Matcha Frappé (aka Frappuccino)
A matcha frappé is a smooth and frosty beverage with a sweet, earthy taste that will keep you caffeinated and happy all day. This is a fave at Starbucks (Matcha Frappuccino), Dunkin’ (Frozen Matcha Latte), and many other coffee shops.
(Related: Iced Coconut & Pineapple Matcha Latte)
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This green tea frappé is one of my go-tos during the summer. Something about it just speaks to me on a warm early summer afternoon.
It’s also a great way to first try matcha if you aren’t sure how you’ll like it. Since this drink also adds a lot of sugar, flavored syrup and milk, you will get a more subtle taste of matcha than you would with a matcha latte.
Ingredients
This recipe for a matcha frappé is flexible. You can easily switch out the type of milk and the syrup. Or even go sans syrup to save a few more calories and cut back on the carbs.
Matcha powder
You can’t have a matcha frappé without matcha! For this recipe, I call for using a culinary-grade unsweetened matcha, because both the frappé powder and the syrup already add sugar. But, if you only have sweetened matcha you can still use it. If so, you might want to cut back on the amount of syrup you add.
Powdered matcha is available at most grocery stores. I used the Trader Joe’s unsweetened packs pictured above for making this. I just opened them and measured the correct amount. If you want to order from Amazon, I suggest this matcha powder.
Coconut milk
I like using coconut milk for this recipe as it gives it a lighter flavor that pairs well with the earthiness of the matcha.
You can use any other milk, including dairy, almond, or oat just fine if that’s what you’d prefer.
Cantaloupe syrup
This is the secret ingredient to making this drink extra special!
Years ago, Starbucks offered a melon syrup, and that paired wonderfully with their matcha drinks. Unfortunately, it’s now been discontinued.
But, there are some syrups that work well as a replacement. I used the (Rock Melon) Cantelope syrup from Monin when I made this recipe. You can find the syrup on Amazon or at a restaurant supply store like Chef’s Store.
(Starbucks in Indonesia is featuring a cantaloupe-flavored frappuccino for 2023. So, this flavor is right on trend.)
Here are a few other ones I think would work well if you wanted to switch it up:
- Honeydew Melon syrup from Amoretti
- Pineapple syrup from Torani
- Guava syrup from Torani
Frappe mix
This ingredient, Ghiradelli Frappé Mix, Classic White, is THE secret to making the perfect blended matcha frappé at home.
This is the same product that many coffee shops use, and can be easily purchased on Amazon or at your local restaurant supply store such as Chef’s Store.
The reason this mixture is key is that it contains the ingredients to make sure the frappé blends well and stays together after mixing. It creates the exact consistency that you are used to getting at a coffee shop by including binders like xantham gum and guar gum as well as sugar and milk.
I suggest getting the “Classic White” option, as that is a generic base that can be used to create any coffee-based or cream-based frappés. It can also be used to make smoothies.
You’ll be able to make about fifteen 16-ounce frappés with this mix.
(Related: Blended coffee frappé recipe)
FAQs
Matcha does have an earthy, almost grass-like flavor to it. It’s often a taste you have to grow into. But, this frappé is the perfect drink to try out matcha with as it’s not a strong taste and is balanced with the cantaloupe syrup.
Yes, matcha green tea has caffeine.
While green tea is often considered healthy, and has antioxidants, this drink also has a lot of added sugar, so it should not be thought of as healthy.
If you have a large enough blender, you can easily double it.
Matcha Frappé
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 5 ounces coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened matcha If you use sweetened matcha, use 1 1/2 tablespoons and you might want to decrease the added syrup.
- 1 tablespoon canteloupe syrup
- 1/2 cup frappe mix
- 12 ounces ice
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients into a blender. Blend on a smoothie setting.
- Pour into a cup and enjoy!
