Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha (Starbucks Copycat)

Take your taste buds on an international adventure with a tall glass of the much-anticipated Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha. Slated for release at Starbucks in January 2026, this copycat version is smooth, creamy, and indulgent—sweet pistachio-infused matcha topped with silky chocolate cold foam. A sprinkle of toasted phyllo shreds adds a crisp, buttery finish. Truly a feast for all the senses!

Yesterday, I debuted my Iced Dubai Chocolate Mocha recipe, so today it only feels right to share the second drink in the must-anticipated Starbucks winter menu release: Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha! This drink in two words? Swoon. Worthy. 😍

With creamy, sweet pistachio-infused matcha, silky-smooth chocolate cold foam, and buttery, toasted phyllo shreds to top, the hype surrounding these drinks is totally justified. I love the contrast of silky, creamy, and crisp textures. Nutty pistachio complements rich chocolate like a dream, and grassy matcha balances the sweetness, making this drink feel a bit lighter than its mocha counterpart.

Although baristas are already dreading its complicated prep, at-home assembly really is, honestly, surprisingly simple. Once you've made the pistachio and mocha sauces (they keep so well!), it takes less than 5 minutes to whisk the matcha, make the pistachio milk, and froth the cold foam. From there, simply assemble, sip, and enjoy as your taste buds transport you to a posh Dubai café.

Jump to:

• What Is an Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha?
• What Does it Taste Like?
• Why You'll Love Iced Dubai Chocolate Matchas
• Ingredients
• Substitutions
• How to Make an Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha
• Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments
• Serving Suggestions
• Recipe Success Tips
• FAQs
• Nutritional Info
• Other Matcha Recipes
• Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha (Starbucks Copycat)

What Is an Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha?

Iced Dubai Chocolate Matchas are among the much-anticipated Starbucks winter menu drinks slated to release on January 6, 2026. Inspired by Dubai's café culture and the increasingly popular Dubai chocolate bars (chocolate with a creamy pistachio filling), this copycat drink layers pistachio-infused matcha with creamy chocolate cold foam and a kataifi (toasted phyllo shreds) topping. The result is an earthy, creamy, nutty, and sweet drink that feels indulgent without being overly heavy.

What Does it Taste Like?

This isn’t your run-of-the-mill matcha! Each sip starts with silky, indulgent chocolate cold foam before it melts into the pistachio-matcha base. The sweet, nutty pistachio sauce softens the matcha beautifully, and once it’s poured over ice, the whole drink becomes creamy, balanced, and refreshingly frosty. The light yet rich chocolate topping plays so well with the matcha, giving the drink a dessert-like vibe without feeling heavy. Buttery toasted phyllo shreds finish out the drink—adding a final hit of texture and toastiness while making homage to phyllo's role in many traditional Middle Eastern desserts.

Why You'll Love Iced Dubai Chocolate Matchas

Let’s just say there’s a reason this drink is so highly anticipated! Here are a few reasons you’ll want to get in on the hype:

• Indulgent, Yet Balanced — Pistachio and mocha sauces add sweet richness, and the cold foam is lick-your-lips tasty, but the grassy matcha keeps the sweetness in check so it never feels over the top.
• DIY-Friendly — You only need a matcha whisk and a handheld frother to make this barista-style drink. It’s also super versatile, so you can easily adjust it to your taste and dietary preferences.
• Budget-Friendly — We all know how quickly that Starbies bill can add up! 😳 Save yourself the sticker shock by making these drinks at home.
• Balanced Energy — love sipping these chocolate matcha lattes when I need a pick-me-up but don’t want to feel wired. They’re energizing without the dreaded caffeine crash.
• Internationally-Inspired — Perfect for satisfying a bit of wanderlust—even if it’s just through your taste buds!
• Trendsetting — Get ahead of the Starbucks release with this well-researched copycat recipe. With high-quality ingredients, simple technique, and a bit of love, it’s worlds better than what you’ll find in stores.

