Green Matcha

How do you like your matcha? Have you tried it yet?

I got hooked on iced matcha lattes last summer when it was available at most coffee shops in Long Island City where we used to live. And since then, I’ve seen new matcha bars and creative matcha recipes cropping up all over and I want to try them ALL.

My matcha latte habit is a far cry from the authentic rendition of the tea, which is traditionally served without sugar or creamy add-ons. Given that I’m married to a Japanese-American whose family has deep roots in Japanese tea culture – my mother-in-law even taught Japanese tea ceremony in a custom-built tea house in their Portland, OR home – I wanted to try the real deal.  

So I was glad to have received a matcha tea set from my sister-in-law last Christmas which allowed me to experience matcha tea authentically. And since then, I’ve changed up my afternoon coffee routine by rotating matcha in and tried different latte recipes. The ritual of making the tea with special tools and tasting the strong verdant flavor feels like a meditation, an intentional pause in a busy day.  

So I’m excited to share this simple matcha tea recipe. It’s not as easy as plunging a tea bag in a mug, but the act is much more graceful and a way to add something special and nutritious to your day.

Matcha Benefits 

Matcha is a powdered form of green tea and is full of health benefits. It’s an antioxidant, a metabolism booster for weight-loss and includes a compound called L-theanine which gives you a feeling of alertness without the jitters that comes from caffeine. Basically, it’s really good for you!

Making Matcha

If you’re all in and want to get the authentic tools to make your own matcha you can get it on Amazon.  It comes with a ceramic bowl, a bamboo whisk and scoop which is equivalent to about 1/2 teaspoon. The brand of matcha that was gifted to me was Matcha Love by Ito En which was delicious and approved by the Japanese-American “golden-girl” of wellness! It’s pricey but worth the high quality grade.

Get started with this basic recipe below. You can adjust the intensity of the flavor to your taste by adjusting the amount of matcha powder or adding more water. It should be strong, like espresso.  You can also make this by simply mixing the powder and water to dilute with a regular whisk or spoon.

Note: Don’t use fully boiling water, which will make the tea acidic. Instead let boiling water cool for a few minutes to reach a temperature between 175 and 185 degrees F.

No need to transfer the tea into a cup, drink it straight out of the bowl. It’s all part of the experience.

Green Matcha

Directions:

1. Boil water and let it cool for a few minutes.
2. Scoop out about 1 teaspoon of matcha powder (2 scoops from bamboo spoon) and put into the bowl
3. Pour 2-3 oz. water into the bowl and use the bamboo whisk to dissolve and whisk up small bubble by making a zig zag motion. When it’s frothy you’re ready to drink.