Just like the new Starbucks indulgence, but better! Homemade lavender cold foam on top of a sweet iced matcha latte is exactly what I want to drink on a spring day.
By Candice Walker on March 19, 2024 (Last updated August 20, 2024) This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
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This Starbucks spring menu Iced Lavender Cream Oatmilk Matcha Latte is easy to make at home with just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes. When I saw this on the Starbucks spring menu, I HAD to recreate it at home. The best part? You can enjoy it ALL year round, even after it leaves the Starbucks menu!
The lavender in this recipe tastes like cereal milk, and not like floral lavender to mimic the Starbucks version. If you’re looking for lavender flavor, try this Lavender Matcha Latte.
Rumor has it on Reddit that this drink has been tough for Starbucks’ employees to make regularly and doesn’t live up to the hype. This recipe solves all your (and Starbucks’) problems! This homemade lavender matcha latte is easy, tastes more airy and balanced than the store version, and you can control the sweetness level.
🌟Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Epic flavor harmony – The sweet, milk tea lavender with the earthy matcha is dreamy. This latte tastes both refreshing and nostalgic at the same time, with a velvety creaminess from the oat milk.
Refreshing beverage for spring – This brings spring flavors together in an iced beverage perfect for cooling down as hotter weather arrives. For more refreshment, try a Matcha Boba Tea or a simpler hot Lavender Matcha Latte.
Less expensive than Starbucks – I enjoy a treat as much as the next foodie, but when lattes like this are $7+ for just one, you know it’s time to master the at-home technique! For more better-than-Starbucks options, try my Iced Chai Latte with Matcha Cold Foam
2 cold foam methods – I teach you how to make lavender cold foam with a handheld frother or a French press.
🧾Ingredients in This Recipe
Lavender milk tea powder – This Starbucks drink uses milk tea powder and tastes like cereal milk instead of a traditional floral lavender. Grab some lavender simple syrup if you’re interested in a floral taste, or make this lavender matcha latte instead. You can use this lavender milk tea that needs some hot water to dissolve it, but it won’t be purple. This Blume Blue Lavender Latte works, too, but it will be blue (don’t try and add their beetroot version to make it purple because it has other flavors that will overpower the blue lavender). Note that neither is perfect, but both work to make a copycat.
Matcha powder – Use culinary-grade matcha powder (not ceremonial grade or matcha latte mixes that have added sugar). This quality matcha is great for lattes, and you can control the sugar level.
Heavy cream – When frothed, heavy cream creates that cloud-like cold foam.
Oat milk – You can use 2% milk as a substitute, but I think oat milk complements the flavors nicely and adds a unique rich creaminess.
Honey or sweetener of your choice – Agave nectar, simple syrup, cane or granulated sugar, or brown sugar will all work well.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
💜 Make it lavender-flavored
The Starbucks lavender doesn’t taste floral, but instead tastes like cereal milk. If you want it lavender-flavored, try this Lavender Matcha Latte, or you can add additional lavender simple syrup to the matcha latte. However, note that this will increase both the sweetness and the lavender taste. You can also make your own lavender simple syrup.
👩🍳How to Make This Recipe
Note that these steps show a handheld frother, while the recipe card has alternative instructions for using a French press.
First, make the lavender cold foam. Add the milk, heavy cream, and lavender milk tea powder to a glass container and froth them until the mix is about double in volume. Now is the time to add food coloring if you want to, it is completely optional. Don’t let the cream fully whip to become whipped cream. Set aside
Add 1/4 cup of hot water to the matcha in a bowl or glass. Use your metal whisk or bamboo chasen to whisk the matcha and water until all clumps are gone. Add the remaining milk, water, and optional sweetener like honey. Mix to incorporate.
💜 Pro Tip
For the optional sweetener, you can amp up the lavender taste and level of sweetness with an easy homemade lavender simple syrup. I really like this addition to intensify the lavender flavor.
Fill your serving glass with fresh ice and pour the matcha latte mixture over the top.
Spoon or pour your lavender cold foam over the top of the matcha. Now you can relax and enjoy your stunning drink!
🍵 More Matcha Latte Ideas
Yes, you CAN make complex and delicious matcha lattes at home. These beverages are accessible to anyone and make a welcome change from normal tea or coffee.
Just like the new Starbucks indulgence, but better! Homemade lavender cold foam on top of a sweet iced matcha latte is exactly what I want to drink on a spring day.
