It is Monday morning and you are sitting in your 8 am lecture. Coming off of a weekend of late nights and little sleep, coffee is the only remedy to return to early mornings and the school week grind. But, coffee comes with inevitable jitters, then a crash, and soon enough, you are reaching for your second (or third… or fourth) cup.
Unlike coffee’s caffeine spikes and crashes, matcha offers a controlled energy boost that can easily last hours without such side effects. Matcha is a finely ground powder from Japanese green tea leaves that is rich in antioxidants. According to the US National Library of Medicine, a typical eight-ounce cup of matcha with one teaspoon of matcha powder contains about 70 milligrams of caffeine. An eight-ounce cup of coffee can have anywhere from 95 to 200 milligrams of caffeine. Even though matcha has less caffeine, the superfood’s buzz lasts much longer and is more energizing than a cup of Joe
Matcha is loaded with numerous health benefits. From boosting metabolism and burning calories to enhancing mood and aiding in concentration, matcha is a powerhouse. Matcha provides Vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc, and magnesium, and is abundant in fiber and chlorophyll. This antioxidant-rich superfood is known to lower cholesterol and blood sugar, calm the mind and relax the body, and detoxify efficiently and naturally
Matcha is cheap, quick, and easy to prepare, so you can easily incorporate it into your morning routine or for an afternoon pick-me-up. It is a simple and tasty way to add countless health benefits to your everyday diet.
Matcha Latte Recipe
Preparation Method: microwave & whisk/blend
Preparation Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Total Time: 4 minutes
Servings: 1
Ingredients:
½ cup hot water
½ cup milk of choice
1 tsp matcha powder
½ tbsp sweetener (honey, maple syrup, agave, coconut sugar)
Optional add-ins
½ tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp protein powder
½ tsp vanilla extract
Directions
1. Add matcha powder, sweetener, hot water, and any add-ins into a serving mug. I use honey and add cinnamon, collagen, and vanilla extract
2. Whisk or blend until the matcha powder is completely dissolve.
3. Once the matcha is completely dissolved, heat your milk of choice. I found my favorite combination to be 1/4 cup oat milk and 1/4 cup coconut milk. I heat the milk in a microwave. Then, use a handheld electric whisk to froth the milk. If you do not have a whisk, you can also blend the heated milk to froth it
4. Pour the frothed, heated milk into the mug with the matcha, and enjoy!
I use Jade Leaf Matcha Green Tea Powder. It is $9.95/ ounce and lasts me up to a month. But any matcha powder will do!
I use Vital Protein Collagen Peptides. Collagen has countless health benefits associated with hair, skin, and bone strength. Adding 1-2 scoops of collagen protein can provide an additional 20 g of protein and you cannot taste the powder when you add it to your drinks.
*Latte can also be made cold over ice. Follow the same steps but do not heat the milk and all ingredients, with a handful of ice, to a jar. Shake, pour, and enjoy!
I love the taste of coffee, but I couldn’t handle the jitters and crash. Ever since I switched from coffee to matcha three years ago, I have noticed a change in my energy and mood throughout the day. Rather than spending $5 on a matcha latte from a coffee shop, make your own using this simple recipe. Not only does it save money, but it also is a lot better for you; since matcha powder is bitter by nature, coffee shops add a lot of sugar to sweeten the latte, depleting the health benefits of the superfood.
Matcha lattes have become a staple on coffee shop menus as the green powder is slowly winning the hearts of cold brew loving millennials. It is time to hop on the matcha trend and give into the antioxidant-rich green fad. Coffee is so 2019 anyways.