Which milk to choose for your matcha lattes? Full guide

Matcha is unlike any other beverage: it's a fine, vibrant powder made by grinding shaded green tea leaves. Every detail influences its taste: quality, storage, water temperature, utensils... and above all, milk. For a well-balanced latte, milk isn't just a complement, it's a real taste enhancer.

At TSUKI Matcha, we test absolutely all milks.
First in-house, when we're developing recipes.
Then at our events, pop-ups and tastings, where we prepare lattes with different milks to help people discover the nuances of matcha.

And every time, the same surprise: the same matcha can taste totally different depending on the milk used.

You may have already tasted a matcha latte that you didn't like... and then loved exactly the same matcha prepared with a different milk. Well, that's to be expected.

These reactions enabled us to understand to what extent:
- texture changes the balance,
- the taste of milk can amplify or soften the matcha,
- some beverages preserve antioxidants better than others.

That's why we've created this guide: to help you find the milk that reveals your matcha, according to your tastes and desires.

In this article, you'll discover how to choose the milk that best suits your tastes and desires. 

Why does milk change the taste of matcha? 

Each milk has its own personality:

Texture

- fluid → light latte, matcha highlighted
- thick → creamy, gourmet latte

Taste

- neutral → no interference with matcha
- marked → gives a more gourmet direction

Nutrition

- vegetable → maximizes absorption of catechins (matcha's antioxidants)
- animal → may slightly reduce absorption

Depending on what you're looking for (benefits, taste, lightness, indulgence), the ideal milk won't be the same.

⭐ The milks we use in our tastings

In our workshops, tastings and pop-ups, we focus on three essential milks:

1. Oat milk - The great favourite

Probably the milk most appreciated by our customers and the TSUKI team.
Why?

- naturally creamy texture
- mild, neutral taste
- perfect for a balanced latte
- goes perfectly with our ceremonial matcha and our vanilla matcha

It's the best choice for a coffee-shop latte, smooth and comforting.

2. Rice milk - The secret to sublime matcha

The most underrated milk... yet one of the best for matcha.

Rice milk is:
- light
- fluid
- delicately sweet
- neutrally sweet

This fluidity allows the matcha to express itself fully, without being weighed down.

Result:
✔️ very pure taste
✔️ light latte
✔️ no aromatic overload
✔️ ideal with the Matcha Ceremonial

At our events, this is often the surprise hit of the visitors' hearts.

3. Cow's milk - The tastiest, creamiest milk

Many people don't like plant milks, or simply want to rediscover the natural deliciousness of cow's milk. It's also the most practical milk, the one you almost always have in the fridge at home.

When to use it

- for a very creamy finish
- for a more gourmet experience
- for recipes like Dirty Matcha Latte(see recipe here)

Its impact on benefits

Cow's milk contains casein, an animal protein that can bind with matcha's catechins. This does not remove the antioxidants, but the body absorbs them a little less.

In short, if your priority is to make the most of matcha's benefits, choose a plant-based milk. If your priority is taste and a creamier texture, cow's milk remains the most suitable option.

All plant milks: which one to choose for your latte?

We have tested a number of milks. Here are their specific features:

Oat milk

Oat milk remains one of the most popular choices. It brings a natural sweetness and creamy texture that envelops the matcha without masking its nuances. Its neutrality makes it perfect for a well-balanced latte with original matcha and vanilla matcha. It's a pleasant milk that's easy to use every day.

Rice milk

Rice milk is lighter and more fluid than oat milk. It offers a delicately sweet taste that fully respects the finesse of matcha. This is the milk that leaves the most room for the tea's aromas, making it an excellent choice for enhancing the flavors of matcha. our ceremonial matcha. It produces a luminous, fine and very pure latte.

Almond milk

Almond milk has a mild, slightly sweet flavor, with hints of walnut that add a gourmet touch. It goes very well with Vanilla matchaespecially if you like drinks that evoke desserts. However, it remains more aromatic than other milks, which influences the final taste of the latte.

Soy milk

Soy milk offers a dense texture and good protein content. It works very well in richer recipes or smoothies based on soy. culinary matcha. Its taste can be a little more pronounced, making it a suitable choice for hearty drinks rather than very delicate lattes.

Coconut milk

With its exotic notes and naturally round texture, coconut milk adds a tropical, gourmet touch. It goes perfectly with matcha for desserts, iced lattes or sweeter drinks. Its strong taste can, however, overpower more subtle matchas.

Pistachio milk

Creamy and delicately scented, pistachio milk offers a smooth, refined flavor. It creates a unique association with Vanilla matchaideal for those looking for a premium, original latte.

Cashew, macadamia or hazelnut milks

These rarer milks each have a different personality.
The cashew milk is very smooth and creamy, perfect for a round, comforting latte.
Macadamia milk, more delicate and almost buttery, sublimates the softer matchas like our ceremonial matcha.
Hazelnut milk, which is more aromatic, is better suited to dessert lattes or more gourmet recipes.

Which milk to choose for your TSUKI matcha?

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Conclusion: the best milk depends on you

There is no such thing as the "best" milk, only milk that is adapted to your needs:

✔️ For a pure, soft and luminous matcha: rice milk
✔️ For a balanced and stable latte: oat milk
✔️ For a very gourmet latte: cow's milk, almond or pistachio
✔️ To preserve a maximum of antioxidants: plant milks
✔️ For recipes: coconut, soy, almond

And for the best experience, a good latte starts with:
- a quality matcha
- a good emulsion
- the right utensils

Discover our matcha and accessories to prepare your best lattes at home.

👉 Coffret Matcha Complet - ideal as a gift or to treat yourself
👉 Matcha Cérémonial - the must-have for a top-of-the-range latte
👉 See all our products