This Iced Orange Cream Matcha is the latest addition to Starbucks' summer 2026 orange cream lineup — and honestly, it might be the most stunning one yet. We're talking vibrant green matcha topped with a sweet, silky orange cold foam that creates the most gorgeous color contrast you've ever seen in a cup.
Save This Recipe to Your Email!
We'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
If you've already fallen in love with my Iced Orange Cream Chai or my Orange Cream Cold Brew, this is the matcha lover's version of that same dreamy orange cream trend. Same gorgeous orange cold foam, completely different vibe — subtly earthy, refreshing, and absolutely beautiful.
The orange syrup is made using the exact same method as my Blood Orange Syrup — just swap the blood oranges for regular oranges and you've got the perfect homemade orange syrup in minutes. It's what makes this drink taste so much better than the Starbucks version!
Ready in just 5 minutes with a milk frother and a matcha whisk, this Iced Orange Cream Matcha is about to become your new summer obsession. Let's make it!
Jump to:
- What Does the Iced Orange Cream Matcha Taste Like?
- Why You'll Love This Starbucks Orange Cream Matcha
- Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions
- How to Make Iced Orange Cream Matcha
- Optional Variations
- How Does This Compare to the Other Orange Cream Drinks?
- Tips for the Best Iced Orange Cream Matcha
- FAQs
- Nutritional Info
- Other Matcha Recipes
- Iced Orange Cream Matcha (Starbucks Copycat)
What Does the Iced Orange Cream Matcha Taste Like?
This drink tastes like two bold flavors that have absolutely no business tasting this good together — subtly earthy matcha and bright, sweet orange cream.
The matcha base is smooth and vibrant, while the orange cold foam adds a light, citrusy sweetness that perfectly balances the earthiness of the matcha. This orange matcha latte is unlike anything else in the Starbucks lineup!
The orange cold foam slowly melts into the matcha as you sip, giving you a creamy, citrusy swirl in every sip. It's refreshing, bright, and just indulgent enough to feel like a treat — and that green-on-orange color situation? Absolutely gorgeous.
Why You'll Love This Starbucks Orange Cream Matcha
- Ready in 5 minutes — Faster than any drive-through line, and so much more fun to make at home.
- Cheaper than Starbucks — This homemade version gives you the same gorgeous drink at a fraction of the Starbucks price!
- The color contrast is absolutely stunning — Vibrant green matcha topped with bright orange cold foam — this drink is almost too pretty to drink. Almost!
- Totally customizable — Adjust the sweetness, skip the food coloring, make it dairy-free — this recipe works however you want it to!
- A new Starbucks summer drink you can make any time — This Starbucks summer 2026 drink is yours to enjoy year-round when you make it at home!
Ingredients Needed
This Iced Orange Cream Matcha comes together with a handful of simple ingredients — here's what you'll need!
- Pure matcha powder — The vibrant, subtly earthy base of this drink. Always sift it before whisking to avoid clumps — ceremonial grade gives you the best flavor and most vivid green color!
- Milk of choice — Any milk works beautifully here. The recipe uses 2%, but oat milk or coconut milk both work great too.
- Orange syrup — The key to that bright, sweet orange flavor in both the matcha base and the cold foam! Make it at home using the exact same method as my Blood Orange Syrup — just swap blood oranges for regular oranges.
- Heavy cream and whole milk — Together they give the orange cold foam its rich, silky, pourable texture.
- Orange food coloring — Totally optional, but one or two drops gives the cold foam that gorgeous, vibrant orange color that makes this drink look absolutely stunning against the green matcha.
Substitutions
- No homemade orange syrup? This store-bought orange syrup is a great alternative that works perfectly in this recipe!
- No food coloring? No problem — leave it out entirely. The drink tastes exactly the same without it, it just won't have that vibrant orange hue on top.
- Dairy-Free: Swap the heavy cream and whole milk in the cold foam for full-fat coconut cream and oat milk. It'll still be creamy and delicious!
- No matcha whisk? A milk frother works great in a pinch! Froth the matcha and hot water together until smooth and slightly foamy.
- Prefer it less citrusy? Swap the orange syrup in the matcha base for vanilla syrup instead. You'll still get all that gorgeous orange cold foam flavor on top with a more neutral matcha base underneath.
How to Make Iced Orange Cream Matcha
Four easy steps and you're done — and the hardest part is not drinking the orange cold foam straight from the jar!
- Step 1 — Make the orange cold foam first. Combine the heavy cream, orange syrup, whole milk, and food coloring (if using) in a small glass or jar. Froth with a milk frother for 20-30 seconds until foamy and well combined. Set it aside.
- Step 2 — Make the matcha. Add the water to a small microwave-safe jar or glass and heat until boiling — about 30-45 seconds. Sift the matcha powder into the hot water to remove any clumps, then whisk together until smooth and slightly foamy. Set aside.
