the syrup.

It could be compared to a creamy green tea ice cream with hints of grassiness from the sweetened matcha. 

The delicate green color of the matcha crème frappuccino is like a nice pastel color you would paint your wall in.

The sugary taste may at times overpower the subtleness of the matcha flavor, which shouldn’t be a problem if you have a sweet tooth and love Starbucks fraps.

The texture is similar to a smoothie, slightly thick for a more substantial drink.

For a tall cup size 12 oz (354 ml) serving:

•  300 calories
• 43g sugar
• 12g fat
• 50 mg of caffeine
• Ingredients: ice, milk, crème frap syrup, whipped cream, classic syrup, matcha tea blend

4.  Iced Pineapple Matcha Drink

Best for Spiciness

“If you like piña coladas and dancing in the rain”…

While dancing in the rain isn’t advised (you could catch a cold), you might like this iced pineapple and matcha drink if you are a fan of piña coladas.

While pineapple may be a bit of a surprise to pair with matcha, it works quite well.

The mix of flavors gives a tropical taste with pineapple and coconut milk.

The coconut milk gives a creaminess while being a great non-dairy option for any vegans out there.

Pineapple can be quite a strong and tangy taste but the coconut milk tampers down the sweetness while letting the undertones of matcha tingle your taste buds.

There’s a little spice from the ginger which tastes like candied ginger and gives a slight warmth to this refreshing drink.

For a tall cup size 12 oz (354 ml) serving:

• 130 calories
• 19g sugar
• 4g fat
• 60 mg of caffeine
• Ingredients: coconut milk, ice, matcha tea blend, pineapple ginger syrup 

5.  Matcha Pink Drink

Best TikTok Famous

If you want an Instagram-worthy drink, then this Starbucks TikTok famous refresher is for you.

The drink is not on the Starbucks menu and it's pink at the bottom and green at the top, creating a pretty pastel two-tone drink that is photograph-ready.

The first taste will be of the matcha cold foam with its slightly grassy flavor, and then comes the fruitiness of the strawberry and the creaminess of the coconut milk.

It’s a refreshing drink that can be made sweeter by adding vanilla sweet cream cold foam with matcha powder on the top.

The freeze-dried strawberries that bob around in the drink make for a nice crunch to shake up the texture. 

This drink is pretty high in calories, most of which comes from coconut milk.

As it’s on the secret menu some Starbucks baristas may not be familiar with it, so ask for a strawberry Açai refresher with coconut milk and 2 scoops of matcha cold foam topping.

For a tall cup size 12 oz (354 ml) serving:

• Secret menu
• 330 calories
• 21g sugar
• 45g fat
• 60mg of caffeine
• Ingredients: strawberry acai refresher, ice, freeze-dried strawberries, coconut milk, and matcha cold foam

 6.  Iced Matcha Lemonade

Best Lemonade Based

This iced matcha lemonade may not look the most appetizing with its dark green color that looks like something you’d scrap from the bottom of a cauldron (because who doesn’t have a cauldron?). 

But this iced matcha lemonade is refreshing and crisp. It’s not overly sweet like other Starbucks lemonades as the matcha balances the tartness and sweetness of the lemonade. 

Without any milk, however, the lemonade doesn’t cut through the tea's bitterness but the matcha isn’t too strong. 

Unlike other matcha drinks, this drink doesn’t use Premium Japanese green tea powder but Teavana matcha green tea.

But you probably won’t be able to tell any difference especially since it’s mixed with lemonade. 

This matcha lemonade gives a nice burst of energy and you may even feel healthier because it looks like a healthy drink, but it does contain quite a bit of sugar, so don't be fooled by the looks that it's got!

For a tall cup size 12 oz (354 ml) serving:

• 90 calories
• 19g sugar
• 0g fat
• 60mg of caffeine
• Ingredients: ice, lemonade, and matcha tea blend

7.  Peppermint Pow Frappuccino

Best for Mint Lovers

Another drink from the secret menu is the Peppermint Pow Frappuccino.

There certainly is a pow as the mint gives a nice kick to the otherwise subtle matcha.

