Strawberry Matcha Latte in Waikiki
The Pink-and-Green Drink Everyone Wants (2026 Guide)
What is a Strawberry Matcha Latte?
A strawberry matcha latte is a layered iced drink: sweet-tart strawberry purée sits on the bottom, cold milk fills the middle, and a vivid layer of green matcha is poured on top. The magic is in the contrast — bright, fruity strawberry against earthy, umami matcha — and in the look. That famous pink-and-green ombré is why it has become one of the most photographed drinks of 2026. Served over ice, it is refreshing, lightly sweet, and made for sipping on a warm Waikiki afternoon.
The Story of the Strawberry Matcha Latte
From Kyoto Tea Houses to Your Instagram Feed
Matcha — finely stone-ground green tea — has been part of Japanese tea ceremony for centuries, but its life as a café drink is much newer. Over the last two decades, the matcha latte spread from Tokyo and Kyoto to specialty cafés worldwide, turning a ceremonial powder into an everyday iced order. As more people fell in love with its grassy, umami flavor, cafés began experimenting with ways to soften matcha's bitterness and make it more approachable.
The strawberry matcha latte was born from that experimentation — and it exploded thanks to social media. The drink's naturally layered look, with a pink fruit base bleeding into a green matcha top, was tailor-made for TikTok and Instagram. A single photo tells the whole story, and the slow-motion pour clips went viral. What started as a niche café special quickly became one of the most-requested drinks of the year.
Beyond the aesthetics, strawberry and matcha simply work together. Strawberry brings a bright, sweet-tart juiciness; matcha brings a deep, slightly bitter, umami earthiness. One lifts the other — the fruit keeps the matcha from feeling heavy, and the matcha keeps the strawberry from feeling like candy. It is the same balance that makes salted caramel or chili-chocolate so satisfying: two opposites that complete each other.
It was only a matter of time before the trend reached Waikiki. With year-round sunshine, a beach-going crowd, and visitors from Japan, Korea, and across Asia who already know and love matcha, Honolulu is the perfect home for a photogenic iced strawberry matcha. Today you can order one just minutes from Waikiki Beach — pink, green, ice-cold, and ready for its close-up.
Strawberry Matcha vs Other Matcha Drinks
How Does the Pink-and-Green One Compare?
A strawberry matcha latte, a classic matcha latte, and a tropical fruit matcha all start with the same real green tea — but they look, taste, and photograph very differently. Here is how they stack up:
| Feature | Strawberry Matcha | Classic Matcha | Tropical (Mango/Guava) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flavor | Sweet-tart strawberry + earthy matcha | Pure earthy umami | Tropical sweet + earthy matcha |
| Look | Pink + green layered ombré | Solid vivid green | Fruit-colored + green |
| Sweetness | Medium, fruity | Low — matcha-forward | Medium-sweet, tropical |
| Photogenic | Extremely — the star of the menu | Clean and classic | Colorful and bright |
| Best For | Photos + a fruity-earthy combo | Matcha purists | Fruit lovers |
| Price | $10.95 | $8.95 | $8.95 |
The key difference is the layered strawberry base. It turns a single-note matcha latte into a sweet-tart-meets-earthy drink — and gives you that pink-and-green look no other matcha order can match.
Matcha Fruit Lattes to Try in Waikiki
Start With the Strawberry — Then Explore the Island Flavors
Strawberry Matcha
$10.95 · the star
The viral pink-and-green layered latte. Sweet-tart strawberry purée on the bottom, cold milk in the middle, and a bright cap of real ceremonial-style matcha on top. It is the most photogenic drink we make and the one people come in asking for by name. Served iced.
Mango Matcha
$8.95 · tropical
Golden Hawaiian-style mango meets earthy matcha for a sunset-colored layered latte. Sweeter and more tropical than the strawberry, with the same satisfying fruit-and-matcha balance. A favorite for anyone who loves island fruit.
