Matcha Latte

Have you ever had Matcha? It's a finely ground green tea that can stand alone, but can also be made into lattes and smoothies, as a baking ingredient, and I'm sure many other ways I haven't read about yet. From what I've read, it has a lot of health benefits--plus it has a pretty good amount of caffeine. Matcha is high in antioxidants, boosts memory & concentration, increases energy & endurance, detoxifies the body, fortifies the immune system, helps lower cholesterol, and increases metabolism. It's also loaded with catechins & EGCg, which are some of the most beneficial antioxidants and are said to have strong cancer-fighting properties. I've been keeping an eye out for a place that sells it, but it's pretty hard to find around here (if you know a good place to find it, share!). I've been a fan of the iced Green Tea Latte for a while now, and recently found a recipe for making your own so when I came across this little can, I decided to give it a try. It was the tiniest bit chilly when I got home, so I tried my hand at a hot Matcha Latte.



All you need is a little milk, your Matcha powder, and your sweetener of choice. Oh, and a whisk. I used unsweetened almond milk and honey to make mine. Mix together 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of Matcha and a little room temperature water until smooth. Add 6 to 8 ounces of milk and whisk, then heat over medium-low heat until it's hot. I have a handheld milk frother, so I added a little foam to the top of my latte. Drizzle with honey or stir in your sweetener and enjoy!



Now, this is not the traditional way to prepare Matcha, so far I haven't been able to find a traditional Matcha set around here. I am keeping an eye out, though! It's always interesting to learn the traditional aspect of things--especially tea because it tends to be a beautiful process.