Your Go-To Mindful Matcha Recipe
Once upon a time, I was an avid coffee drinker but it left me feeling jittery, anxious and exhausted. Turns out, I have a genetic variant that affects 50% of the population that makes me a slow metabolizer of caffeine. For years I just thought that was how you're supposed to feel after a cup of coffee but I finally came to terms with the fact that coffee and I just aren’t BFF’s most of the time.
I took the plunge and decided to cut back on coffee, initially convinced it wouldn’t make much of a difference. I ended up feeling so much better and I’ve now been coffee-free for years (who knows though, this may change in the future).
I still love a daily caffeine buzz so on most mornings I’ll make a matcha latte at home. There’s nothing worse than spending $7 on a (matcha) latte to find out it doesn’t taste good, so I’ve experimented a lot and am excited to share my go-to recipe.
What is Matcha?
Matcha is a green tea ground into powdered form. Unlike regular tea, matcha is made of the entire tea leaf, making it more nutrient-dense than regular green tea. The green tea powder is whisked into the water, and you can enjoy it hot or cold. The finest matcha comes from Japan, where it has been grown for centuries and good quality matcha tends to be more expensive than standard teas but it’s well worth it!
The Health Benefits of Matcha
With three times the caffeine as normal steeped green tea, matcha is a natural energy booster and has been shown to combat chronic fatigue. Matcha also contains L-theanine, a calming amino acid, which means it will give you a clean energy boost without the caffeine crash of coffee. L-theanine also increases serotonin, GABA, and dopamine levels in the brain, which may help with increasing concentration and focus.
Matcha is also known to have immune-boosting effects thanks to the presence of EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), which offers potentially protective effects against everything from certain bacterias to digestive and breast cancers. Matcha is also very high in antioxidants and chlorophyll (which gives it its beautiful green color), which are crucial to help you fight off free radicals and diseases.
How to Make an Iced Matcha Latte
The secret to a good iced matcha latte starts with high-quality matcha powder. I prefer ceremonial grade powder for drinks and use culinary matcha for baking and smoothies. Although ceremonial matcha is more expensive, it can last you a really long time and the difference in taste is very noticeable. The whole process takes less than 2 minutes and tastes better than any matcha latte I’ve had at any coffee shop.
Iced Matcha Latte Recipe
Ingredients
1 cup unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk
1-2 teaspoons matcha tea powder(ceremonial grade)
Dash of cinnamon
1 tsp honey or maple syrup, to taste optional
Optional: 1 tablespoon coconut butter
Directions
Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend to combine for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until frothy.
If you prefer hot matcha, add 1/2 c of hot (not boiling) water and only 1/2 c of milk of your choice to the blender and keep everything else as is.
Pour, sip, and enjoy mindfully!