Guava Matcha
$8.95 · island favorite
Guava is a true Hawaiian classic, and its floral-sweet flavor pairs beautifully with grassy matcha. The pink-coral fruit layer under bright green makes this one nearly as photogenic as the strawberry — and unmistakably local.
Lilikoi Matcha
$8.95 · passion fruit
Lilikoi (Hawaiian passion fruit) brings a tangy, tropical punch that cuts through matcha's richness. Bright, a little tart, and refreshing — this is the order for anyone who likes their fruit lattes on the zingy side.
Coconut / Banana Matcha
$8.95 · creamy
For a softer, creamier take, coconut or banana smooths matcha into a mellow, dessert-like latte. Less tart than the berry and citrus options, with a rich tropical finish that pairs perfectly with a mochi donut.
Why Get a Strawberry Matcha in Waikiki
The Most Photogenic Drink for the Beach
Few drinks photograph as well as a layered strawberry matcha against Waikiki's blue water and palm trees. The pink-and-green ombré pops in any light, and it is practically made for a beach-day photo. If you want one shot that says "Hawaii vacation," this is it.
Real Matcha, Real Strawberry
This is not a syrupy imitation. We use genuine ceremonial-style matcha and a real strawberry purée, so you get authentic grassy, umami green tea balanced against bright, juicy fruit — not just sugar and color. The flavor lives up to the photo.
The Layered Pink-Green Look
The drink arrives in its signature two-tone layers, so you get the full effect before you even stir it. Photograph it layered, then mix it together for the perfect sip. It is the rare order that is as fun to look at as it is to drink.
Pair It With a Mochi Donut — 5 Minutes From the Sand
A strawberry matcha is even better next to a strawberry or matcha mochi donut, and we are only about a 5-minute walk from Waikiki Beach on Kalākaua Avenue. Grab your drink, grab a donut, and you are back on the sand in minutes.
Where to Get a Strawberry Matcha in Waikiki
If you are craving that pink-and-green latte in Waikiki, Kona Coffee Donut? is your spot.
Kona Coffee Donut?
2142 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Right on Kalākaua Avenue in the heart of Waikiki, Kona Coffee Donut? makes our layered Strawberry Matcha ($10.95) plus eight more matcha and hojicha lattes — including mango, guava, lilikoi, coconut, banana, azuki, and classic matcha. We also pour 100% Kona coffee and serve fresh mochi donuts, and we are about a 5-minute walk from Waikiki Beach. Open daily, 7AM–9PM.
- Layered Strawberry Matcha ($10.95) — the pink-and-green star
- 8 more matcha & hojicha lattes to choose from
- 100% Kona coffee and fresh mochi donuts
- About 5 minutes from Waikiki Beach — open daily 7AM–9PM
How to Drink a Strawberry Matcha
Get the Photo, Then Get the Perfect Sip
Photo It Layered First
The drink arrives with its signature pink strawberry base and green matcha top still separated. That is the money shot — take your photo before you touch the straw, ideally with the ocean or a palm tree in the background.
Then Stir to Blend
Once you have the photo, give it a good stir. Mixing the strawberry purée up through the milk and matcha is what creates the balanced sweet-tart-meets-earthy flavor. Unmixed, you taste the layers one at a time; stirred, they come together.
Get It Iced
Strawberry matcha is meant to be iced. The cold keeps the fruit bright and the matcha crisp, and it is exactly what you want on a warm Waikiki afternoon. Sip it slowly so the layers stay distinct a little longer.
Pair It With a Strawberry Mochi Donut
Double down on the strawberry by ordering a strawberry mochi donut alongside — or a matcha one to echo the green. The chewy donut and the fruity-earthy latte make a perfect Waikiki treat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a strawberry matcha latte?
How much is the strawberry matcha in Waikiki?
Is strawberry matcha sweet?
Does strawberry matcha have caffeine?
Where can I get a strawberry matcha near Waikiki Beach?
Try the Strawberry Matcha in Waikiki
Visit Kona Coffee Donut? at 2142 Kalakaua Ave and order the pink-and-green Strawberry Matcha — then pair it with a fresh mochi donut, just minutes from the beach.