A refreshing blend of sweet strawberry, matcha, and creamy vanilla over ice for a cool summer delight.
# What You'll Need:
→ Strawberry Layer
01 - 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and chopped
02 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
03 - 2 tablespoons water
04 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
→ Matcha Layer
05 - 2 teaspoons matcha green tea powder
06 - 1/4 cup hot water, approximately 175°F
→ Vanilla Sweet Cream
07 - 1/2 cup whole milk or dairy-free alternative
08 - 1/4 cup heavy cream or coconut cream
09 - 1 tablespoon vanilla syrup or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract plus 1 tablespoon simple syrup
→ Assembly
10 - 1 cup ice cubes
11 - Fresh strawberries, sliced, for garnish
# Directions:
01 - Combine strawberries, sugar, water, and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring and mashing until strawberries break down and mixture becomes syrupy, approximately 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely, then blend or mash until smooth consistency is achieved. Reserve for assembly.
02 - Sift matcha powder into a bowl to remove lumps. Add hot water and whisk vigorously using a bamboo whisk or milk frother until mixture is smooth, fully dissolved, and develops a light frothy layer on top.
03 - Combine milk, cream, and vanilla syrup in a small pitcher. Whisk together until fully incorporated and well blended.
04 - Divide strawberry puree equally between two large glasses. Add ice cubes to each glass. Slowly pour vanilla sweet cream mixture over ice. Gently layer matcha over the cream to create distinct visual separation between layers.
05 - Top each glass with sliced fresh strawberries if desired. Stir thoroughly before consuming to blend layers.