This Starbucks copycat Pineapple Matcha Latte Drink recipe is the perfect refreshing tropical drink to make at home during summer. It's a healthy, fruity and creamy drink that can be made in 10 minutes, even though there's no milk!
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Why Make This
- This pineapple matcha drink tastes almost exactly like the Starbucks original: made with coconut milk, it's sweet, creamy, just the right amount of spicy and gives you a caffeine boost to get you through your day!
- Simple to make: Only 4 simple ingredients, found in regular grocery stores, gives you lots of tropical flavors and it's done in 10 minutes!
- Diet-friendly: Suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
- Better for you and your wallet: if you scroll down to ingredients, you can see the Starbucks original is laden with sugar. The coconut milk has sugar, the matcha has sugar and the pineapple ginger syrup has sugar! When you make it at home, you can reduce the sugar added to make it a healthy drink without compromising on taste!
Note: For more Asian recipes which require few ingredients, click here. If you like interesting matcha flavor combinations, you may also want to try this matcha blueberry latte or this vanilla matcha latte!
Ingredients
These are the ingredients listed on the Starbucks website, from which I've derived my recipe:
These are the simple ingredients I'm using in my recipe:
The key ingredients for this Starbucks pineapple matcha seasonal drink are:
- Matcha tea powder: Matcha has a lot of health benefits! (Starbucks uses 3 scoops of this green tea powder in a Grande/ 16 oz drink but unfortunately it is mixed with sugar.) Because there are so few ingredients in this pineapple drink, the quality makes a difference. Go for ceremonial grade matcha instead of culinary grade. (For ways to use up the matcha powder, such as a delicious Starbucks matcha latte recipe or rich matcha cake, click here.)
- Pineapple: you can use pure pineapple juice from a carton or blend your own fresh pineapple juice from fresh or canned pineapple. (Choose a ripe fruit so it'll be naturally sweet.) If you don't have ice on-hand, freeze the pineapple fruit before juicing instead for an ice-blended matcha pineapple ginger drink. (Note that if you don't like juice with bits, you'll need to sieve your homemade juice.)
- Ginger: I use pre-ground ginger powder as it is much more convenient. (But, of course, freshly squeezed ginger juice tastes much more vibrant if you can make/ buy it.) Alternatively, substitute both the pineapple and ginger with homemade pineapple ginger syrup.
- Coconut cream: most recipes use unsweetened coconut milk, which is acceptable. However, I prefer a richer drink, so I prefer to make my own creamy coconut milk by mixing coconut cream with coconut water (or water) in the ratio 1:2 e.g. use 10g of coconut cream for every 20g of water to make 30g of coconut milk.
- Optional: ice cubes and sugar (if your pineapple is not very ripe)
Variations & Substitutes
- Substitute with syrup: Starbucks drinks are usually made with syrups. (This also helps with meal prep if you want to make the drink everyday.) You can use matcha syrup to replace the matcha powder and pineapple ginger syrup to substitute for the pineapple and fresh ginger. Use 2 Tablespoons of the syrup for every cup of the drink you're making (or to taste.)
- Alternative milks: If you're allergic to coconut, you can substitute with almond milk or a milk of your choice
- For other fruity matcha drinks: substitute the pineapple with strawberry puree or blueberry puree. (Click through for more details.)
- Iced pineapple matcha: add ice cubes!
Step-By-Step Instructions
A. If making your own pineapple juice
Note: if using pineapple juice, skip to the section below.
- Cut your fresh or canned pineapple into ½ inch chunks. You will need 1 Cup's worth of pineapple for 1 glass of this drink, which is about 5 canned pineapple rounds, or 5.98 oz/ 186g.
Note: you need to cut the pineapple, as larger pieces would mean you can fit less into 1 cup. Alternatively, if you're going to weigh them, you can skip the cutting.
2a. Add the ginger powder and matcha green tea powder to the coconut cream and water.
2b. Mix well but don't worry if lumps remain.
Note: Usually the bright green matcha powder will need to be whisked into hot water (it clumps easily.) However, the blender will ensure there are no lumps, so I just add the fine powder to the coconut directly.
3a. Add the ingredients from Steps 1 and 2 into your blender.
3b. Blitz will everything is well-mixed.
4. After blending, there will be pulp leftover from the pineapple chunks, which you can strain out if you prefer a smooth drink.
I like the texture so I leave it in my Pineapple Matcha Starbucks drink.
Optional: add ice cubes if you want an iced pineapple green tea. Sweeten to taste, if necessary.
B. If using shop bought pineapple juice
- You'll need 1 cup of pineapple juice.