- Step 3 — Build the drink. Add ice to a tall glass, then pour in the milk and orange syrup. Stir to combine, then add the matcha and stir again.
- Step 4 — Spoon the orange cold foam over the top of the matcha and drink up!
Optional Variations
Want to mix things up? Here are a few fun ways to put your own spin on this drink!
- Hot Orange Cream Matcha — Skip the ice and warm the milk on the stovetop for a cozy, hot version of this drink — perfect for cooler mornings.
- Orange Cream Matcha Frappuccino — Blend the matcha base with ice for a frozen, frappuccino-style treat. So good on a hot day!
- Blood Orange Cream Matcha — Use actual blood orange syrup in place of regular orange syrup for a deeper, more complex citrus flavor. Check out my Blood Orange Syrup recipe to make it at home!
- Extra Citrusy — Add a squeeze of fresh orange juice to the matcha base for an even more intense, bright orange flavor.
How Does This Compare to the Other Orange Cream Drinks?
If you've been following along with Starbucks' summer 2026 orange cream lineup, you'll already know that the orange cold foam is the star across most of the drinks. The difference is entirely in the base — and each one has its own personality.
My Orange Cream Cold Brew uses bold cold brew coffee for the most coffee-forward, energizing version. My Iced Orange Cream Chai uses warm, spiced chai concentrate for the coziest, most complex take. And this Iced Orange Cream Matcha uses a vibrant matcha base for the most refreshing, visually stunning version of the three.
Tips for the Best Iced Orange Cream Matcha
- Always sift your matcha. This is non-negotiable! Matcha clumps easily, and sifting before whisking gives you a perfectly smooth, lump-free concentrate every single time.
- Use ceremonial grade matcha. The higher quality the matcha, the smoother, more vibrant, and more beautiful your drink will be. It's worth the upgrade!
- Make the cold foam right before serving. The orange cold foam is most vibrant and beautiful right after frothing. Don't let it sit too long before pouring!
- Add the food coloring for that stunning contrast. It's optional, but one or two drops of orange food coloring against the bright green matcha creates the most gorgeous color combination. Worth it for the photos alone!
FAQs
The Iced Orange Cream Matcha is a new Starbucks summer 2026 drink featuring an iced matcha latte base topped with a sweet, creamy orange cold foam. It's part of Starbucks' orange cream lineup alongside the Orange Cream Cold Brew and Iced Orange Cream Chai. This homemade copycat nails the flavor perfectly and is ready in just 5 minutes!
Absolutely! The homemade orange syrup keeps in the fridge for up to 2 weeks in an airtight jar or bottle. Make a big batch at the start of the week and you'll have gorgeous orange cream matchas ready in minutes every day!
Yes! A milk frother works great as a substitute. Just froth the sifted matcha and hot water together until smooth and slightly foamy — it gets the job done beautifully!
Nutritional Info
Each serving of this Iced Orange Cream Matcha comes in at 414 calories, with 58g of carbs, 53g of sugar, 16g of fat, and 12g of protein. It's a treat — but it's made with real matcha, real cream, and real orange syrup, so you're getting some serious nutritional benefits alongside all that deliciousness!
If you're looking to lighten it up, try reducing the orange syrup by half. You'll still get that gorgeous citrusy flavor with a bit less sugar.
Total nutritional content per serving is:
- Calories: 414 calories
- Total Fat: 16 grams
- Protein: 12 grams
- Sodium: 109 mg
- Carbohydrates: 58 grams
- Sugar: 53 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
Iced Orange Cream Matcha (Starbucks Copycat)
Equipment
Ingredients
Orange Cold Foam:
- 2 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1 ½ tablespoon orange syrup
- 1 tablespoon whole milk
- 1-2 drops orange food coloring (optional for color)
Iced Orange Cream Matcha:
- 3 tablespoon hot water
- 1 ½ teaspoon pure matcha powder sifted
- 1 cup milk of choice (I used 2%)
- 2 tablespoon orange syrup (or vanilla syrup)
- ice
Instructions
- Make the cold foam. Add the heavy cream, 1 ½ tablespoon orange syrup, whole milk, and orange food coloring (if using) to a small glass or jar and froth with a milk frother for 20-30 seconds until foamy and well combined. Set aside.
- Add the water to a small microwave-safe jar or glass, and heat until boiling (30-45 seconds in the microwave). Sift the matcha into the hot water, removing any large clumps. Whisk the matcha and water together until smooth and slightly foamy. Set aside.
- Add ice to a tall glass, then top with the milk and 2 tablespoon orange syrup. Stir to combine. Add the matcha and stir again.
- Top the matcha with your orange cold foam. Drink up!
Nutrition
xoxo Megan
Leave a Reply