This drink was created as an alternative to the Midnight Mint Mocha Frappuccino because it was discontinued.

This drink pairs the Vanilla Bean Crème Frappuccino with matcha, ice, milk, and peppermint syrup.

The vanilla makes this sweeter than the matcha crème Frappuccino while the mint pairs well with the matcha.

 To order this drink, just ask for a vanilla bean crème frappuccino with matcha and peppermint syrup.

For a tall cup size 12 oz (354 ml) serving:

• 260 calories
• 35g sugar
• 12g fat
• 60mg of caffeine
• Ingredients: matcha, ice, milk, crème frappuccino syrup, whipped cream, vanilla bean powder, and peppermint syrup

8.  Green Drink

Best Caffeine Punch

This Starbucks secret menu drink is pretty simple. It’s iced black tea, with coconut milk, and matcha.

The bitterness of the black tea pairs well with the creaminess of the coconut milk. The matcha adds an earthiness to the drink that creates a refreshing iced tea beverage.

Black tea only contains 2 calories and matcha powder only has 10 calories per teaspoon, so all of the rest of the calories come from the coconut milk. 

While coconut milk contains vitamins and minerals, if you want a lower-calorie version of this drink you could have it without the milk or choose an alternative milk that has fewer calories. 

As this is another secret menu drink, some baristas may not be familiar with it, so ask for a iced black tea with coconut milk, and matcha.

For a tall cup size 12 oz (354 ml) serving:

• 240 calories
• 0 sugar
• 24g fat
• 85mg of caffeine
• Ingredients: black tea, ice, coconut milk, and matcha

9.  Cha Cha Latte

Best for a Winter Warmer

While the Cha Cha Latte might sound like a type of dance, it is actually a tasty Starbucks matcha drink. 

The drink is a matcha green tea latte with chai syrup. 

If you're obsessed with matcha, you may not be overly keen on this drink because the chai can overpower the subtle taste of the green tea. 

The spiciness from the chai and its aroma reminds you of Christmas, which is perfect for a nice warming drink. 

There is an earthy aftertaste and the texture is light in this drink. 

To order this Starbucks matcha drink, ask the Starbucks baristas for a tall matcha tea latte with a pump of chai syrup.

For a tall cup size 12 oz (354 ml) serving:

• 218 calories
• 31g sugar
• 5g fat
• 85mg of caffeine
• Ingredients:  milk, matcha tea blend, chai syrup

10.  Polyjuice Potion Frappuccino

Best for Harry Potter Fans

If you’ve ever wished you could be a part of Harry Potter’s wizarding world, then this drink may help you experience this, if only a little.

And while you won’t morph into anyone else from drinking this Polyjuice Potion, the good news is there are no cat hairs in it. 

This concoction is from the secret menu and pairs a Matcha crème Frappuccino with coconut milk, ginger, turmeric, pineapple, and matcha. 

The result is a little like a spicy Pina Colada!

As it’s on the secret menu, you may have to explain to the barista the ingredients, so ask for a Matcha crème frappuccino with coconut milk, a scoop of ginger turmeric powder, some pineapple syrup, and matcha. 

Because it’s not the usual Starbucks order, the result may be a bit inconsistent, but it should mesmerize you every single time!

The ginger can be a little overpowering, so depending on the size, ensure you only get one or two scoops tops.

For a tall cup size 12 oz (354 ml) serving:

• 600 calories
• 43g sugar
• 36g fat
• 60mg of caffeine
• Ingredients: ice, milk, crème frappuccino syrup, whipped cream, classic syrup, matcha tea blend, pineapple ginger syrup, ginger turmeric powder, coconut milk

11.  Green Vanilla Bean Frappuccino

Best for Vanilla Freaks

Another green tea matcha drink paired with vanilla makes it to number 11 on our list. 

This Starbucks matcha drink is a vanilla bean Frappuccino with matcha powder. 

The result is a creamy, smooth, and sweet drink. 

The bitterness and earthiness of the matcha work well with the sweetness of the vanilla to create a surprisingly light drink. 

