Sakura Matcha Cheese Tea

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A delicious drink in lovely pastel colors that celebrate the Springtime

If you are looking for a latte that looks cute and tastes great while it’s still healthy(ish), you’ll love this sakura matcha cheese tea.

This milk tea is a unique twist on matcha latte: it’s inspired by the delicate hues found in Japan during spring and it combines subtly salty cheese foam with cherry blossoms powder.

The result is a mildly sweet matcha drink that looks like a pastel painting.
And the pink cheese foam sits like a cloud of cherry blossom petals, giving it just enough richness to balance the matcha’s complex flavor.

Enjoy this beautiful latte whenever you need a pick-me-up or a special treat.
It’s a unique and refreshing way to celebrate the arrival of spring!

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How did this recipe come about

During this time of year, my Japanese heritage takes over and I get really excited about pastel pink, especially when it’s paired with light green.

Although I didn’t grow up in Japan, I’ve been awed by the beauty of Japan’s pink-hued landscape in the springtime, as depicted by my Japanese mother or as depicted in arts or media.

Perhaps you’ve seen it too in mangas or movies?

It reminds me of how orange, purple, and black are often associated with Halloween.
Well, Spring is for me light green and pink!

That’s why I felt inspired to create a recipe featuring those colors and one of the most iconic Japanese ingredients, matcha paired with sakura powder, which may not be as well-known, but nonetheless adds a touch of that unique Japanese character.

Fun fact:
Pastel pink and light green are very popular in Japan during springtime because these colors are associated with the arrival of spring.
Pink evokes cherry blossoms, which are seen as a symbol of renewal, beauty, and the fleeting nature of life.
Similarly, light green brings to mind fresh leaves, a sign of rebirth and hope.
This is also why these two pastel colors are commonly used in Japan for the Dolls Festival (Hinamatsuri), also known as Girls’ Day, celebrated on March 3rd.

Reasons to love this recipe

  • EASY TO MAKE
    This recipe to make sakura matcha latte with cheese foam requires only a few ingredients and it can be made in just 10 minutes.
  • HEALTHY
    Matcha is packed with antioxidants, cheese foam and cream are rich in calcium and sakura powder may delay skin aging.
  • TASTEFUL
    Sakura powder tastes so subtle, that very often it’s difficult to appreciate it in drinks and desserts.
    But since in this recipe you get sakura cheese cream on the top, every time you take a sip of this milk tea, you get to enjoy that signature scent of cherry blossoms. These floral hints combine wonderfully with the creaminess of cheese foam and the umami of matcha.
  • BEAUTIFUL
    The combination of matcha with sakura cream is super pretty, with pastel pink and green colors.
  • VERSATILE
    This matcha milk drink tastes both great hot or cold!

What you’ll need

Ingredients

For the matcha latte

  • Matcha
  • Water
  • Sugar
  • Vanilla extract (optional but recommended)

For the sakura cheese foam

  • Cream cheese (Philadelphia type)
  • Sugar (skip if your sakura powder is sweet)
  • Whipping cream
  • Milk
  • Sakura powder

Gadgets

Swaps and alternatives

  • MILK
    Feel free to use your preferred type of milk.
    I usually opt for either low-fat or full-fat dairy milk, depending on what I have available.
  • MATCHA
    If you don’t have matcha powder, you could substitute it for cocoa powder. Of course, the drink will look and taste different, but it’s still yummy in its own way.
  • CREAM CHEESE
    If you don’t have cream cheese, you can also use plain whipping cream. However, keep in mind that cream cheese adds a richer touch to the topping.
  • SUGAR
    Feel free to use your preferred alternative to sugar.
    Personally, I like to swap sugar for xylitol or erythritol in this recipe.
  • VANILLA EXTRACT
    I love using my homemade vanilla infused honey in this recipe. It adds a delicious touch that substitutes vanilla extract and sugar at the same time.
  • CHERRY BLOSSOM POWDER
    An alternative to sakura powder is using strawberry powder.
    You can easily make strawberry powder by blending or simply crumbling freeze dried strawberries.
    Although the taste and aroma will be different, it will still be pink and yummy. Check out my separate recipe for a Strawberry cheesecake matcha latte.

