Need a simple energizing drink to give your mornings a boost of energy and give the coffee a rest? Let me show you how to make this delicious & vegan Matcha Coconut Dalgona Latte, with simple ingredients and in less than 10 minutes!
What is a dalgona?
The Dalgona coffee is huge in South Korea, and went viral worldwide last year because of TikTok. It’s a rich and fluffy foam made with coffee, water, and sugar which is then added to any milk of choice, making it super creamy and delicious. Making a Dalgona is surprising because, although most people think it’s instant coffee it is made of 100% pure coffee, it actually has an added gum that, when whipped, makes the coffee turn into a beautifully smooth and rich foam.
I’ve decided to create a matcha alternative for all the non-coffee lovers, or for those of you who want to give coffee a break. This beverage is a nice option if you still want your daily dose of caffeine. It has slightly less caffeine than coffee but just enough to keep you energized throughout the day. Since the fluffy foam from Dalgona happens because of the coffee thickener, it is not as easy to make a Matcha Dalgona. For that reason, many of the non-vegan versions contain egg whites to give it a creamy consistency. For a vegan version, we’ll need ingredients that, when whipped, form a “cloudy foam” such as coconut cream and aquafaba – the liquid you find in a can of chickpeas. As I’m not very fond of the aquafaba taste (even though it is a very good option), I’m going to use coconut cream.
Can I make my fluffy matcha sugar-free?
Absolutely! Although the same cannot be said of coffee Dalgona! Coconut cream is denser than the mixture we use for coffee Dalgona, which makes it possible to switch the sugar for sweeteners, or even cut it out of the recipe. When it comes to coffee Dalgona, the sugar acts, not only as a sweetener but also as a foam thickener. So if you happen to be making Coffee Dalgona I’d recommend you to keep the sugar or, if made sugar-free, serve it straight away.
Can I have my Dalgona Matcha warm?
Of course! You only have to warm the plant-based milk in the microwave or on the stovetop. The coconut cream shouldn’t be warmed, neither before nor after being whipped, because it “melts” and won’t stay as creamy as it should.
How to store Dalgona Matcha?
You can absolutely make a bigger batch and store your Matcha Dalgona for later. Just make sure you put it in an air-tight container on the fridge for up to 2 or 3 days. When you’re ready to drink it, simply add it to your favorite plant-based drink.
Coconut Matcha Dalgona Latte
Ingredients
- ¼ cup coconut cream the solid part of a refrigerated coconut milk can
- 2 tsp powdered sugar or sweetener
- 1 tsp matcha powder good quality
- 1 ½ cup plant-based milk unsweetened
Instructions
- Add the coconut cream into a bowl and mix with a hand mixer and stand mixer for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the sweetener and matcha and mix for more 3 to 4 minutes.
- Place some ice cubes in two glasses and divide the plant-based milk into the glasses.
- Top the milk with the fluffy matcha and sprinkle with some matcha powder on top.
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