OlowaluMatcha latte three ways: hot, iced or blended
Matcha is on our board every day, and you can have it three ways: a hot Matcha Latte, an Iced Matcha Latte, or a Blended Matcha Latte. Same green tea, three very different drinks.
One of our Google reviewers put matchas on the list of what people stop for, right next to the coffee and the smoothies. So here is what matcha actually is, how the three versions differ, and how to order yours at the trailer in Olowalu.
What matcha is
Matcha is a finely ground powder of green tea. The leaves are grown in the shade before they are picked, and the shade is what gives matcha its bright green color and its strong, savory umami taste.
Most tea is steeped and the leaves are thrown away. With matcha the powder goes into the drink itself, so you drink the whole leaf. That is why a matcha drink looks green all the way through instead of clear.
The traditional way to drink it is whisked into hot water. A matcha latte adds milk, which softens the grassy edge and makes it smooth and creamy. That is the drink most people mean when they ask for matcha at a coffee window.
1. Hot Matcha Latte
The classic. Matcha and steamed milk, made to order at the window. It comes in 12, 16 and 20 oz.
Hot is the version where you taste the matcha the most. If you are new to matcha and want to know what the fuss is about, start here.
Our board lists nine milk choices: 2%, whole, breve, oat, almond, soy, coconut, heavy whipping cream and macadamia nut. Ask at the window which one suits your matcha best.
2. Iced Matcha Latte
Matcha and milk over ice. It comes in 16, 20 and 24 oz, and it is the easy pick for a warm afternoon on the west side.
Iced is lighter and more refreshing than hot, and the biggest size lasts a long drive. Give it a swirl before your first sip, because the green matcha and the white milk sit in streaks in the cup, as in the photo below.
3. Blended Matcha Latte
This is the treat. Matcha powder, your choice of flavor, liquid ice cream and ice, blended together. It comes in 20 and 24 oz.
The liquid ice cream makes it thick and sweet, closer to a milkshake than a latte. The flavor you pick changes the whole drink, so ask at the window which flavors are on the board that day.
If you are not sure you like matcha yet, the blended one is the friendliest way in. If you already love matcha and want to taste the tea, go hot or iced instead.
Which one should you order?
- You want to taste the matcha: the hot Matcha Latte.
- You want something cold for the drive: the Iced Matcha Latte.
- You want dessert in a cup: the Blended Matcha Latte.
Not a matcha person? The same section of our menu also carries a chai tea latte and plain tea, hot or iced.
How to order matcha at Olowalu Coffee Co
Pull up to either window and order at the board. We are a drive-thru coffee trailer on the Honoapiilani Highway at Olowalu, and you can turn in from either side of the road.
In a hurry? Order ahead online through our Square shop and skip the wait at the board. Every size of all three matcha lattes is on it.
Prices change, so we keep them in one place: the menu page has every size and price, read from our online menu.
Matcha questions
Is matcha the same as green tea?
It is a kind of green tea. The difference is that the leaves are grown in the shade and ground to a fine powder, and you drink the powder instead of steeping and removing the leaves.
What sizes does the matcha latte come in?
Hot comes in 12, 16 and 20 oz. Iced comes in 16, 20 and 24 oz. Blended comes in 20 and 24 oz.
Can I get my matcha latte with oat or almond milk?
The board lists oat, almond, soy, coconut and macadamia nut alongside the dairy choices. Ask at the window when you order.
Where can I get matcha on Maui's west side?
At our trailer in Olowalu, from either window. See drive-thru coffee at Olowalu, or coffee on the way to Kahului Airport if you are heading out.
Curious about our other house favorite? Read what a dirty soda is.
Source for what matcha is: Wikipedia.
Find us
- Address
- 950 Luawai St
Lahaina, HI 96761 - Hours
- Monday to Friday 6am to 5pm
Saturday and Sunday 6am to 2pm