Taste-Off: Comparing 11 matcha lattes sold in cans or bottles

As New Year’s resolutions go, one of the top has to be to swallow more green stuff. Filling the plate with veggies is one option, but what if it’s possible to consume greens as a smooth, unctuous sip of sweet-umami deliciousness?

Matcha lattes are just that! Green, tasty and entirely New Year’s resolution-friendly. Aside from pleasing flavor, matcha is prized for its health benefits. It is packed with polyphenols, catechin, vitamins, minerals and fiber. These elements are credited with lowering blood pressure and bad cholesterol, fighting inflammation and improving insulin sensitivity. There is also some evidence that they have anti-cancer benefits.

For those who are convinced adding matcha to their drink lineup is a good thing, grabbing a matcha latte at a coffee shop is easy enough, but a host of interesting and delicious canned and bottled matcha lattes can also be found on the beverage aisle. Curious to know if these matcha lattes are worth tucking into the lunch bag, we rounded up a sampling of canned and bottled matcha lattes, some shelf-stable, others not.

Good matcha lattes start with high quality green tea leaves that are ground fine, creating a powder that is whisked into one or more types of milk, including macadamia, cashew, almond, coconut, oat and dairy. Most canned and bottled versions include a bit of sugar, and often incorporate various health-boosting ingredients such as pea protein, mushroom extracts and occasionally adaptogens or mood enhancers such as MCT, which is derived from coconut or palm kernel oil.

Great matcha lattes are delicious and refreshing. The very best are made with top quality matcha powder known as “ceremonial matcha.” Whisked into liquid at just the right temperature, the resulting drink has smooth, slightly vegetal, earthy flavor and a subtle, sweet aftertaste. The result is a velvety beverage that’s beyond delicious.

Sadly, many things can go wrong with a matcha latte. Poor quality powder, wrong temperatures, too much sugar and other ingredients can not only detract from the beautiful simplicity of matcha, but turn it so wonky that it’s hard to swallow.

Here are details on the best matcha lattes and the ones that are not fit to drink. Nutrition info refers to 8 ounces.

UCC Matcha Latte with Milk

Minimal sweetness and a beautiful hit of great quality matcha make for a smooth, luscious pour. Imported from Japan, this latte rivals those served at local coffee shops. 109 calories, 2 grams fat, 32 milligrams sodium, 1 gram fiber, 18 grams sugar, 2 grams protein. $2.49 for 8.79 ounces at 99 Ranch. (4 stars)

Ito-En Matcha Milk Tea

The earthy, sweet flavors in this creamy brew are in perfect balance, making this hard to resist. It’s refreshing and light, with a pleasant sweet note. 102 calories, 1 grams fat, 85 milligrams sodium, 20 grams sugar, no fiber, 2 grams protein. $2.49 for 11.8 ounces at Megamart. (4 stars)

Califia Farms Matcha Almond Latte

Those who like their lattes extra thick and creamy will appreciate this dark green, silky pour. It’s sweet due to the use of both sugar and stevia, but the matcha note shines. Cut the sugar, and it would rate higher. 53 calories, 3 grams fat, 147 milligrams sodium, 3 grams sugar, 1 gram fiber, 2 grams protein. $5.69 for 48 ounces at Target. (3 1/2 stars)

Narra Strawberry Matcha Oat Milk Latte

This matcha-forward mix with a kick of strawberry is as smooth and every bit as luscious as a smoothie. Thicker texture would be an improvement. 117 calories, 3 grams fat, 16 milligrams sodium, 9 grams sugar, 2 grams fiber, 1 gram protein. $3.50 for 7.5 ounces at Raley’s. (3 stars)

Pop & Bottle Matcha Green Tea Oat Milk Latte

Cocoa and vanilla notes combined with mild hits of matcha make for an unusual yet tasty drink. While it could do with a bit more matcha, the combination of mushroom extracts, vanilla and sugar is entirely enjoyable. 110 calories, 3.5 grams fat, 140 milligrams sodium, 8 grams sugar, 2 grams fiber, 1 gram protein. $3.49 for 8 ounces at Whole Foods. (3 stars)

Rebbl Organic Awake + Protein Lion’s Mane Matcha Latte

The velvety texture of this thick mix is a huge plus, but the flavors of the pea protein and mushroom dominate. A bit more matcha would be a big improvement. 147 calories, 7 grams fat, 153 milligrams sodium, 6 grams sugar, 1 gram fiber, 13 grams protein. $4 for 12 ounces at Sprouts. (2 1/2 stars)

Taika Matcha Latte + Adaptogens

This light, refreshing drink isn’t bad, but it tastes more like watery cocoa than matcha. The flavors come from lion’s mane mushroom, ashwagandha and other adaptogens that are believed to enhance everything from mental clarity to digestion. Note that this is sweetened with erythritol. 80 calories, 6 grams fat, 100 milligrams sodium, no sugar, 1 gram fiber, 2 grams protein. $3.59 for 8 ounces at Raley’s. (2 stars)

Tazo Green Tea Matcha Latte Concentrate

The smooth, floral matcha notes in this concentrate are a win, but it’s just far too sweet. Mixed with 2% milk, 8 ounces has 127 calories, 2 grams fat, 63 milligrams sodium, 21 grams sugar, 1 gram fiber, 4 grams protein. $5.49 for 32 ounces at Target. (2 stars)

Koia Matcha Latte Protein Shake

Not a fan of matcha? Try this. It’s gritty, but it’s packed with protein and has enough vanilla to almost mask the unpleasant flavor of the pea proteins. 127 calories, 5 grams fat, 160 milligrams sodium, 3 grams sugar, 5 grams fiber, 12 grams protein. $4.59 for 12 ounces at Whole Foods. (1 star)

Three Trees Organic Matcha Milk Tea

A clean flavor thanks to the combination of very lightly sweetened oat and almond milks make this drinkable, but it needs a lot more matcha powder. It’s basically just milk. 80 calories, 4 grams fat, 60 milligrams sodium, 4 grams sugar, 2 grams fiber, 2 grams protein. $4.99 for 10 ounces at Whole Foods. (1/2 star)

Urban Remedy Organic Vanilla Matcha Latte

This pricey latte made with cashew milk delivers a dash of vanilla, but it misses the flavor of matcha and has a plastic aftertaste. 110 calories, 7 grams fat, 130 milligrams sodium, 6 grams sugar, 1 gram fiber, 3 grams protein. $7.99 for 16 ounces at Whole Foods. (no stars)

Reviews are based on product samples purchased by this newspaper or provided by manufacturers. Contact Jolene Thym at timespickyeater@gmail.com. Read more Taste-off columns at mercurynews.com/tag/taste-off.