Matcha Powder vs Matcha Latte Mix: Which One Should You Buy?

Matcha powder and matcha latte mix are often sold side by side, and they look almost identical in the cup. They are not the same product, though, and choosing the wrong one is the most common reason a home matcha drink disappoints. This guide explains the difference in plain terms, shows how to prepare each one, including an iced matcha latte, and helps you decide which one suits you.

The Short Answer

Choose pure matcha powder if you want to control the taste, sweetness and milk yourself, or if you plan to use matcha in smoothies, bowls and baking. Choose a matcha latte mix if you want a creamy, lightly sweet latte in seconds with just hot water or hot milk.

What’s the Difference Between Matcha and a Matcha Latte?

Matcha is the tea itself: shade-grown green tea leaves stone-ground into a fine powder and whisked with hot water. Drunk this way it tastes grassy, slightly bitter and rich in umami, with nothing added. A matcha latte is a drink made from matcha: the same powder mixed with milk and usually a sweetener, so it tastes creamier, softer and sweeter.

	Matcha	Matcha latte
What it is	Matcha powder whisked with hot water	Matcha mixed with milk, usually sweetened
Taste	Grassy, slightly bitter, strong umami	Creamy, mild, lightly sweet
Milk	None	Dairy or plant milk
Sweetener	None	Usually added
Best for	Tea lovers, smoothies, cooking and baking	An everyday creamy drink, hot or iced

Matcha Milk vs Matcha Latte

The two names are often used for the same drink. When people do make a distinction, “matcha milk” usually means matcha simply stirred or shaken into cold milk, while a “matcha latte” is served like a café latte, with steamed, frothed milk. A ready matcha latte mix gives you the latte version with just hot water or hot milk.

Matcha Latte vs Green Tea Latte

A green tea latte is often the same drink as a matcha latte, because many cafés make it with matcha powder. The difference is in the ingredient: a true matcha latte uses finely ground whole green tea leaf, while some green tea lattes are made with ordinary brewed green tea or a flavoured powder, which gives a lighter colour and a milder taste. Check the menu or the label to see whether it says matcha.

Matcha vs Matcha Latte: Caffeine and Calories

The caffeine in both comes from the matcha powder, so a latte made with the same amount of powder has the same caffeine as plain matcha; the milk adds none. A latte often uses a little less powder per cup, so it can be slightly lower. On calories, plain matcha whisked with water has only a few, while a latte adds the calories of the milk and of any sugar or syrup.

Matcha Powder vs Matcha Latte Mix at a Glance

	Pure matcha powder	Matcha latte mix
What is inside	Only finely ground matcha green tea leaf	Matcha plus creamer, milk powder and a sweetener
Taste	Fresh, grassy and earthy, unsweetened	Creamy, rounded and lightly sweet
Sweetness	None, you add your own	Sweetened with stevia Reb-M, with no added sugar (in the mix, or in a separate stevia sachet for the classic flavours)
Preparation	Whisk with a little hot water, then top up	Stir one sachet into hot water or hot milk
Best for	Traditional matcha, smoothies, baking, your own lattes	Quick lattes at home, at the office or on the go
Lucarise example	Premium Matcha Powder	Classic Matcha Latte

Pure Matcha Powder: Full Control

Pure matcha powder is finely milled green tea leaf and nothing else. Lucarise Premium Matcha Powder is 100% matcha green tea powder with no additives, fillers or sweeteners, with a fresh, grassy taste and a natural umami depth. Because it is unsweetened, you decide how it ends up: clean and simple with water, creamy with milk, or sweetened with stevia.

How to Prepare Matcha Powder

1. Put one sachet (or about half a teaspoon from a pouch) in a bowl or cup.
2. Add a small amount of hot water at around 70 to 80 °C and whisk until smooth. Boiling water can make matcha taste bitter.
3. Top up with hot water for a traditional cup, or with steamed milk for a latte.

If your matcha clumps, make a smooth paste with a little water first and only then add the rest. Pure matcha also works well in smoothies, yogurt bowls, baking and desserts.

Prefer a Gulf-style twist? Cardamom Matcha Powder adds natural cardamom to pure matcha, still with no sweetener or milk. If you do not want to whisk at all, the Matcha Capsule gives you 2 g of pure matcha in each Nespresso-compatible capsule, in a pack of 10.

Matcha Latte Mix: Ready in Seconds

A matcha latte mix puts everything in one sachet. Lucarise Classic Matcha Latte combines matcha green tea powder, non-dairy creamer (based on coconut oil), skimmed milk powder and foamer powder, and comes with a separate 1 g stevia Reb-M sachet so you can sweeten it your way. It has no added sugar, although the milk powder naturally contains a little lactose. Each box holds 10 single-serve sachets of 14 g.

How to Prepare a Matcha Latte Mix

1. Empty one sachet into a cup.
2. Add about 150 ml of hot water or hot milk.
3. Stir well until smooth. Hot milk gives an even richer, creamier cup.

The range also includes Cardamom Matcha Latte and Coconut Matcha Latte, plus topping editions with a separate topping sachet: mango, pistachio, strawberry and hazelnut.

How to Make an Iced Matcha Latte at Home

Both formats make a good iced matcha latte. The trick is the same for each: dissolve the matcha in a little hot water first, so it blends smoothly, and only then add the cold milk and ice.

• With matcha powder: whisk one sachet with a little hot water until smooth, add ice, then pour in cold milk. Sweeten to taste.
• With a latte mix: dissolve one sachet in a little hot water, then add cold milk and ice. On the topping editions, finish with the topping.

For the hot version step by step, see our guide on how to make a matcha latte.

Which One Should You Choose?

• Pure matcha powder is the better choice if you enjoy the traditional taste, want to control the sweetness, or use matcha in smoothies, baking and desserts.
• A matcha latte mix is the better choice if you want a creamy latte with no added sugar in seconds, at home, at the office or while travelling.
• Cafés and businesses can ask about both formats on our wholesale and business page.

Keep reading

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between matcha and matcha latte?

Matcha is pure powdered green tea whisked with water. A matcha latte is matcha mixed with milk and usually a sweetener, so it is creamier and milder than straight matcha.

Is matcha milk the same as a matcha latte?

Mostly, yes. Both are matcha with milk. “Matcha milk” often means matcha stirred into cold milk, while a matcha latte is usually made with steamed, frothed milk.

Does matcha powder contain caffeine?

Yes. Matcha is made from whole green tea leaves ground into a powder, so it naturally contains caffeine. Our guide What Is Matcha? explains caffeine, benefits and how to choose quality matcha.

Can I use a matcha latte mix instead of pure matcha powder in recipes?

It is not a good swap. A latte mix already contains creamer, milk powder and sweetener, so it changes the taste and texture of smoothies and baking. Use pure matcha powder for recipes.

Does the matcha latte mix have added sugar?

There is no added sugar, because it is sweetened with stevia Reb-M. The skimmed milk powder in the mix naturally contains a little lactose, which is milk sugar. To understand the sweetener, see our stevia sugar guide.

How should I store matcha?

Matcha is sensitive to light, air and heat. Keep it sealed in a cool, dry place and use it soon after opening for the best colour and flavour.