Looking for an alternative to that afternoon coffee? Center yourself and get your zen caffeine kick with a matcha latte.
BY: MARISSA THIRY, RDN
For those of you who don’t know, now you know: Matcha is the new kale. And I’m here to help you get on board. From the outstanding health benefits, to how to place your order at Starbucks, to the recipe for the best matcha latte at home, fear not my friends: you’ve come to the right place.
First and foremost, let’s get the facts.
Matcha is not the same as green tea. Matcha is a more potent version of green tea, also known as matcha green tea extract. Essentially, it takes all the stellar health benefits of green tea and squeezes them into a powdered form. Green tea utilizes the tea leaf by steeping it in water and then discarding the leaf, while matcha powder is the actual leaf broken down into powder form and mixed into the beverage, therefore providing all of the health benefits of the whole leaf.
Matcha is a traditional Japanese tea which has rapidly gained popularity in the U.S. over the past decade. It has been a popular beverage amongst monks for meditation, believed to provide a more ‘alert and calm’ effect than other caffeine sources, such as coffee. As if it didn’t already have enough going on, matcha is also rich in antioxidants called polyphenols which may aid in the fight against cancer and other chronic diseases, as well as metabolism-enhancing effects.
Cue stampede to the tea aisle of Target.
And since matcha is a very condensed and potent form of green tea, you don’t need to use as much to get the same caffeine ‘kick’. We’re talking 1/2 – 1 teaspoon of matcha powder whisked into 1 cup of liquid here.
So how can you use this beautiful green beverage in your everyday life? Try this recipe out!
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup of any milk or nut milk of choice
- 1/2 – 1 teaspoon matcha powder
- 1 – 2 dash cinnamon (optional)
- 1 – 2 dash nutmeg (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat almond milk to desired temperature. Whisk in matcha powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg (whisking allows proper mixing, eliminating lumps of powder). Enjoy on the patio, contemplating the meaning of life, under the warm sunshine on a front porch swing.
Adapted from the original article.
Marissa Thiry, RDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in Orange County, CA with a passion for health, wellness, and delicious food. With her love of innovating in the kitchen and testing unique flavors from different cultures, Marissa helps others understand that eating should be an experience, not a task. Make a visit to read more from Marissa.