This drink isn’t as green as some of the others due to the base being a vanilla bean Frappuccino which is white. 

For an extra kick, you could add a shot of espresso for an affogato (espresso and ice cream) style drink. 

Be warned though, with the caffeine from the matcha already, adding a shot of espresso might have you buzzing for a few hours.

To order this secret menu drink ask for a Vanilla Bean Frappuccino with matcha green tea powder.

For a tall cup size 12 oz (354 ml) serving:

• 260 calories
• 35g sugar
• 12g fat
• 60mg of caffeine
• Ingredients: vanilla bean frappuccino with green tea matcha powder

12.  Dirty Iced Matcha Tea Latte

Best for a Caffeine Hit

A dirty matcha tea latte may not sound the most pleasant but the ‘dirty’ refers to the espresso which gives it a darker, brown color. 

The bitter flavor of the Starbucks espresso cuts through the slightly sweet taste of the green tea since Starbucks add sugar to their green tea blend.

The grassiness of the matcha and the earthiness of the coffee pair well together to balance each other to create a bittersweet drink. 

This is another Starbucks secret menu drink, so simply ask for an iced matcha tea latte with a shot of espresso.

But watch out, this is a strong Starbucks drink that packs a caffeine punch!

For a tall cup size 12 oz (354 ml) serving:

• 195 calories
• 24g sugar
• 5g fat
• 210mg of caffeine
• Ingredients: matcha powder, whole milk, and an espresso shot

What is Starbucks Matcha Powder?

Matcha is ground Japanese green tea, however, there are different qualities of matcha powder.

Matcha has an umami flavor (savory), which is one of the five main basic tastes - the other four are sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. Umami can be described as “savory”, “meaty” or “taste of the sea”. It’s a Japanese term, as many Japanese foods feature this umami flavor.

For Starbucks Matcha drinks, they mostly use Japanese green tea.

Starbucks, however, creates its own blend by mixing green tea powder with sugar. Usually, you wouldn’t mix sugar with matcha powder because it doesn’t tend to pair well and will affect the quality, plus it takes away some of the health benefits.

In their blend, Starbucks adds 20 grams of sugar, which is almost the same as an energy drink.

Starbucks uses a microgrind technique to make the green tea leaves into a fine powder, then they mix it with sugar.

Due to the added sugar, Starbucks green tea will be sweeter than actual matcha.

With matcha, you consume the leaves, unlike other teas. The leaves are ground to create the powder and then the powder is added to the drink.

This means residue can be seen floating in the drink or falling to the bottom. They are not bitter but can make for a ‘dusty’ or ‘chalky’ texture.

What are the Health Benefits of Matcha? 

Matcha is packed full of health benefits!

Matcha contains Catechins (1) which is 137 times greater than in other types of green tea. Catechins are important in preventing diseases (2) such as diabetes, viral infections, skin inflammation, and even cancer.

Matcha also contains L-theanine which alters the effects of caffeine and promotes alertness without the crash and jitters that caffeine in coffee gives. 

L-theanine may also increase the activity in your brain to help with relaxation (3) and stress. 

Women who drank more than 10 4-ounce portions of green tea per day (4) developed cancer 7.3 years later than those who drank fewer portions of green tea per day. 

Plus, those who drank on average 8 cups of green tea per day (5) had a lower risk of cancer returning. 

Matcha may also prevent diabetes as it can help your body to release more insulin (6) which moves blood sugar into your cells to be used for energy. 

Studies show that those who drank over 4 cups of green tea daily had a 51% lower chance of having depression symptoms, linking high consumption of green tea (7) to a reduced chance of depression. 

There is also evidence to show that green tea may help to reduce cognitive disorders (8) such as dementia. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you haven't had any of these Starbucks Matcha Drinks before. This way you will have quite a bit to try and play around with to discover your new obsession!

But don't try them all in one week, space them out for your health's sake and your pocket's too. These Starbucks drinks aren't cheap...

If you think that we missed a drink that is worth being on this list of matcha drinks at Starbucks, then let us know.