2. Place the juice, ginger powder, coconut milk, water and matcha fine powder in a cocktail shaker (or Mason Jar) and shake vigorously till combined. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
Tip #1: To make cold pineapple matcha latte, you can freeze the pineapple before blending, instead of adding ice! This also helps to prevent your drink from becoming too watery when the ice melts.
Tip #2: Pineapple is quite fibrous so if you're juicing your own, whether from a fresh fruit or a can, you may want to strain the juice if you prefer a smooth pineapple matcha drink. Personally, I leave it in as the fibre is good for you! The bits of pineapple pulp also add extra sweetness to the Pineapple Matcha Starbucks Copycat drink so that no extra sugar is necessary.
Tip #3: The Starbucks version uses matcha powder which has added sugar. Hence, if you find the recipe isn't exactly like you remember, add a bit of sugar, simple syrup, maple syrup or pineapple syrup (from the pineapple can) to boost the flavor. (I've left it out as the pineapple is sweet enough in my opinion!) For refined sugar substitutes, click here. I don't recommend brown sugar as it interferes with the fresh tropical flavor.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, sweet pineapple juice can be frozen for a few months. I suggest freezing some in ice cubes to add to this Starbucks-inspired pineapple matcha drink, to prevent the drink from being diluted when the ice melts.
You can cut a pineapple into chunks and keep it in the fridge for 3-4 days before you want to make this pineapple matcha latte. If the chunks have gone soft, moldy or smell bad, toss them!
Store the whole, uncut pineapple in a paper bag, preferably with a fruit such as a banana or apple. The ethylene produced will hasten the ripening process.
Yes it is, although it has much less caffeine than coffee!
Other Summer Recipes
Enjoyed this Starbucks-inspired refreshing drink? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & if you REALLY like this fruity green tea, a comment would make my week! Thank you and have a great day!
Pineapple Matcha Starbucks Drink
Equipment
- Food scissors or knife and chopping board Not necessary if using ginger powder and pineapple juice (in this case you will need a Mason jar or cocktail shaker)
- Blender As above
- sieve optional (not necessary if you like bits in your fruit juices)
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Pineapple Fresh or canned, cut into ½ inch chunks. This is about 5 canned pineapple rounds or 5.98 oz/ 186g of pineapple. You need to cut the pineapple, as larger pieces would mean you can fit less into 1 cup. If you're going to weigh the fruit, you can skip the cutting. Substitute: 1 cup of pure pineapple juice. You can also substitute this AND the ginger with pineapple ginger syrup.
- 1 Cup Unsweetened coconut milk You can mix 76g/ 2.68oz of coconut cream with 152g/5.36 oz of water. Substitute: 1 cup of shop bought coconut milk but it may be less creamy. Alternatively, use a milk of your choice.
- 2 teaspoon Matcha powder Do not substitute with green tea as the flavor and color are different.
- ⅛-½ teaspoon Ginger powder Different ginger powders have different levels of spice, depending on how old they are etc, so start with the smallest amount (⅛ teaspoon) and work your way up if you find you can't taste the ginger. Substitute: freshly squeezed ginger juice, to taste
- Ice cubes, optional You can freeze your pineapple before blending if you want an icy drink but don't have any ice cubes on hand.
- sugar, optional and to taste Only necessary if your pineapple isn't ripe (or you have a very sweet tooth.) If using tinned pineapple, you can use the syrup from the tin to sweeten your drink.
Instructions
- Mix the matcha powder, ginger powder and homemade coconut milk.
- Add the mixture from Step 1 into the blender, along with the pineapple chunks.
- Blend till everything is well-mixed and no lumps remain (except for the pineapple pulp.)Optional: sieve out the pineapple pulp. Sweeten to taste if necessary and add ice cubes if you want a cold drink.
If using pineapple juice
- Add the juice, matcha powder, ginger powder and coconut milk to an airtight container and shake till all combine.
Notes
Note: the nutritional information is an estimate automatically calculated using the WPRM recipe maker and I am not responsible for its veracity.
Nutrition
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Jamie says
Wow! From the presentation, it just looks like the original Starbucks drinks! This looks amazingly delicious and very tasty! Loving the creamy texture and the color is just enticing!
Amy Liu Dong says
I like this drink because you don't need to have expensive ingredients to make a delicious drink like this!
Ann says
My kids loved this drink - they thought it was super tasty! Will definitely be making this throughout the summer.
Gwynn says
One of my favorite coffee shop drinks and I'm so happy that I can make it at home now. And it's so easy to make and delicious too!
Amy says
I just loved this recipe. It was such a cool and refreshing drink. And so easy to make.
Haly says
Love that we can use ginger powder and that I don’t have to spend a ton on the ingredients!!