Name: Matcha Hot Chocolate
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 2 cups (470 milliliters) milk; 3 ounces (85 grams) white chocolate (finely chopped); 2 teaspoons (4 grams) matcha (green tea powder); 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) hot water (not boiling); 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; Whipped cream or marshmallows (for garnish); Additional matcha (for sprinkling, optionally mixed with a little vanilla or powdered sugar for sweetness)

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A recipe for Matcha Hot Chocolate plus a variation using Hojicha! This creamy green tea and white hot chocolate comes together in only 15 minutes for a quick and delicious drink.

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With only a handful of ingredients, this Matcha Hot Chocolate is a simple beverage perfect for a cold winter morning or afternoon pick me up. Matcha (green tea powder) and chopped white chocolate are whisked into hot milk until smooth. Flavor with a small splash of vanilla extract and that’s it!

I topped my Matcha Hot Chocolate with whipped cream, but toasted marshmallows would also be perfect. I personally like the amount of white chocolate added, but you can always bump the amount up a little based on taste or increase the matcha to a full one tablespoon for a more vibrant green color and stronger flavor.

Matcha is a powder created by grinding whole green tea leaves. There are various grades. The higher quality grades are made from the fine, new leaves from the very top of the Camellia sinensis tea bush. Use the premium grades for drinking, while the lower culinary grades are fine for baking.

Be careful when storing matcha. It can become stale and brownish when exposed to oxygen. I have been able to find matcha at the local markets with Japanese ingredients and more recently in the tea section of larger supermarkets. It is also available on Amazon: Matcha Konomi and less expensive: Jade Leaf Matcha Green Tea Powder.

A Few Tips

Keep an eye on the milk while it is heating on the stove. Do not bring to a boil. It should only be steaming and starting to simmer around the edges. Milk tends to quickly go from cold to boiling over, especially at the exact second you turn your back.

Sift the matcha into a small bowl and whisk with hot (not boiling or it will become bitter) water until completely dissolved without any lumps, then pour this into the white chocolate mixture to create a smooth Matcha Hot Chocolate.

To make a more light and frothy drink, carefully use an immersion blender or whisk vigorously for a few seconds after melting the white chocolate and mixing in the matcha.

Sprinkle a little more sifted matcha over the whipped cream-topped hot chocolate immediately before serving. I sometimes like to mix a little vanilla sugar into the matcha to add an extra hint of sweetness.

Looking for more recipes with matcha?

Try my

Hojicha Hot Chocolate

I also love to swap the Matcha for Hojicha Powder to make Hojicha Hot Chocolate (photo below)! Hojicha (ほうじ茶) is created by roasting green tea leaves over charcoal. This results in a light reddish-brown color with a toasted, more subtle flavor and a lower caffeine content.

The powdered Hojicha blends perfectly into the hot chocolate just as the matcha. To help highlight the roasted flavor, I usually like to add a tablespoon or so of maple syrup and a pinch of salt in addition to the white chocolate, milk, and vanilla extract.

To toast the marshmallows, use a culinary torch or place them in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet under the broiler for a minute or so until toasted to desired color.