Matcha is the bright green powder that everybody's talking about these days. An antioxidant wonder, energy booster, and effective mind calmer, I would simply say that matcha is a superfood that often replaces my morning coffee—and here's why.
Why We Switched to Matcha Lattes
There are many reasons to try using this Japanese wonder with an incredible nutritional profile. Matcha doesn't cause the increased heart rate like you get from coffee or the acidity and stress those exert on your liver.
Everything about matcha is Zen—its perfect green tone, its restoring effect on your cells, and of course, the comforting calm awareness it gives your mind after drinking its brew.
These sound like perfection to me, and if you're thinking of improving your morning ritual, here are four reasons why you should consider matcha as the healthy alternative to coffee.
Matcha contains caffeine.
That’s because it is made from ground green tea leaves, and it preserves all the qualities of tea but in higher concentrations. So matcha contains more caffeine than regular green tea [source] but not quite as much as coffee.
Matcha contains L-theanine.
This amino acid found in high amounts in green tea gives your mind a calm alert and awareness, not the instant boost and later crash that coffee is known for. Research has shown that it reduced stress and anxiety in test subjects [source]. This might be the reason why Zen monks often use matcha drinks before meditation.
Matcha supports the natural detox function of your body cells.
It contains a high level of catechins, powerful polyphenols that reduce the oxidative stress and damage caused by free radicals [source]. The antioxidants in green tea have been shown to diminish the risk of cardiovascular disease [source], cancer [source], and chronic inflammatory diseases [source] while also slowing the aging process [source].
Matcha boosts metabolism and mental function.
Additionally, matcha helps you burn calories by setting your metabolism on fire, enriches your diet with fiber, antioxidants [source], vitamins, and chlorophyll [source], and is a quality source of key minerals (selenium, zinc, and magnesium).
During mild stress, it has been shown to improve both attention and work performance with daily use [source]. Research in animals demonstrated lowered anxiety levels [source], and a study in college students showed a definite stress reduction when taken daily [source].
4 Matcha Latte Recipes
Ready to make the switch? Here are 4 recipes you can start with:
1. Energy-Boosting Iced Matcha Latte
Lately, I’ve been experimenting to create deliciousness with this magical green tea powder, and this iced matcha latte is my latest obsession. Because I like to make my lattes creamy, I used almond milk, but you can pretty much make this refreshing drink with any vegan milk you prefer.
Iced Matcha Milk
Equipment
- Blender
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Coconut milk
- 4 ounces Almond milk creamer
- 1 tablespoon matcha powder
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- 4–5 drops organic vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- Pinch sea salt
- 5 ice cubes
- Extra ice cubes to serve
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients (including the 5 ice cubes) into a blender, and pulse until frothy.
- Add the extra ice cubes into the serving glasses. Pour in the matcha milk and enjoy!
Notes
2. Bone Broth Matcha Latte
There’s a lot you can do with bone broth aside from sipping it straight and using it as a base for soup. One of our favorite new ways to use it is to whip it up into a nourishing latte.
Restorative organic bone broth delivers the benefits of collagen, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to help support the immune system and gut health. And with collagen from the broth and antioxidants from the matcha, this latte is amazing for your skin, too.
Bone Broth Matcha Latte
Equipment
- Mesh strainer
- Blender
- Tea kettle
Ingredients
- 1 heaping teaspoon matcha powder
- 2 ounces hot water about 170ºF
- ½ cup favorite non dairy milk heated
- 1 cup chicken bone broth heated
- 1 tablespoon coconut butter
- 1 - 1 ½ teaspoons honey to sweeten optional
Instructions
- First, measure out 1 heaping teaspoon of matcha powder and sift it through a strainer and directly into your blender (I use a Vitamix). This removes clumps.
- Next, add your near-boiling water (roughly 170ºF!)
- Add milk and broth to the blender.
- Add coconut butter and honey, if using.
- Secure the top of your blender well, and blend on low-medium for about 2 minutes.
- Pour into a mug and enjoy!
Notes
3. Morning Clarity Matcha Mushroom Latte
Reishi mushrooms not only give your immune system and mood a boost, but they can also improve your memory and help protect the brain as it ages. And then there’s matcha, the zen-inducing superfood that has been linked to enhanced focus [source].
Matcha Mushroom Latte for Morning Clarity
Equipment
- Tea kettle or microwave
- 2 mugs
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Vital Proteins Matcha Powder
- 3 cups unsweetened almond milk warm
- 2 teaspoons tahini
- 1 tablespoon cashew butter
- 1 teaspoon Reishi powder
- 1 teaspoon Lion's Mane powder
- 2 teaspoons maca powder
- ½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- 3 pitted dates chopped
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients into a blender and process to obtain a creamy liquid.
- Serve warm.
Notes
4. Classic Matcha Latte Recipe
For matcha beginners, this is the perfect way to start your journey. A matcha latte is comforting and antioxidant-rich, and it can be sweetened to suit your taste as you get accustomed to the herbal flavor.
You can blend the milk and matcha together in a blender or use an immersion frother for easier cleanup.
The Easiest Matcha Latte Recipe
Equipment
- High-speed blender
Ingredients
Classic Matcha Latte
- 1-½ cups warm vegan milk (I prefer almond or cashew milk.)
- 4 teaspoons matcha tea powder
- *Optional: sweetener of choice
Instructions
Classic Matcha Latte
- Place the vegan milk and matcha powder into the blender and process until foamy.
- Pour into serving mugs, add the sweetener of choice, and then serve.
Notes
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Gina Jansheski, a licensed, board-certified physician who has been practicing for more than 20 years. Learn more about Hello Glow's medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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Bronfman says
Very interesting! I`ve never tried it before, but will do it.
Anthony J. Spears says
Yes, you're right, perfect green tone with no increased heart rate, healthy. Thanks for your recipe.
amelia says
love the recipe! which brand of powder would you recommend? thanks!
Michelle says
Matcha is awesome! I've been making my own matcha green tea powder for years. It's really simple to make your own, and it's more cost-effective too. All you need is a spice grinder/coffee grinder. I like adding matcha into my daily smoothies and shakes. :)
Ching says
A matcha fan here!
Grace says
I like green tea, and I've had matcha out in coffee shops before, and I like it too. I guess I'm just not sure what the difference is. And why I would buy matcha over just getting green tea?
Michelle says
Hi Grace, Matcha green tea powder is the same as green tea - all of the good stuff contained in green tea is in a higher concentration in matcha green tea powder.. The green tea leaves are ground into a very fine powder (which you can do at home if you have a spice/coffee grinder), that's the only difference. :)