Matcha lattes, matcha bliss balls and even matcha granola are popping up everywhere in hipster cafes around the globe right now, so naturally I wanted to know what all the rage was about! It didn’t take long after researching for just a couple of minutes, the reason why this green magic potion was now on everyone’s lips!
Matcha is native to Japan and is an antioxidant powerhouse, packing 137 times more antioxidants than that of normal green tea. Nutritionally, one cup of brewed matcha is the equivalent of 10 cups of regular green tea, has the power to boost metabolism and burn calories, and helps with blood sugar regulation.
Rich in chlorophyll, which is what gives it that rich vibrant green colour, matcha is also high in fiber, vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium.
But the special thing about matcha is it’s L- Theanine content. L-Theanine is a rare amino acid that produces a relaxed but alert state when ingested. It promotes this state of relaxation due to its ability to produce calming alpha waves in the brain. It helps with concentration and can enhance mood. L- Theanine is is common in all teas, however matcha has been reported to contain more than 5 times the level of L-Theanine than all other black and green teas. Matcha is a great coffee alternative as it isn’t taxing on your adrenals by causing spikes in cortisol, and doesn’t give you the coffee jitters or after crash.
While on a family ski holiday in Japan last year, I was fortunate enough to come across some amazing suppliers of matcha and brought numerous packs home with me. I’m down to my last few spoonfuls, so have done some research and come across some great Australian suppliers. Here are my favourites….
So how do we make a matcha latte??
Simple….
You’ll need the following
Ingredients
250mls of non dairy milk ( I prefer almond but coconut would work too)
1/2 – 1 teaspoon of matcha powder (depending on desired taste)
1/2 – 1 teaspoon of honey
Boiling water
What’s next….
1. Place matcha powder in a mug.
2. Pour about 2 tablespoons of boiling water over matcha powder and whisk to dissolve
3. Froth milk in a milk frother if you have one or heat in a saucepan on medium until desired heat is achieved
4. Pour over matcha and water and stir
5. Add honey to desired taste
6. Sit back relax and enjoy!
Top photo credit www.thrombocyte.com