Published / Last modified By Shihoko | Chopstick Chronicles / 8 Comments
Adding powerful matcha benefits to your everyday diet is easy and simple! Explore over fifty recipes for drinks, baking, cooking, and even for special dietary requirements to incorporate matcha powder into your daily diet.
What is Matcha?
Matcha (抹茶) literally means powdered green tea. Matcha is made from camellia sinensis tea leaves which are blocked from sunlight for a period of time before picking. Then they are steamed, dried and finally milled very finely into powder. Blocking from sunlight increases Umami elements of amino acid and theanine. Also, this suppresses the production of catechins which give a bitter taste.
What are Matcha Health Benefits?
Although Matcha has been less studied than brewed green tea and the causation of matcha health benefit is not yet proven, Matcha is believed to have cancer-fighting effects. Also, studies of Matchabring to light a variety of health benefits such as losing weight, enhancing the immune system, and is high in Antioxidants.
High Quality Matcha
There is a broad spectrum of grades of Matcha. High-quality matcha has a bright green color and strong fragrance. Usually the better quality of the matcha powder, the more expensive.
How to Choose High Quality Matcha?
You can not see the colour nor fragrance of the matcha because it is usually sold in a vacuum pack to prevent oxidation. When you purchase, check where they are produced. Matcha from Uji, Kyoto and Nishino, Aichi prefecture Japan are vivid dark green in color and melow bittersweet with a rich flavour.
What does matcha taste like?
Contrary to what people generally believe, Matcha does not have a bitter taste. High-quality matcha prepared to drink at tea ceremonies has a slightly sweet taste.
How to incorporate it into your daily diet?
Generally, matcha is used for tea ceremonies and drinking in Japan. However, because it comes in powdered form it is used as a natural source of flavoring and coloring for baking and cooking as well as for drinks. I complied 50 plus more creative recipes to incorporate Matcha green tea powder into your daily diet.
Drinks
- Matcha vanilla latte is my favourite comfort drink in the morning and when relaxing at night.
- Matcha Tea Latte is a hot beverage made with green tea Matcha powder, steamed milk and a pinch of honey.
- This Coconut Matcha Latte recipe is dairy-free and vegan and perfect for a healthy, energizing beverage that won’t leave you jittery.
- Learn everything you need to know to make a delicious matcha bubble tea at home in less than 15 minutes.
- This matcha horchata is a refreshing, creamy, sweet vegan drink with a big, punchy flavor from the cinnamon and matcha green tea. A twist on the classic Latin American drink.
Bakings
Cookies
- Matcha checkerboard cookies subtle green, perfectly match the traditional color of the festive season.
- This matcha black sesame cookie is very easy to make and is a super tasty Japanese infused sweet treat.
- A fun twist on shortbread, this cookie recipes has matcha and is rolled in pistachios!
Muffins and cupcakes
- Matcha Green Tea Muffins with Kuromame! These muffins are so soft and the matcha and kuromame pair perfectly together!
- Fluffy and moist matcha cupcakes topped with white chocolate cream cheese frosting!
- Pistachio Matcha Muffins! Healthy, delicious pistachio muffins that pack a punch. The sweetness of matcha, saltiness of pistachios, and the softness of bananas? You’re in for a treat!
Other bakings
- Baking with subtle matcha green tea and the hint of the rich bittersweet flavor of Matcha madeleines, is the baking I do for the holiday season.
- Recipe for Matcha Green Tea Vanilla donuts. Recipe makes 10 donuts. These are perfect for a tea party, birthday party or dessert!
- These matcha coconut yogurt tarts are so green, healthy and easy to make! The matcha green tea gives them that amazing colour and fills them with goodness. They’re also delicious and quick.
- This matcha bread recipe uses almond flour, almond extract and sliced almonds for a lovely moist and aromatic quick bread with all the benefits of green tea powder.
Dessert
- Surprise your family and friends by making this matcha marbled no-bake cheesecake. It is easier to make than the Japanese souffle cheesecake.
- Cold Matcha Zenzai is made with sweet azuki bean paste with matcha jelly.
- The word tiramisu in Italian means ‘pick me up’, ‘cheer me up’ or ‘lift me up’, I can promise you that this cake will definitely cheer you up and lift you up to a delight moment!
- A light, airy, green tea cake that has the best matcha frosting! This matcha vanilla cake will delight and surprise.
