Ways To Make Matcha Taste Better
Matcha is a unique drink. The vegetal taste, the color and even the aroma can be hard to fall in love with immediately. Still, the health benefits of matcha are worth trying to overcome any initial hesitation you might have. The only matter that remains is how to make your matcha taste better. There are many ways to consume matcha besides the standard hot-water-and-matcha method that can be enjoyed by anyone. Today, we will introduce our 5 favorites!
How To Spot Added Sugar In Matcha
If youre keen for an authentic matcha experience, then stay vigilant about the label and any additives, artificial sweeteners, emulsifiers, or preservatives. Tricky names or approved alternatives for sugar are especially tough to stay the wiser.
- To make things easy, look for 100% Matcha Green Tea Powder. If there are additives, they typically are milk powder, maltodextrin , or preservatives.
- Also good to know: milk proteins found in blended matcha mixes are known to reduce the antioxidant benefits.
Certain additives might come down to preference, but sugar more often than not is there to offset poor quality and hide the bitter bite of low-grade matcha.
Health Benefits Of Matcha Green Tea
Evidence about the health benefits of matcha and other green-tea dates back for thousands of years. Any preparation of tea-leaf from the C. Sinensis plants will contain certain levels of polyphenols, antioxidants, and other compounds good for health.
In fact, some of the earliest records of human civilization are found with evidence of tea-drinking. And for millennia the brewing of tea has been part of many cultures daily practices. With so much history, many benefits have long been associated with green tea, such as in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
- One example which has been believed for millennia is that green-tea is a longevity-promoter.
- Its also been thought for centuries to prevent disease, improve healing, and elevate natural immunity, and bolster cognitive health.
Reports aside, today we know that many of those long-held benefits are true, or rooted in substantial evidence . While not a miracle cure, nor approved to treat illnesses, researchers continue to put matcha green tea to the test in clinical studies.
Some exciting avenues include anti-cancer research, anti-diabetic, anti-depressant, and as a preventative against cardiovascular disease .
- You can check out our health benefits resource page. Or, continue reading for some of the newest and most exciting health possibilities of matcha.
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What Is In A Matcha Latte
To prepare a matcha latte, you can think along the same lines as any regular coffee latte. But keep in mind, premium matcha isnt as naturally bitter as coffee. Its more subtle so youll need less milk, sugar, or other additives.
If your primary goal is make it easier to drink each day, then aim for as little additives as it takes in order to maintain the rest of the health benefits. If youre switching from sugary energy drinks , give your palate time to adjust to less sweetener too.
Soon enough youll love the taste, even plain!
How Long Will Matcha Keep
Matcha is best enjoyed closest to its processing date. Choose a source that routinely imports fresh batches, ensuring that no tea sits on the shelf for too long. When well kept, matcha doesn’t technically spoil, but theres always a chance of natural degradation over time.
- You should be sure that your matcha is kept in an airtight, light-proof container preferably in the freezer.
- This method will slow the rate of oxidation, providing about 45-90 days to fully enjoy your matcha after opening the container.
No practical method will entirely protect the tea from air exposure, but enjoying the tea within this time frame will give you the best results, and the greatest enjoyment.
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How To Make Your Own Personalised Syrup
You can add that flavoured syrup to your matcha milk tea recipe at the point where we’ll recommend adding honey. The personalised syrup will bring sweetness to your drink, as well as the unique flavour that you’ve picked out for your syrup.
We’d recommend pairing the green tea drink with ginger. Ginger is a good flavour pairing, as well as being a great thing to make syrup from!
Energizing Chocolate Matcha Smoothie
I did wonder whether adding another chocolate-flavored green tea smoothie to this matcha green tea drinks roundup was the right thing to do. Because do you really need two? But, yes. Yes, you do!
This recipe from Donna over at Whole Food Bellies is just divine. It’s loaded with avocado, peanut butter, chia seeds, and your non-dairy milk of choice. This not only makes the smoothie super creamy but delivers healthy fats and protein to help you to feel satisfied right up until lunch.
dairy-free | vegan | vegetarian | gluten-free
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The Ultimate Guide To Matcha
Making matcha at home may seem daunting at first, but I guarantee its not only easy to do, but also the best way to enjoy. At cafés, youre paying a premium for a poorly whisked latte and a high probability of clumps at the bottom of the drink. Youll not only save yourself some money but will probably end up with a much tastier latte!
