If it’s not too matcha to ask, I want you to try this recipe. Whether you are a matcha aficionado or have never had the stuff, matcha is calling your name. And nobody puts matcha in a corner. I mean it. When push comes to shove, this is one tough powdered green tea leaf.
So what makes matcha so great? Can’t you just drink normal green tea?! Well you can, but when you drink matcha you ingest the entire leaf and receive 100% of the nutrients of the leaf. Matcha powdered green tea has 137 times more antioxidants than regularly brewed green tea. It boosts your metabolism and burns calories. A study featured in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that consuming matcha green tea can increase thermogenesis (the body’s own rate of burning calories) from a normal 8%-10% of daily energy expenditure, to between 35% and 43% of daily energy expediture.
And the caffeine in matcha…. It’s a whole new breed of animal. According to Matchasource, matcha is rich in L-Theanine, a rare amino acid that actually promotes a state of relaxation and well-being by acting upon the brains functioning. While stress can induce beta waves, an excited, more agitated state, L-Theanine creates alpha waves, which lead to a state of relaxed alertness. If normal coffee is making you anxious or jumpy but you’re still desperate for caffeine, remember that matcha gives you a cool calm state of alertness and get brewing.
My favorite matcha latte in Chicago comes from Sawada. I usually order their signature drink, the military latte, where Japanese matcha green tea is combined with vanilla syrup, espresso and cocoa powder. It is hard to find a more beautiful and striking latte than the hot military latte at Sawada. Honestly, most of the time I prefer my matcha iced over hot though. Hot matcha can have a very fresh grassy flavor, that I think is easily remedied by adding vanilla. If you’ve tried matcha before and weren’t a fan because of this, try my recipe with vanilla and see if you like that more!
Let’s get started. So matcha to do, so little time (kidding this will take you 2 minutes total).
Step 1: Go Green. The greener the better. In order to make an amazing matcha latte, you need good quality matcha. My favorite matcha is Jade Leaf organic matcha tea powder. You can buy it on Amazon here. A little bit goes a long way, so don’t sweat the price. I find this matcha has amazing flavor, the perfect consistancy, and a beautiful vibrant color. Make sure that whenever you are buying teas, that they are 100% organic. Nobody should be drinking a steaming pot of pesticides and chemicals.
Step 2: Scoop. Measure your ingredients. I like my matcha to have a vibrant color and flavor so I use 2 teaspoons of matcha. If you find it to be a little too strong, use 1-1 1/2 teaspoons and see if that’s what you prefer. This recipe also calls for normal milk which is what they use at Sawada. If you would prefer, substitute for your favorite dairy alternative. Matcha lattes are great with oat milk!
Step 3: Blending time. Combine all your ingredients except for the ice in your blender. Blend for 45 seconds – 1 minute. The blending incorporates air into the latte and gives it a frothy top without having been steamed like a normal latte.
Step 4: Sip Sip Hooray! A matcha made in heaven! If you find yourself wanting matcha a few days a week, double or triple the size of your blender batch and store your blender in the fridge. Just give it another whirl whenever you want a fresh latte!
A Matcha Made in Heaven {The Best Iced Vanilla Matcha Latte}
Ingredients
- 1 cup 1% milk (feel free to substitute with oat milk or your favorite dairy substitute)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons matcha powder
- 1 teaspoon organic pure maple syrup (you can also use honey)
- 1 1/2 cups ice
Instructions
- Combine all your ingredients except for the ice in your blender. Blend for 45 seconds - 1 minute. The blending incorporates air into the latte and gives it a froth without having been steamed like a normal latte. Pour over ice. Enjoy!
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