How to make sakura milk latte at home

A pretty pink beverage that is perfect for springtime

Sakura, or cherry blossom, is a popular symbol of Japan. In early spring, the nation is awash in a beautiful pink hue as the trees come into bloom.
If you can’t make it to Japan to see the real thing, don’t worry! You can still enjoy the taste of sakura in your cup.
In this article, we will show you how to make a delicious sakura latte at home.

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What is sakura latte?

Sakura latte (also called sakura milk latte) is a drink that combines the flavors of cherry blossom and milk.
The result is a delicate beverage with a lovely light pink color.

Sakura latte is a popular beverage in Japana since recent years, owing to the fact that the Japanese enjoy experiencing what each season has to offer.

So, for a very short period of time in early spring, you can find sakura latte in the menu of many cafes in Japan, including Starbucks.

What does sakura latte tastes like?

The flavor of sakura latte is elegant, with natural sweet and mildly floral aroma.
It also may have a slightly, very subtle tangy aftertaste, like the one of cherry fruits, only much more delicate.

There’s nothing overpowering in this elegant, mildly aromatic drink.

For the same reason, if you are looking for an intense taste, sakura latte may be too soft for you.

Is there caffeine in sakura latte?

While you can buy or make sakura lattes with coffee (hence they will have caffeine), sakura latte is typically a steamer drink (a milk based drink) and therefore caffeine-free.

It’s called “latte” because it’s common in Japan to name any milk based drink as latte.

But when ordering, remember that some vendors make their sakura latte with coffee and the pink drink without coffee may have a name like “sakura MILK latte”.

Can I make tea from cherry blossom petals?

So, the average Japanese person doesn’t pick up cherry blossom petals to make tea and I wouldn’t recommend it either.

Sakura flower can be eaten in small amounts by humans (be aware that it’s toxic for dogs and cats).
But there are over 200 varieties of Japanese cherry trees and only a couple of them are commonly used for culinary uses; the petals of many sakura sorts may taste bitter.

Salt pickled cherry blossoms were traditionally the most common way to buy edible sakura, but lately you can also find convenient sakura in powdered form.

How to make pink sakura latte

You may make sakura tea from salt pickled cherry blossoms and then add milk to it, but the easiest way to make sakura latte is using sakura powder.

Sakura powder is made from finely powdered cherry blossom petals and it looks like matcha, just in a vibrant cherry pink color instead of green.

Once you have cherry blossoms powder: just follow the instructions bellow if using plain sakura powder, or skip the sweetener if using instant sakura latte powder.

Making iced sakura latte

Sakura milk latte is enjoyable both warm and cool.
Either way, it’s easier to dissolve sakura powder in hot water first.
If you want your sakura latte chilled, you can add cold milk and/or ice to it.

Ice cubes serve as a barrier between the different liquids, so you can get a nice effect layering the milk and the sakura concentrate.

For a layered iced sakura latte, follow these steps:

Just take into consideration that when you make layers, the sakura concentrate may get a jelly like texture.
If you want to avoid it, stir the sakura concentrate with the milk as soon as possible.

FAQ’s about sakura latte

So, there you have it! Sakura latte is a deliciously elegant drink that is perfect for springtime. I hope you enjoy this lovely pink beverage. If you’re looking for something a little more indulgent, why not try our recipe for sakura cheesecake?