This pretty pink latte uses green tea, floral-infused simple syrup and frothed beet root oat milk to give you an afternoon pick-me-up without the up-all-night caffeine buzz.
I aged into the can’t-touch-coffee-after-noon club so I’ve been looking for the perfect low-caffeine latte to fill my cup. Green tea is my favorite coffee replacement, thanks to its smooth, jitter-free boost of energy that doesn’t mess with my sleep.
But plain tea doesn’t always scratch the itch like coffee does. It just doesn’t feel heavy enough, if you know what I mean.
Then one day I noticed my favorite local tea shop had quite a few green tea lattes on the menu. Instead of using matcha, they mixed strongly-brewed sencha green tea mixed with oat milk and herbs to create the perfect low-buzz elixir.
And that’s how this Venus Latte was born.
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What Is a Venus Latte?
A Venus latte is typically a beautiful pink or reddish drink that’s crafted to enhance beauty and feminine energy and promote a calming,soothing effect. It’s packed with adaptogens,herbs,and spices that are thought to nourish both body and soul.
We’re varying it up with green tea to add a caffeine boost. We’ve sweetened the recipe with a floral-infused simple syrup made with dried rose petals and lemongrass and topped it off with frothed beet root oat milk for a sweet and spicy finish.
Ingredients
Green Tea —When using a water-based tea as the base,you have to be careful not to drown out all the flavor. That’s why we went with NOW Organic Green Kick Teafor this latte. It’s a blend of flavorful sencha,matcha,and green tea extract,so you get that punchy green tea taste without the up-all-night buzz of coffee.
And because it’s steeped in water,you can control the amount of caffeine in your cup by simply adjusting the steep time.
Floral-Infused Simple Syrup — Made with unrefined Sucanat cane sugar that’s infused with rose petals and lemongrass to give the simple syrup a rich,floral sweetness.
Frothed Beet Root+Oat Milk — Acreamy,naturally sweet base with a dreamy pink color.
This latte is incredibly versatile! If you’re feeling creative,you can add extra superfoods like collagen powder or adaptogens for an extra beauty boost.
How to Make a Green Tea Pink Latte
Step 1:Make the Simple Syrup
Combine NOW Real Food Organic Sucanatand water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat,stirring occasionally to ensure the sugar dissolves evenly.
Once it reaches a boil,reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for several minutes. Continue stirring until the sugar is fully dissolved,creating a smooth syrup.
After the sugar has dissolved,remove the saucepan from the heat. Stir in dried food-grade rose petals and chopped lemongrass. Rose petals add a delicate floral flavor and lemongrass provides a subtle citrusy brightness.
Cover the pan and let the mixture steep for 30 minutes. This resting time ensures the floral and citrus notes are fully infused into the syrup.
Once the mixture has cooled,strain it through a fine mesh strainer to remove the petals and lemongrass. Store any leftover syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Step 2:Brew the Tea
Heat the remaining water until it’s just shy of boiling—around 175°F to 185°F—since green tea is best steeped at a slightly lower temperature to avoid bitterness.
Pour the hot water over one green tea bag in a heat-safe mug or container. Let the tea steep for 3 to 6 minutes,depending on how strong you prefer the flavor and the amount of caffeine you can tolerate.
- Control the caffeine.The longer you steep the tea,the more caffeine you’ll end up with. If you’re especially sensitive to caffeine,experiment with shorter steep times until you strike a good balance between flavor and caffeine content.
Steeping for less time will yield a lighter,more delicate tea,while allowing it to steep longer brings out a deeper,more robust taste.
Once the tea has reached your desired strength,remove the tea bag,and pour the tea into a mug.
- Infuse different flavors.If you’d like to skip the sweetener,you can also steep flavoring ingredients like spices or herbs such as cinnamon,cardamom,or vanilla with the tea for a subtle infusion.
Step 3:Froth the Beet Root Oat Milk
Combine NOW Sports Beet Rootpowder and oat milk in a small pitcher or frothing container. Beet root powder adds a vibrant pink color and a hint of natural sweetness,while also being rich in phytonutrients.
- Milk choice matters.Experiment with different types of milk (oat,almond,coconut,or dairy) based on the flavor you want. Oat or coconut milks will give you a richer,smoother latte. Meanwhile,lighter options like almond milk keep it delicate.
Use a milk frother,handheld whisk,or steam wand to froth the mixture until it becomes light and fluffy. The goal is to create a thick,airy foam with small bubbles,giving the oat milk a velvety consistency.
If you’re using a steam wand,tilt the container slightly to allow the frother to incorporate air more efficiently.
- Perfect your frothing technique.Froth the milk for a velvety texture using a hand-held milk frother or by shaking it in a jar after heating. Oat and coconut milks labeled “barista blend” contain added fats that help make sure they froth particularly well.
Step 4:Assemble Your Latte
Sweeten the latte to your liking with the rose-infused simple syrup. Then carefully pour the beet root-infused oat milk over your brewed tea.
Beet root not only adds a subtle earthy sweetness but also imparts a stunning pink hue to your latte. Sprinkle a few dried rose petals on top for a lovely finish.
- Experiment with toppings.Finish your tea latte with a sprinkle of beet root,cinnamon,or even edible flowers to add a flavorful touch.
📖 Recipe
Venus Green Tea Latte
This vibrant latte uses green tea,floral-infused simple syrup and frothed beet root oat milk to give you a soothing latte experience without the up-all-night caffeine buzz.
Servings:1
Cost:$5
Equipment
Small saucepan
Measuring cup
Milk frother
Instructions
Make simple syrup
Combine sugar and 4 ounces water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil,then turn to low and let simmer until sugar is dissolved. Stir well.
Remove from heat and stir in the rose petals and lemongrass. Steep for 30 minutes.
Strain and set simple syrup aside. After assembling your latte,store leftover simple syrup in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Make frothed beet root oat milk
Assemble the latte
Pour tea into a mug. Add 1-2 teaspoons simple syrup and stir well. Pour frothed oat milk slowly over the tea.
Garnish with rose petals,if desired.
Notes
If you’d prefer to use matcha,warm 1 cup of oat milk in a saucepan over low heat. Stir in 1 teaspoon matcha powder and beet root powder then froth and pour into a mug.
