You’ve probably already heard about how green tea is good for your health. With its high level of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds, green tea can help boost brain function, aid in weight loss, and even reduce one’s risk of developing cancer. Green tea has also been found to have antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. In short, when it comes to delivering health benefits, green tea is practically unmatched. Probably the only thing healthier is green tea’s more concentrated form: matcha.
Matcha is, essentially, powdered green tea. However, the green tea plant used to make matcha is grown in the shade. The stems and veins of the leaves are also removed before they can be made into matcha. These unique growing conditions and special preparation ensures that the matcha powder has a bright green colour and full flavour.
Today, matcha powder has gone a long way from traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. Now, matcha powder can be found as a colouring and flavouring ingredient for various kinds of dishes, beverages, and desserts. You can also buy matcha powder and use it on your daily meals and drinks. For those who are looking for some ideas on how to do so, here’s a simple list to get you started on your matcha creations.
Dust it on Top of Pancakes and Cupcakes
If you want something easy, you can sprinkle some matcha powder on top of your pancakes. You can dust it on top of other healthy toppings like blueberries and strawberries. You can also add a bit of powdered sugar if you miss the sweetness of syrup. Aside from pancakes, you can also dust matcha powder on top of cupcakes, cakes, and waffles.
Mix It with Your Baked Goods
Matcha is already in powder form, which means you can easily mix it with the batter or dough of your favorite baked goods like muffins, cookies, and cakes. Simply replace a portion of flour with matcha powder to give your pastries a beautiful green colour and a unique and rich sweetness. If you aren’t used to the taste yet, further reduce the amount of matcha powder you use.
Stir It into Your Breakfast
Another simple way to incorporate matcha into your meals is to mix it with your breakfast staples. Get a teaspoon of matcha powder, and stir it into your bowl of cereal, granola, or oatmeal. Again, if you aren’t used to the unique flavour of matcha yet, start with a smaller amount of powder.
Use It as Seasoning
Instead of using salt and pepper, you can instead use matcha powder as seasoning for things like vegetable stir fries. Some simple soup recipes can also benefit from a dusting of matcha powder. Snacks like popcorn and plain roasted peanuts are also perfect candidates for some matcha “seasoning.”
Make Some Green Tea Popsicles
Green tea is a perfect beverage for relaxation, especially if you perform the traditional, ceremonial way of preparing matcha. If you don’t like to go through the motions, however, and prefer the simplicity of eating something sweet, then matcha popsicles are for you! There are a lot of easy-to-follow recipes for healthy popsicles that you can find online, and then simply customise that recipe with a scoop or two of matcha powder. Freeze the popsicles overnight, and you’ve got a sweet, healthy treat to help you loosen up. Another cool and sweet indulgence that you can make at home and flavour with matcha is ice cream! What’s great is that if you don’t like ice cream that is too sweet, matcha can easily tone down the taste.
Make a Matcha Smoothie
A smoothie’s already healthy, and you can make it even healthier with a dash of matcha powder. Just a couple of teaspoons of matcha powder is enough to give your smoothie a boost in nutrients. Matcha can also make a smoothie feel creamier. For a bit of garnish, sprinkle a bit more powder on top of the foam.
Sweeten Your Coffee or Make a Latte
For a healthy alternative to sugar, you can use high-quality matcha powder instead of sugar and cream to sweeten your coffee. You can also use matcha to make some latte. For an interesting blend of flavours, use non-dairy milk like almond or hazelnut milk. Of course, you can use the greenish foam as practice for some quirky latte art.
Make Some Tea (with a Kick)
Matcha powder isn’t just for preparing some—well—matcha tea. You can also use it to add pizzazz to lemonade or to some other kinds of tea like peach tea or even mint tea. Usually, one teaspoon of matcha powder is enough for a pitcher of your preferred tea. Adjust the amount of matcha or fruit to achieve the flavour you want.
Are you ready to give your daily meals and drinks a healthy upgrade? Get a bag of matcha powder, and start sprinkling and mixing today!
