Classic Matcha Latte
Treat yourself to a creamy matcha latté to kick off your day!
The perfect morning pick-me-up, this earthy green beverage is nutrient-dense and contains more caffeine concentration than coffee, believe it or not!
With amino acid L-Theanine, matcha green tea provides a gentle energy boost, decreases stress levels, and increases mental clarity and alertness.
With a range of health benefits and delicious flavor, this latté is worth swapping out for that boring cup of joe.
Do coffee and energy drinks leave you feeling tired, give you jitters, or disrupt your sleep quality?
Believe me, I’ve been there.
These sources of caffeine are okay sometimes, but too much can send you over the edge and cause a plethora of wellness issues.
Luckily, caffeine sources like matcha and other forms of tea provide you with a calm energy boost, without the crash or harmful side effects.
This gentle form of caffeine does not affect your circadian rhythm either. If anything, it’ll improve the way you feel overall and contribute to better sleep quality!
What is Matcha Green Tea?
Matcha is a concentrated form of green tea.
While green tea is made by seeping tea leaves in hot water and then removing them, a matcha latté is made by actually grinding those tea leaves into a fine powder.
We whisk this powder with hot water to create matcha tea.
Origin of Matcha
Matcha lattés aren’t just some trendy breakfast drink.
They date back thousands of years to the Tang and Song Dynasties in China and Japan. Matcha was then used for therapeutic purposes in ritual tea ceremonies during the 1500’s.
The origins of matcha date back to the 7th-10th centuries, when the Tang Dynasty ruled in China. The Tang Dynasty steamed tea leaves to form into bricks, making their tea harvests easier to transport and subsequently trade. These tea bricks were prepared by roasting and pulverizing the leaves then mixing the resulting tea powder with water and salt. Thus, the creation of matcha.
In the next few centuries, the Song Dynasty would be the ones to make this drink popular.
As you can see, matcha has an extensive, fascinating history.
When enjoying matcha, it’s important to reflect on its’ origins to appreciate its’ therapeutic, healing benefits on a more meaningful level.
Matcha Latté Health Benefits
Full of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants, matcha is an incredibly nutritious drink to add to your wellness routine. Because matcha embodies the full form of green tea leaves, it is 137 times more nutritious and powerful than regular brewed tea. Unbelievable!
When consumed, matcha provides loads of health benefits ranging from anti-aging, metabolism boosting, and mental clarity and alertness.
Matcha contains the amino acid, L-Theanine, which results in a calm and steady energy boost, relaxing the mind and making you alert without feeling wired. L-Theanine gives you a gentle come-down with no drowsiness or crash, and has been shown to increase alpha wave activity in the brain, inducing relaxation and decreasing stress levels.
Because of matcha’s high antioxidant concentration, this heart-healthy super-food is promising in reducing cell damage, preventing chronic disease, and inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.
Let me ask – does your cup of coffee do all of this for you?
Classic Matcha Latté
Recipe Author: Nicole Riggs
The perfect morning pick-me-up, this earthy, green beverage is nutrient-dense and contains more caffeine than coffee! With amino acid, l-theanine, matcha green tea gives a gentle energy boost by decreasing stress levels and increasing mental clarity and alertness.
Equipment
Bamboo whisk
Measuring spoons
Ingredients
1/2 tbsp matcha green tea powder
11/2 tbsp cane sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup plant milk
2 tbsp plant-based creamer optional
Instructions
Place matcha and sugar into a mug. Whisk until there are no visible clumps.
Pour hot water into the cup and immediately whisk vigorously in circular motions, making sure to whisk around the bottom and sides of the mug. Continue until there are no matcha clumps.
Add plant milk and plant based creamer, if using. Enjoy!