Nowadays, matcha is becoming more and more popular but its important to note that not all matcha is good. Yup! I said it. Growing up, I would drink it with my oba-chan and when I tried my first Starbucks matcha I was so surprised by what I tasted. My standards are definitely a little up there, but the contrast between a good and bad can make all the difference.
Think about it like you would coffee. Theres such a wide range of blends, roasts and types of coffee you can enjoy. So, before you decide youre not a fan of it, make sure you give a really good matcha a shot first.
Im going to walk you through the entire process of making it at home, including how to find quality matcha powder, and what tools you need.
Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream
Whenever I dine in at a Japanese restaurant, I always make it a point to have matcha ice cream for dessert. The experience is just not complete without it.
While ice cream flavors are mostly wildly sweet and loaded with mix-ins, this matcha ice cream is plain and simple.
With nothing but matcha, cream, sugar, and salt, this ice cream highlights the flavor of matcha in all its glory. Its smooth, silky, and absolutely divine.
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What Does Matcha Taste Like
Matcha should have minimal bitterness, with more prominent vegetal and umami notes . If this isnt your experience , then you had imitation matcha.
Sorry, but youll need to give it another chance after doing some more research. Dont trust your local cafe or popular coffee house for the right information. More often than not, these brick and mortar locations are storing their matcha incorrectly. Many are also taking advantage of the surge of interest, serving cheap matcha at the costs of the ultra premium grades. Not good.
If youre unsure where to start, our recommendation is to work backwards. Begin with a quality brand and their best quality you can afford. Follow our guidelines for evaluating color, and then prepare it correctly.
If the cost is too high for a sustainable daily drink, then order the next quality down. Repeat this process until you find a great balance of cost, flavor, and calming effects. You wont regret it!
Option 2: You can take our Matcha Quiz to find the perfect matcha to start with. Weve specially designed the simple questions to help you understand where you fit into the expansive world of matcha. Take the Matcha Quiz here
How Much Matcha Powder Should I Make Per Cup
This depends on how much matcha flavor you prefer. Generally, we say that two servings each of 2 grams or four servings each of 1 gram result in delicious tasting matcha. And since matcha tea is reported safe to consume as much as you prefer, you can decide how strong to make each cup and how many total servings to enjoy each day.
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Matcha Can Replace Unhealthy Energy Drinks
You can make the switch to matcha, a friendly form of caffeine, by starting with a single serving and sipping over 15 minutes or so. As you learn to love how it makes you feel, you should be able to replace other unfavored energy drinks in your life. You may also notice you need less caffeine.
Unlike other natural sources of caffeine that do not contain L-theanine, matcha does. People often report this synergy with caffeine helps them work harder, stay more productive, and not feel as affected by the energizing effects when it comes time for sleep .
- The synergy between caffeine and L-theanine is also studied to improve reaction time, memory, and learning when compared to control groups.
Should Matcha Be Stone
Authentic processing is practiced at only a couple handfuls of remaining matcha tea farms in Japan. This includes the use of a stone-mill which makes the matcha an extremely fine particle size. This process is one of the most important reasons that matcha is different from green tea.
Ideal to dissolve into the water for a hot tea, or into a cold-brew, unfortunately such stone-grinding has been mostly replaced by industrial grinders all while authentic matcha grows harder to procure and protect.
All of our matcha is stone-ground, unlike quick processing, this method preserves the great taste of the matcha powder its amino acids, its antioxidants all of which otherwise are damaged by oxidation and microscopic heat of industrial processing.
Furthermore, stone grinding is the only means to effectively reduce the entire leaf to a uniform, microscopic particle.
- Industrial methods leave stems, and larger particles, making a gritty texture when consumed.
- Stone milling is invaluable to preserving desired qualities making for maximal enjoyment AND absorption and cannot be overlooked.
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How To Make Matcha Tea: 4 Simple Steps
A traditional cup of matcha tea is very simple to make. But, as well discuss in just a bit, it doesnt always taste great, depending on a few different factors.
Part of the secret to enjoying a great cup of matchaand to ensure that its a good experience for youis to know how to prepare it.
Making matcha tea can be a contemplative ritual, simply because it takes a few steps beyond simply steeping tea. Slow down and enjoy the process.
