Homemade Green Tea Frappe Recipe

A quick note: I originally published this post as a guest post for GHTR.

One of my favorite frozen drinks is the green tea frappe. I can't exactly explain why - it has a very unique flavor. There is a slight bitterness from green tea, but in this drink, it's complimented by the sweetness of milk and cream. Blended with ice, this drink is a cool treat for warm weather.

I was interested in making this drink after having them at Starbucks. In coffee houses, green tea frappes are almost always made with matcha green tea - a powdered form of green tea leaves. My recipe does not use matcha powder; rather, a more traditional method for blending lattes into frappes. Because of this, this recipe will not produce the signature green color of matcha powder - the frozen drink will be tea-colored.

ingredients
brewed green tea
3 additional green tea bags
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup crushed ice cubes
1/2 cup milk*

optional whipped cream topping
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons sugar

* milk can be switched for any other milk substitute, such as soy or rice milk.

directions

Start with the green tea-infused simple syrup. Heat sugar and water in small sauce pan, stirring often. Bring to a boil, and add vanilla. Let boil for about 30 seconds, and remove from heat. Immediately drop in 3 green tea bags, and let tea bags steep in syrup until syrup as cooled completely; remove tea bags.

Next, brew a cup of green tea - I made mine extra-strength, with two tea bags. Let tea cool completely.

Crush ice in a blender until it is fine enough to be consumed with a straw. Fill a cup with crushed ice. Pour in 1/2 cup green tea, 1/2 cup milk, and 1/4 cup of green tea syrup; stir. Experiment and adjust with more or less tea, milk, or syrup to get the flavor that you enjoy.

Directions for whipped cream

Combine whipping cream and sugar in a bowl; beat with a hand-mixer on high for 3 minutes or until cream is thick and fluffy. Spoon onto top of green tea frappe.