I think everyone knows that green tea has many health benefits. But what’s matcha green tea powder? Matcha is powdered green tea that is rich in catechins, a class of plant compounds in tea that act as natural antioxidants. Studies according to many health related websites have linked green tea to a variety of health benefits, like helping to prevent heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer and even encouraging weight loss. Additionally, matcha green tea powder contains all the nutrients from the entire leaf, so it has more catechins and antioxidants than simply steeping green tea leaves in water.
I discovered matcha green tea back in 1999 at our local Japanese restaurant called Sushi Ichiban (please don’t try to do the math… let’s say I was 5 years old ha!). They had the matcha green tea ice cream and it was interestingly good. First time, if you haven’t it before, you probably think it’s a bit strange. But to me, you can’t really go wrong with any ice cream ha! So of course, I loved it. One of my friends worked there at the time and one day he brought back the matcha green tea powder and showed me how they made it. He basically just stirred it in a soft vanilla ice cream and refroze it. We made a bunch and ate it for weeks. I may have overdosed on matcha green tea. ha ha
Then a couple years after that, I went back to visit Bangkok Thailand, to see my friends and family. The green tea market was through the roof. They had green tea everything and everywhere, from flavored green tea drinks, snacks, ice cream, desserts, latte, vitamins, supplements and skin care products. You name it. They got it! and I’ll admit, it was a little nuts.
Nowadays, you probably have seen it on the coffee shops’s menu, like Starbucks. But did you know you can make it at home? It’s super easy and I’m am a bit embarrassed to even call it a recipe, but here you go. And since I have posted Pumpkin Spice Latte and Peppermint Mocha Latte, might as well adding one more of my faves to the list.
You will only need 3 ingredients. 1) Milk, I like soy but almond or regular milk will be fine, too. 2) Sweetener, like Agave
Let’s cook some food! Actually, let’s make some Matcha Green Tea Latte!
In a small sauce pan or pot, medium heat, add milk, bring it to a simmer. Add the matcha green tea powder. I used 2 teaspoons for 2 cups of milk.
Then whisk it like you mean it, until all the matcha green tea powder is dissolved.
Add the sweetener (sugar, Splenda, whatever you like). Start with a small amount, then you can add more if it’s not sweet enough. I used 1 tablespoon for 2 cups of Matcha Green Tea latte.
If you want to make the Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte, let it cool down and serve over ice cubes. Then top it off with a little more milk before serving.
That’s it. Super easy, wasn’t it? Hope you give this Matcha Green Tea Latte a try and let me know how it goes, the recipe card and comment box are below.
- 2 cups (16 oz.) milk (soy, almond or regular milk)
- 2 teaspoons matcha green tea powder
- 1 tablespoon Agave
- In a small sauce pan or pot, medium heat, add milk, bring it to a simmer, add the matcha green tea powder.
- Whisk it until all the matcha green tea powder is dissolved.
- Add the sweetener (sugar, Splenda, whatever you like). Start with a small amount, then you can add more if it's not sweet enough. Enjoy!
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