Puddings
- This simple chia pudding is a great way to start the day. Layered with raspberry, matcha green tea, and vanilla this dish is beautiful and delicious!
- This creamy and smooth matcha pudding has a fresh and earthy green tea taste. It’s topped with a luscious white chocolate whipped cream to enhance the elegance of the dessert and natural sweetness of the matcha.
- Why not start breakfast out with this quick and easy matcha green tea chia pudding? Put the ingredients into a container before you go to bed and wake up to a ready-made breakfast!
- This matcha pudding can be eaten for breakfast or dessert. It’s healthy and delicious!
Cooking
- This Matcha Green Tea Salmon is so flavorful and moist, your guests will beg you for the recipe. This easy to make restaurant-style dish is a keeper and will have you cooking salmon on a regular basis.
- This Green eggs and ham recipe using natural matcha tea powder to give the eggs a beautiful green color and a caffeinated kick.
Breakfast
- This easy + high protein matcha blueberry oatmeal is the perfect way to energize your day (without the crash) + provide you with a rich source of antioxidants!
- Jumpstart your day with delicious and healthy matcha overnight oats. The unique taste of matcha is complemented perfectly by white chocolate chips for a breakfast treat that you can prep ahead and grab as you go.
- What’s more perfect than this chocolate cranberry matcha granola to end this Winter?! Made with simple ingredients, ready in 30 minutes.
Smoothies
- Matcha Green Tea Banana Smoothie is a delicious and super healthy way to start the day.
- A chocolate Matcha milkshake for breakfast is acceptable when it is a healthy one.
- This matcha green tea smoothie bowl is the perfect way to start your day. Full of vitamins and antioxidants and delicious as well
- Smoothie bowl made with Matcha Green tea powder healthy, no refined sugar added.
- Mint Matcha Smoothie – a.k.a. a healthy Shamrock Shake! Loaded with vitamins and healthy fats, this dairy free, a refined sugar-free smoothie is a delicious treat you can indulge in without the guilt.
Keto & Low Carb Recipe
- These buttery Keto Matcha Shortbread Cookies are light, flakey and melt in your mouth! They are a delicious gluten-free and sugar-free snack.
- An easy Keto Matcha Chia Pudding made with only 4 ingredients and 3 grams net carbs! Low carb & keto, vegan, and paleo!
- An easy to make and yummy matcha protein snack to keep you fueled throughout the day.
- This authentic Japanese matcha cheesecake is so rich and delicious, you won’t want to share a slice! Top with your favorite berries for the ultimate sugar-free treat!
Gluten-Free Recipe
- This matcha mint chocolate chunk ice cream is made with coconut milk for a creamy, dairy and gluten free dessert. A refreshing treat for the warmer weather!
- Coconut Matcha Macaroons are easy to make, completely flourless and just 6 ingredients. Dipped and drizzled with dark chocolate, these delicious gluten-free cookies have a crisp exterior and chewy coconutty insides, spiked with a hint of grassy matcha.
- These gluten free Matcha Banana Donuts With Matcha Lemon Glaze are the perfect treat for breakfast – or late night snack!
Vegan Recipe
- Super soft, extra fluffy and tastes heavenly – these pancakes are made using almond flour, matcha green tea, and coconut milk
- This Gluten-Free Vegan Matcha Strawberry Cake is moist and fluffy and covered in a sweet and tangy strawberry frosting. Also refined sugar-free.
- This matcha mint chocolate chunk ice cream is made with coconut milk for a creamy, dairy and gluten free dessert. A refreshing treat for the warmer weather!
- Try this delicious and creamy Matcha Panna Cotta that’s VEGAN! It’s made with soy milk, kanten powder, sugar and matcha.
Ice-cream
- Very simple and easy to make Japanese Green tea ice cream.
- Whip up a batch of this Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream in 10 minutes with just two healthy ingredients. It will satisfy all your dessert cravings and nourish your body with antioxidants and vitamins.
- Smooth and creamy green tea ice cream made with 3 simple ingredients!!
- Matcha Green Tea is so good for you! If you are looking for another way to get all that green tea goodness, this Matcha Green Tea Frozen Yogurt is perfect! Light and refreshing and good for you!
- Treat your friends and family to some delicious homemade honey matcha ice cream that doesn’t require an ice cream maker to make!
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