Learn everything you need to know about matcha powder and enjoy my soothing, yet energizing matcha latte recipe!
Table of Contents
What is matcha?
Matcha is a Japanese green tea powder made from finely ground dried green tea leaves. Not just any green tea!
Matcha leaves are specifically grown in the shade, which increases the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves and give the powder that bright green color.
Then the leaves are hand picked for processing. I even read that they used to grind the leaves by hand in a dark to retain as much nutrients! I’m sure it’s now more automated.
Matcha tea plays integral part in traditional Japanese tea ceremony, but it’s also becoming more and more popular around the world.
What is Matcha Latte?
Matcha latter is a popular drink made from whisking together ground green tea leaves (matcha powder) and hot milk.
What does matcha tea taste like?
- Earthy, kind of grassy
- With slight sweet undertone
- Good quality matcha is not bitter – bitterness indicates lower quality matcha
Is drinking Matcha Latte good for you?
Part of the reason matcha is so popular beyond Japan now is due to its health benefits. As you may have heard, green tea in general is one of the healthiest drinks, packed with antioxidants.
Matcha tea is no exception. And since it’s finely ground powder and consumed in its entirety, you get all the benefits without a waste, unlike discarded steeped green tea leaves.
While there’re many articles on the internet that describe health benefits of matcha, I wanted to share our personal story and the benefits we’ve experienced since we switched to matcha for our daily boost of energy.
- No more caffeine jitters/ withdrawals – About half a year ago or so, I started to notice weird symptoms after drinking coffee: weak in my knees, shaky hands, etc. I stopped having these symptoms when I switched to matcha.
- No more heartburn – My husband used to get heartburn a lot, which kept him away from certain foods, like banana. But when he quit coffee, he stopped having heartburn. He even enjoys banana (and banana bread) once again without suffering consequences!
- High energy for longer time – It’s so interesting that with just 4oz of matcha latte in the morning, I feel so energetic, yet calm and focused till mid afternoon!! It turns out matcha green tea contains a special component, called L-theanine, that slows body’s absorption of caffeine. So you don’t get all the caffeine rush at once like with coffee, instead you get little doses of caffeine throughout few hours.
Matcha Grades
Not all matcha is made equally! There’re 2 grades of matcha:
- Ceremonial matcha is made with the youngest and highest quality tea leaves. It taste smooth and sweet. And it has the brightest color.
- Culinary matcha is lower quality matcha powder, great for smoothies, lattes and baking.
Other types of matcha:
Besides the above 2 grades of matcha, there’re so many more variations of matcha powders on the market right now:
- Flavored matcha powders, like Tea Forte chocolate matcha, or coconut matcha, 2 of my absolute favorites!
- Matcha latte mix – a pre-mixed matcha powder with a sweetener.
- Instant green tea powder – perfect for iced matcha, and other quick matcha drinks.
If you had tried matcha tea before and decided you don’t like it because of its grassy, bitter taste, I encourage to try a ceremonial grade of matcha. Or one of the flavored matcha teas from Tea Forte. You might just get pleasantly surprised!
Make sure to read the ingredient list. And avoid the ones with added sugar, milk powder, and other ingredients! Some of them were way too sweet to my taste.
Matcha Latte Recipe Ingredients
- Matcha powder – Choose a good quality matcha powder for a smoother taste. Avoid culinary-grade matcha.
- Milk – You can use any kind of milk here. Whole, 2%, almond, oat, or coconut milk, all work wonderfully!!
- Sweetener – I love adding raw honey to sweeten my matcha latte. Maple syrup is another great option.
How to make matcha tea:
It’s quite simple to make a cup of matcha tea, but there’re some rules around it:
- Boil some water, then cool it down for a few minutes. I usually pour boiled water into a tea kettle.
- In a small bowl, mix together 1-2 teaspoons of matcha powder and 1 tablespoon of water. Mix it well until smooth
- Then stir in the remaining amount of hot water and enjoy!
Tip
Don’t use boiling water, as it’ll burn the delicate tea powder and cause bitter taste.
Learn about specialty tools for making matcha tea from Just One Cookbook, a website for easy Japanese recipes.
Matcha to Water Ratio
The ratio of matcha powder to water depends on the strength and flavor you’re looking for. Generally, 4-7oz of water/milk per 1 teaspoon of matcha.
How to make Matcha taste good
Making matcha taste good is all about finding the right balance of sweetness and bitterness. You can do this by experimenting with different ratios of matcha powder to water, as well as adding sweeteners such as honey or sugar to taste. Furthermore, you should use filtered water that has been heated just below boiling point for best results. And finally, be sure to use ceremonial-grade matcha powder, which has a smoother and sweeter taste.
How to make a Matcha Latte
We start our day with a small cup of delicious matcha latte in the morning.
And because we drink it every morning, I try to keep it as simple as possible. You may have seen different specialty tools, like this chasen. But I rarely use it nowadays because I found this little baby spoon works perfectly for stirring and dissolving the tea powder in water, because it’s flexible and small.
- Scoop 1-2 teaspoons of matcha powder into a bowl. And add just a little bit of hot water, about 1 tablespoon or so.
- Warm up half a cup of almond milk, stir in a little bit of honey and froth the milk (I use this handy little milk frother.)
- Then add the milk into the prepared matcha paste. And enjoy!
Tip
If you add too much water, it’ll be hard to get rid of all the lumps.
I typically don’t use a sieve, because you know who needs extra dirty dishes! But you can if you want.
How long does Matcha Powder last?
It’s recommended to use up matcha powder within a month or so after opening. Unfortunately, opened package of matcha tea doesn’t last very long. They lose their quality really quick.
If you try to bake with an old matcha powder, your baked goods may not have that beautiful vibrant green color and will lack in flavor! (Speaking from the experience!)
Tip
Store matcha tea in cool and dry place away from sunlight in airtight container.
FAQs for How to make a Matcha Latte
I recommend mixing the matcha powder with small amount of water first to make a paste. Then add the rest of the liquid. This way your matcha latte will be nice and smooth with no clumps.
Yes, absolutely!
Matcha lattes are generally considered to be healthier than coffee because they have less caffeine and higher levels of antioxidants. Additionally, matcha contains powerful plant compounds called Catechins which have been linked to a range of health benefits such as improved metabolism, heart health, and anti-aging effects.
Please let us know if you try this matcha latte recipe. And tag us on Instagram if you share an image!!!
Homemade Matcha Latte
Ingredients
- 1-2 teaspoons matcha powder
- 1 tablespoon hot water Note 1
- ½ cup almond milk Note 2
- ½ teaspoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Scoop matcha powder into a bowl.
- Add just a little bit of hot water, about 1 tablespoon or so. If you add too much water, it’ll be hard to get rid of all the lumps. If you have, use a bamboo whisk (chasen), but I usually use a small flexible silicone baby spoon, which works perfectly.
- Using a milk frother, froth hot almond milk with honey.
- Then add the milk into the prepared matcha paste. And enjoy!
Tips & Notes
Nutrition
