Matcha green tea is much more than a hot trend. The science backs up why this ancient Japanese secret has taken the nutrition world by storm—in everything from lattes to cupcakes to smoothie bowls. Today, we’re super excited to share with you 3 of our favorite recipes that can elevate matcha beyond the basic cup of tea or latte (although we do love the simplicity of these too!). But first, let’s answer the question…
MATCHA GREEN TEA VS. REGULAR GREEN TEA
People often wonder what makes matcha so different from other green teas. For starters, matcha is POWDERED green tea leaves. And we’re not talking just any green tea. Matcha is specially shade grown in Japan with great care based on ancient traditions rooted in Buddhism. The delicate leaves are hand-picked, sun-dried, de-veined, de-stemmed, and ground into a bright green fine powder using ceramic stone-tipped mills.
Our Organic Matcha Power® is grown on a small family farm at the base of Mt. Fuji. These folks have been stewards of the land for many generations and are highly skilled at the art of matcha. We feel privileged to be the only US company with access to this high-grade matcha that is considered “ceremonial-grade.”
In contrast, regular green tea is basically fermented, dried tea leaves that you steep in hot water and then discard (versus ingesting the whole leaf). The flavor and experience of genuine matcha is quite different, but so are the health benefits. Based on antioxidant value, you would need 10-15 cups of regular green tea to equal one cup of matcha green tea!
The nutrients in matcha have been shown to support cell protection, healthy heart function, help maintain balanced levels of cholesterol and blood sugar, support memory support, and promote a healthy weight. Many of these superb benefits are attributed to one of matcha's star players, an antioxidant gem in the catechin family called Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG).
FOCUSED & CALM ALERTNESS
And then there’s the famed “focused state of calm awareness” that makes it a nice choice for those looking for the effects of caffeine without all the jitters. Along with its modest amounts of natural caffeine, matcha contains a compound called L-theanine that is capable of inducing alpha wave activity in our brains. This is the brainwave beneficially associated with relaxation and stress relief. The result is a balanced synergy of the yin (L-theanine) & yang (caffeine) that helps with concentration, focus and overall productivity.
So to sum it up, matcha gives you all this and more!
- Promotes concentration, focus and productivity
- Provides a balanced, natural, “soft” energy lift for 4+ hours
- Supports a state of calm awareness and alertness
- Assists healthy memory and cognitive function
- Supports healthy metabolism and body weight
- Antioxidant-rich with catechins and EGCG for healthy aging
And to think you can get all these health benefits AND enjoy it in some tasty recipes too. Now on to the good stuff!
Matcha Mule
We’re big fans of the mocktail. As good as this recipe tastes, it’s also a powerful digestive aid. Both kombucha and matcha have the ability to support the healthy bacteria living in our guts for healthier, happier digestion, skin, immune health, and more. Cheers!
Makes 4 servings
1 bottle of Rowdy Mermaid Kombucha – Living Ginger
6 oz hot water
2 tsp Organic Matcha Power powder
2 limes, one juiced, one sliced for garnish
Fresh mint leaves (for garnish)
Ice for serving
Whisk hot water and matcha powder. Set aside to cool. Pour kombucha into a glass and stir in the juice from the lime. Stir until well mixed, then add the matcha into the kombucha and stir together. Pour the kombucha mixture over ice and garnish with a sprig of mint and a lime wedge.
Minty Matcha Coconut Nice Cream
There’s so many variations on the coconut nice cream theme. Here, we use our Organic Matcha Power® powder for beautiful color, a light green tea taste, and of course health benefits galore. Don’t be afraid of treating yourself to some Matcha Nice Cream for breakfast. It’s relatively low sugar and the fat from the coconut milk balances out the carbohydrates. It's a delicious way of getting your morning matcha boost!
Makes 4-6 servings
4 ripe frozen bananas
1 can full-fat coconut milk
2 tbsp Organic Matcha Power powder
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
3 tbsp raw honey (or more to taste)
1 tsp vanilla extract
Chill the can of coconut milk upside-down in the refrigerator overnight, or if short on time, freeze for 10-15 minutes. Drain and set aside the liquid from your canned coconut milk, leaving you with the coconut cream. Add the coconut cream to your blender.
Add remaining ingredients to blender (using remaining coconut milk liquid for desired consistency) and mix until creamy. Enjoy immediately or freeze. Thaw for 5 minutes at room temperature. Scoop and enjoy!
Matcha Power Energy Bites
Matcha on the go! These paleo, gluten-free treats are quick, easy and tasty too. Make them vegan or low sugar by adjusting the honey ingredient (maple syrup can work or use a little extra coconut oil if ditching the honey all together).
Makes about 10 balls
1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
4 tbsp almond flour
1 tbsp Organic Matcha Power powder
2 tbsp raw honey (or more to taste; use maple syrup or an alternate sweetener to make 100% vegan)
1 tbsp coconut oil
Blend all ingredients together in a food processor until it forms a doughy consistency. Shape into 1” balls and enjoy! Best when stored in the refrigerator.