3/4cupmilkStarbucks uses oat milk, and non-dairy (oat or coconut) or 2% dairy work
2cupsice
1tsphoneyoptional, up to 2 teaspoons, Starbucks uses presweetened matcha
Instructions
Lavender Cold Foam
If using a handheld frother: Add all the ingredients into a tall glass.If using a french press: Add all ingredients into a French press.
If using a handheld frother: Froth until it just about doubles in volume. Don't let the cream fully whip.If using a french press: move the plunger up and down 30-40 times until the volume increases.
Set aside until ready to pour over the matcha latte.
Iced Matcha Latte
Add 1/4 cup of hot or filtered water to the matcha powder in a small bowl. Using your metal whisk or bamboo chasen, whisk the matcha and water until the clumps are gone. Add the milk and optional sweetener. Mix to incorporate.
Fill your serving glasses with ice.
Pour the mixed latte over the ice.
Iced Matcha Latte with Lavender Cold Foam
Pour the lavender cold foam over the iced matcha latte.
Notes
The Starbucks lavender doesn’t taste floral, but instead tastes like cereal milk. If you want it lavender-flavored, you can add additional lavender simple syrup to the matcha latte, but please note that this will increase both the sweetness and the lavender taste, which I actually enjoy. You can make your own lavender simple syrup. Starbucks uses Torani lavender simple syrup.This Starbucks drink uses milk tea powder and tastes like cereal milk instead of a traditional floral lavender. Grab some lavender simple syrup if you’re interested in a floral taste, or make this lavender matcha latte instead. You can use this lavender milk tea that needs some hot water to dissolve it, but it won’t be purple. This Blume Blue Lavender Latte works, too, but it will be blue (don’t try and add their beetroot version to make it purple because it has other flavors that will overpower the blue lavender). Note that neither is perfect, but both work to make a copycat.
Did you try this recipe?I’d love to hear what you think! Leave a Review to let us know how it came out, if you have a successful substitution or variation, or anything else.
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7 Comments
This is perfect for making at home and has the flavor I want. But I fallowed the link and got the lavender powder, but mine does not turn purple. Is there something else I am supposed to add?
Yes. I have tried many other options to get it to be purple and the best options were lavender syrup which makes it taste floral, doesn’t taste like the Starbucks version, and isn’t super bright purple or superfoods like blue majik and beet powder. With what is available to purchase as far as I know, the best bet to get the flavor right is food coloring or gel.
In step 2 you say to add the remaining water to the matcha. Is that if someone chooses water instead of milk? I’m confused because I thought the only water used was the 1/4 cup of hot water to mix in with the matcha powder.
Starbucks uses the powder when they make the cold foam, though it tastes way different than the syrup. Most of us are trying to find the cold foam flavor that tastes like cereal milk not floral
If you want it super cereal milky, you can add 2 scoops of this lavender milk tea powder, and just one teaspoon of the lavender simple syrup in the cold foam. Unless you want it super sweet, then you can do a tablespoon.
I have been trying to buy this drink from Starbucks but they keep being out of it, so I tried making it myself with this recipe at home. WOW! It came out great. Will be my new sweet treat in the afternoons
This is perfect for making at home and has the flavor I want. But I fallowed the link and got the lavender powder, but mine does not turn purple. Is there something else I am supposed to add?
Yes. I have tried many other options to get it to be purple and the best options were lavender syrup which makes it taste floral, doesn’t taste like the Starbucks version, and isn’t super bright purple or superfoods like blue majik and beet powder. With what is available to purchase as far as I know, the best bet to get the flavor right is food coloring or gel.
In step 2 you say to add the remaining water to the matcha. Is that if someone chooses water instead of milk? I’m confused because I thought the only water used was the 1/4 cup of hot water to mix in with the matcha powder.
Hi Madeline. It’s 1/4 cup total. I usually add 2 tablespoons first, whisk, then add in the rest and whisk again. Great question!
Starbucks uses the powder when they make the cold foam, though it tastes way different than the syrup. Most of us are trying to find the cold foam flavor that tastes like cereal milk not floral
If you want it super cereal milky, you can add 2 scoops of this lavender milk tea powder, and just one teaspoon of the lavender simple syrup in the cold foam. Unless you want it super sweet, then you can do a tablespoon.
I have been trying to buy this drink from Starbucks but they keep being out of it, so I tried making it myself with this recipe at home. WOW! It came out great. Will be my new sweet treat in the afternoons