Here are the steps for preparing a great, healthy cup of matcha tea:
Step 1: Gather Your Tools
There are a few things youll need to make a proper cup of matcha tea that you probably dont have just lying around the house.
So, before you get started, gather these items:
- Chasen- a whisk thats handmade from bamboo
- Matcha-chawan- a special bowl just for tea
- Chashaku- a ladle thats used specifically for measuring
- Teapot or other pot to boil water
Step 2: Measure and Scoop
Put your water in the chosen boiling vessel so it can work while you are. Use the chashaku to measure out about 1 ½ scoops of matcha powder. This is something you might want to adjust later, if you decide you prefer a thicker consistency in your matcha.
Step 3: Sift
Pour the scoops of matcha powder into the sifter, over the tea bowl. Use the ladle to gently help push the matcha powder through the strainer. This will help if there are any clumps hanging around. Nobody wants a chunk of matcha while theyre sipping tea.
Step 4: Combine and Whisk
Want To Skip The Tools
Dont want to spring for the special whisk and bowl? We do recommend them for the best experience. But if you want to make it on the spot and dont have these tools, heres what to do:
- Shake in a jar: Shake the green tea powder and cool water in a jar until frothy.
- Complete the remaining recipe steps as written.
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The Best Natural Detox
In fact, real detoxes are few and far between. But the cleansing and therapeutic properties of matcha tea are practical examples of how we can give our bodies the best shot at health. It can help our kidneys work more efficiently, and give the liver more powerful antioxidants to work with to eliminate toxins.
Matcha also has other compounds that can improve our response to foreign contaminants. Diverse phytochemicals like chlorophyll, tannins, and polyphenols are an entourage of good-for-you compounds that may offer cellular protection against free radicals .
Here Will Instruct You How To Sift The Matcha Tea> > >
The idea of matcha is to drink it quickly. Given that it doesnt take long to actually prepare matcha tea, it can be a fast drink to consume.
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What To Add To Make Matcha Taste Better
Have you ever wondered Why does matcha make me feel so good? Well, if you havent, then either you havent had matcha, or that the matcha you had was bitter the most common indicator of imitation matcha.
Unfortunately for many people imitation matcha is all theyve come to know. So here we offer tips to make the best matcha taste better, and why its important to start with premium matcha from Japan first and foremost to be sure youre equipped to distinguish real matcha from the fake stuff.
Just to reiterate: our goal is to bring you the best matcha directly from Japan. While were at it, we want to help you by taking the guesswork out of making an amazing bowl of matcha. You in?
Keep reading for how to prepare matcha tea, and easy answers to curiosities like Why does matcha turn brown? and Can you add matcha to coffee?
Trust us, its a lot more exciting than matcha, milk and creamer. Natures original energy drink can be prepared in many fun ways!
- Did you know: Not all matcha is really matcha green tea powder only becomes matcha when its produced in Japan under careful cultivation techniques, drastically improving the amino-acid composition and health benefits of the tea leaves.
Best Matcha Green Tea Vanilla Protein Shake
If you’re looking for a protein boost, then look no further than this Vegan Matcha Protein Shake recipe created by Tajda at My Vegan Minimalist. The protein in this recipe comes from protein powder, peanut butter, and plant milk. It’s also high in fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Simply put, it’s a meal in a glass.
This recipe is dairy-free | vegan* | vegetarian | gluten-free*
*when buying a protein powder for this recipe, check the ingredients to ensure they are vegan and gluten-free if that is your preference.
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What Are Matcha Tea Side Effects
These days everyone is wary of negative side-effects, and for good reason. Amidst the many bad connotations of medicines and drugs at the pharmacy, when consumed properly, matcha does not have any side effects.
Many people in Japan where matcha has traditionally been consumed the most have upwards of three, four, even five cups of matcha per day.
Is Matcha Tea Good For You
Yes! Unlike most teas where you just steep the leaves, matcha gives you the chance to consume the entire leaf and all of its benefits. Matcha contains L-Theanine, an amino acid that reduces stress, enhances mood, and gives you an energy boost to remain alert for a while after consumption.
A cup of matcha will also give you a nice dose of antioxidants, one of the many known health benefits of green tea. Consequently, however, one cup of matcha also contains roughly 60 milligrams of caffeine, which is still less caffeine than your standard cup of coffee , but one should always be safe to not overindulge in too many caffeinated matcha drinks.
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