Ingredients

Wondering what you need to make a Dubai matcha latte? Only a handful of ingredients stand between you and enjoying this beloved drink at home:

• Matcha Powder — For the smoothest flavor, use ceremonial grade matcha. Culinary grade also works; it just delivers slightly grassier notes.
• Hot Water — Used to dissolve the matcha before mixing it with the milk. Use hot, not boiling, water to prevent bitterness.
• Milk — Mixes with the pistachio sauce to create a smooth, creamy drink. Use your milk of choice; I often use 2%, but whole, low-fat, or non-dairy milk all work great.
• Pistachio Sauce — Adds sweet, nutty flavor. You only need 4 ingredients and 2 minutes to make it from scratch.
• Ice — Cools the Dubai matcha latte, keeping it frosty and refreshing.
• Heavy Cream — Whips with the mocha sauce and whole milk to create a light and airy yet rich cold foam. Use extra-cold heavy whipping cream for the best results—straight from the fridge is ideal.
• Whole Milk — Just one tablespoon lightens the cold foam while keeping it cool and creamy.
• Mocha Sauce — Adds rich chocolate notes to the cold foam. Homemade mocha sauce comes together with simple pantry staples and is one I almost always keep on hand.
• Kataifi — This toasted, shredded phyllo dough is an optional garnish that adds a buttery, crisp texture and gives a nod to baklava and other traditional Middle Eastern desserts. You can find kataifi in Middle Eastern markets, the grocery aisle of well-stocked grocery stores, and online.

Substitutions

Don't have every listed ingredient? No worries — this list of approved substitutions and swaps makes it accessible with other pantry staples and store-bought alternatives.

• Pistachio Sauce — Swap in pistachio syrup for a similarly nutty matcha. The flavor will be slightly less rich, but still delicious.
• Heavy Cream and Whole Milk — For a convenient 2-for-1 substitution, use 3 tablespoons of half-and-half in place of the heavy cream and whole milk.
• Mocha Sauce — High-quality chocolate syrup (made with cane sugar and natural cocoa) works well in place of homemade mocha sauce. The cold foam will be a bit less thick, but still tasty.
• Kataifi — If you can't find it, you can omit it or garnish with broken vermicelli or angel hair pasta, pan-toasted in a bit of butter. Chopped pistachios are also delicious!

How to Make an Iced Dubai Chocolate Matcha

Why hit up the drive-through when at-home prep is simple, quick, and budget-friendly?! Make the pistachio and mocha sauce, and you'll be set all week. Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Make chocolate cold foam. Add the heavy cream, whole milk, and mocha sauce to a small glass or mason jar. Froth with a milk frother for 20-30 seconds or until foamy. Set aside.

Step 2: Make matcha. Sift the matcha powder through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any lumps. Whisk the sifted matcha into the hot water until smooth and well combined. Set aside.

Step 3: Make pistachio milk. Add ice to a tall glass. Stir the milk and pistachio sauce until smooth and pour over the ice.

Step 4: Assemble. Add the matcha to the milk and stir until combined. Top with the chocolate cold foam and toasted kataifi if desired. Drink up!

Optional Variations & Dietary Adjustments

• Dairy-Free & Vegan — Use cold coconut milk instead of cream and milk for the cold foam, swap pistachio syrup for the sauce, and add the matcha to your favorite non-dairy milk, such as oat, almond, and coconut.
• Decaffeinated — Swap decaffeinated matcha for traditional matcha for a low-caffeine drink. The mocha sauce will add a small amount of caffeine, but the overall effect will be much milder.
• Dark Chocolate — For a deeper chocolate flavor that pairs beautifully with the nutty pistachio, make the mocha sauce with dark cocoa powder.
• Dirty — Whisk a shot (or two!) of fresh-pulled espresso into the matcha for an extra boost and bolder flavor.
• Reduced Sugar — Lighten up the latte and prevent a sugar crash by making the pistachio sauce with sugar-free sweetened condensed milk and the mocha sauce with monkfruit sweetener.
• Pistachio Garnish — A sprinkle of crunchy pistachios adds delightful extra texture and nutty flavor.
• Cardamom — Whisk up to ½ teaspoon of ground cardamom into the matcha for a warm, fragrant finish.
• Rose Water — Explore more classic aromatic Middle Eastern aromatics by stirring up to ¼ teaspoon into the pistachio milk before assembling the drink. Rose can be strong, so start small and adjust to taste.
• Tahini — Another nutty Middle Eastern staple! Replace one of the tablespoons of pistachio sauce with drippy tahini for lightly bitter, earthy undertones that beautifully complement the chocolate and pistachio.

