A Blue Matcha Inspired by the Tropics

Happy spring! Since we all have sunshine on the mind right now, I'm beyond excited to introduce you to the matcha recipe I've been smitten with for the past year. This blue-hued coconut matcha is fun, refreshing, and perfect for spring and summer. The color makes me think of a tropical ocean!

Although it looks fancy, this blue matcha is surprisingly easy to make. It consists of a coconut water matcha layer floated on top of a blue coconut milk layer, served over ice. You can either keep it simple or dress it up with coconut whip and/or your favorite tropical garnishes. Because of its versatility, you can enjoy this coconut matcha both for everyday sipping and for special occasions like brunch parties.

Ready to dive into this exotic ocean? Keep reading to get all my tips for how to make this tropical matcha and how to create these beautiful layers.

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How to Make a Blue Matcha (Naturally)

Although food coloring is often used to make drinks blue, I vote that we ditch the fake stuff and instead use colorful superfoods to make our drinks feel special. I've spent a lot of time experimenting with natural blue drinks (both cocktails and otherwise) and I'm excited to share my secret with you. Can you guess how this stunning blue matcha is colored?

To make a blue drink naturally, I use blue spirulina! It's an edible algae, and a relative of the more common green spirulina. I find it works best if I dissolve the spirulina in a dash of room-temperature water first, then mix it into the rest of the drink after dissolving. As an added benefit, blue spirulina is very nutritious and is a great source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

For this tropical matcha in particular, you'll dissolve the blue spirulina and then mix it into some coconut milk with an optional dash of maple syrup; that forms the bottom layer of this drink. After that, you'll make the matcha shot and add it to some coconut water, which forms the top layer. For the matcha, I absolutely adore Matcha Nude; use the code ROGUE to get 15% off your order. Thanks to the combination of blue spirulina, antioxidant-rich matcha, and electrolyte-rich coconut water, this summery sip is a nutritional powerhouse.

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Tropical Matcha Variations

There are a lot of ways you can switch up this island-inspired coconut matcha to make it work for you. Although using coconut milk provides the most tropical flavor, you can also use soy, chickpea, or oat milk (soy and chickpea are the most protein-rich options). Note that almond milk won't work as well since it's less dense, which will cause the two layers to mix more. You can sweeten the milk slightly with a dash of maple syrup or omit it for a drink that's free of added sugar.

For the top layer, I absolutely love to make my matcha with coconut water; it creates a delightful flavor and is a great source of electrolytes. However it will work fine with regular water too. In that case, I definitely suggest using coconut milk for the bottom layer so there is at least some coconut flavor.

Finally, feel free to dress this ocean-hued coconut matcha up as much or as little as you like. I've shown coconut whip in some of these photos but you could also use almond whip, oat whip, a colorful foam, edible flowers, a pineapple slice, or anything else that makes you feel tropical.

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Ingredients and Substitutions

Here's what you'll need for this tropical matcha recipe, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.

• Blue spirulina. This is an edible blue algae that you can find at specialty stores or online. Feel free to use as much as you like to create your preferred color.
• Coconut milk. Make sure to use the coconut milk beverage rather than the higher-fat coconut milk in a can. This recipe will also work well with soy milk, oat milk, or chickpea milk. Almond milk will not work as well since it's less dense, so the layers will be less distinct.
• Maple syrup. Optional; omit this if you want to avoid added sugar.
• Matcha. My absolute favorite matcha is from Matcha Nude; use the code ROGUE to get 15% off your order.
• Coconut water. You can also just use regular water, but the coconut water gives this drink such a lovely flavor.
• Coconut whip. Optional for topping the drink. There are some good store-bought coconut whip options available now, or you can make your own by whipping chilled coconut cream.

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Closing Thoughts

This blue matcha is eye-catching, fun, AND nutritious, so there's no reason not to enjoy it every day all spring and summer long. The combination of blue spirulina and matcha means this drink is packed with antioxidants, the spirulina adds some nourishing vitamins and minerals, and the coconut water adds great electrolytes. Depending on what plant milk you use, this tropical matcha can also be a good source of protein.

How will you enjoy this whimsical coconut matcha? Perhaps outdoors, sitting by a pool, and lounging in the sun? Perhaps for a fancy spring brunch party? However you savor it, I can't wait for you to try this recipe; I've made it probably a hundred times and it's my absolute favorite way of taking my matcha ritual to a whole new level.

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Share It!

It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.

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Suggested Pairings

Golden Granola

Healthy Vegan Banana Bread (High Protein and Gluten-Free)

Tropical Fruity Brunch Salad

‍Vegan Morning Glory Blender Muffins

‍Vegan Mocha Banana Blender Muffins

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Disclosure: Matcha Nude is a long-term partner. I receive free product from Matcha Nude and take a small commission on sales using the discount code. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Rogue Brussel Sprout running.