Where to get sakura powder:
Cherry blossom powder isn’t the most common ingredient (even in Japan).
I live in Europe and I get mine here, but it’s only available during a very limited time in spring.
Two brands that are usually available for longer periods of time are this one on Amazon and this other one from a website that sells Japanese items online.

Instructions

Time needed: 10 minutes

How to make matcha milk tea with sakura cheese foam

  1. Make sakura cheese foam

    Combine the cream cheese, whipping cream, milk and sakura powder.
    Feel free to add some sweetener if your cherry blossom powder is unsweetened.

  2. Prepare matcha latte

    Make matcha latte like you normally do.
    I like making a concentrated matcha first by combining the matcha powder (and optional sweetener) with a little amount of warm water. This avoids the matcha from clumping.
    Then I add the rest of the water and whisk (use a matcha whisker or a handheld frother).
    Finally I pour the milk and this matcha concentrate into a glass or mug.

  3. Assemble

    Top the matcha milk with the cherry blossoms cheese foam.


Tricks and tips


  • If making a one serving of cheese foam, you may whip it with a handheld, batterie-driven frother.
    In this case, I recommend first stirring the ingredients with a spoon, so the cream cheese is properly mixed with the whipping cream, milk and cherry blossom powder.
  • If you don’t have sakura powder, you can replace it with freeze-dried strawberry powder, as mentioned above.
  • Your pink cheese foam should be pourable, but you can make it runnier or stiffer depending on your taste. The exact texture you get can vary depending on the brand of cream cheese you use and how you beat the mixture.
    If your foam turns out too stiff, you can add a little bit of milk so it’s easier to pour.
    On the other side, if your cheese foam it’s too runny, add more cream cheese.
  • When making hot matcha latte, I recommend making the sakura cheese cream on the stiffer side, so it stays afloat and it doesn’t immediately melt into the latte.
5 from 2 votes

Sakura matcha cheese tea recipe

A lovely pink and green latte
Print Recipe
Prep Time:10 minutes

Equipment

  • Handheld frother or whipping blender

Ingredients

Sakura cheese foam

  • 1 Tbsp. Cream cheese
  • 1 Tbsp. Whipping cream
  • 1 Tbsp. Milk
  • 1 tsp. Sakura powder
  • 1 tsp. Sugar Feel free to skip if your sakura powder is sweetened

Matcha latte

Instructions

  • Combine cream cheese, whipping cream, milk, and sakura powder in a small container. If your cherry blossom powder is unsweetened, feel free to add some sweetener to taste. Mix everything together until you have a fluffy and smooth texture.
  • Begin by making a concentrated matcha mixture by whisking together the matcha powder (and optional sweetener) with a small amount of warm water. This will help prevent any clumping. Once you have a smooth mixture, add the rest of the water and continue whisking until frothy. You can use a matcha whisker or a handheld frother for this.
  • pour the matcha mixture into a mug filled with milk. Finally, top the matcha milk with a generous amount of sakura cheese foam. You can use a spoon or piping bag to create a beautiful presentation.

Notes

  • If your cheese foam turns too stiff to pour it, add a little amount of milk.
    If on the contrary your cheese foam is too runny, increase the amount of cream cheese.
  • You can have the matcha latte hot or cold
  • If making your matcha latte warm, I recommend whipping the cheese cream on the stiffer side, so it doesn’t melt as soon as you pour it.
  • Feel free to switch the sugar for your sweetener of choice (I usually use xylitol or erythritol for this recipe).

Nutrition

Calories: 170kcal
Course: Dessert, Drinks
Cuisine: American, Japanese
Servings: 1 Cup
Calories: 170kcal

I hope you enjoy this gorgeous coffee-free latte!
If you are in the mood for other pretty milk tea recipes, I encourage you to take a look at some of these recipes:

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2 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I recently got some sakura latte powder online and was a bit disappointed by how little it actually tasted. However, the cream cheese really brings out the aroma of the cherry blossom and creates a delicious drink. I’m so glad I stumbled upon your blog and can’t wait to try out more of your recipes!

    1. Wow, that’s exactly why I made this recipe (I too find it difficult to appreciate sakura in most sakura latte recipes). So, I’m really glad you liked the recipe.
      Thank you for you kind comment, Stella!

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