Serving Suggestions

• Slow Morning Sipper — Banish bleary eyes by enjoying this Starbucks Dubai matcha with yogurt and berries, avocado toast, or High-Protein Banana Muffins for a nutritious and energizing start to the day.
• Afternoon Boost — Sip it as a refreshing mid-afternoon lift so you have steady energy for the evening ahead.
• Café-Worthy Pairings — Create a full Starbucks-at-home moment by enjoying the Dubai Starbucks copycat alongside Cranberry Bliss Bars, Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins, or Vanilla Bean Scones.
• Entertaining Extraordinaire — What's brunch without a fun specialty drink? Mix the matcha with the pistachio milk ahead of time, then set it out with the chocolate cold foam and a selection of toppings (pistachios, kataifi, or even dried coconut) so guests can customize their drinks.
• Evening Unwind — Make it with decaf matcha for a gentler sip that helps you unwind at the end of the day.

Recipe Success Tips

• Make perfect cold foam. Use straight-from-the-fridge cold cream and milk for light, airy, and rich cold foam. Froth it until thick but pourable—overwhipping can make it thick and stiff.
• Don't boil the water for the matcha. Boiling water can ruin the matcha's flavor, making it bitter instead of smooth and sweet. Use water that is hot, but not boiling, or about 160-175°F.
• Whisk the matcha until frothy. Don't just mix the matcha; whisk it well with a matcha whisk until smooth and frothy.
• Adjust the sweetness to taste. Matcha brands vary in flavor, so feel free to adjust the mocha or pistachio sauce to suit your preferences.
• Layer carefully. For a beautiful, café-style presentation, pour the matcha mixture over ice first, then spoon the cold foam on top.

FAQs

Nutritional Info

Like many specialty drinks, this Starbucks matcha latte copycat recipe lands squarely in the indulgent-dessert category rather than the everyday-drink camp. Coming in at 415 calories with 20 grams of fat, 15 grams of protein, 45 grams of carbohydrates, and 39 grams of sugar, it’s fairly rich but still decently balanced for satiety.

Fifteen grams of protein is impressive for a drink and supports muscle maintenance and fullness, but it’s outweighed by the 39 grams of sugar and 20 grams of fat. Typical recommendations for added sugar range from 25 to 36 grams per day, and much of the fat here is saturated—making this best enjoyed as an occasional part of a healthy lifestyle. Occasional indulgence, after all, is essential for sustainability.

If you’d like to lighten up this drink, there are plenty of ways to do so. Reduce the sugar by making the pistachio sauce with sugar-free sweetened condensed milk and the mocha sauce with monkfruit sweetener. Lower the calories by using half-and-half and low-fat or skim milk. You can also boost the protein content by using filtered milk or stirring collagen powder into the pistachio milk.

Total nutritional content per serving is:

• Calories: 415 calories
• Total Fat: 20 grams
• Protein: 15 grams
• Sodium: 165 mg
• Carbohydrates: 45 grams
• Sugar: 39 grams

*This nutritional information is an estimate and calculated based on the ingredients used to create the recipe. The nutritional value of your ingredients may differ slightly. Furthermore, this food is not intended to prevent, diagnose, cure, or treat any disease.

Other Matcha Recipes

xoxo Megan