The Tea SpotLight- Matcha Green Tea

On my first attempt at Matcha I unfortunately failed to properly mix my cuppa and thought that Matcha just wasn’t my “thing”. However, last weekend I was chatting with my co-worker Megan at our  Boulder Farmer’s Market booth about our favorite teas, and Megan was raving about Matcha to the point that I simply had to take notice.

Matcha green tea

Megan has Matcha almost daily and is such a huge fan, I decided it was time to give Matcha another shot. And I’m so very glad I did, now I crave this powerhouse green tea every day either traditionally prepared, cold brewed, or a personal favorite- a hot or cold latte.

What IS Matcha?

Matcha is a very finely powdered green tea. Ours hails from Japan, where this unique tea has been the center of culture and ceremony for hundreds of years. It is said that Buddhist monks drink Matcha to remain focused during long meditations. There are two main ways of preparing a traditional Matcha: thick (koicha) and thin (usucha). The Usucha method simply involves using less Matcha tea powder & creates a lighter tea. Koicha uses significantly more matcha than usucha -usually doubling the powder and halving the water. It is served almost exclusively as part of the Japanese tea ceremony.

Matcha Health Benefits

Matcha boasts an impressive variety of health benefits. Because you are ingesting the entire tea leaf when you drink Matcha (as opposed to drinking the brew the leaves give off with essentially any other tea) you take in all of the teas health properties. I’ve seen it suggested that one serving of Matcha is the equivalent of anywhere from 6-10 cups of other green teas. So truly, you are getting a healthy bang for your buck in this super charged green tea! Other health benefits associated with Matcha include: anti-aging, great source of EGCG ploypheonls, uplifting, increasing metal focus, increasing endurance, increasing metabolism, reducing cholesterol, calorie-free, fat-free, and gluten-free. **These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Matcha Made Three Ways-

The Traditional Take- add 1 teaspoon of Matcha powder to 16 ounces of water at 175 degrees F. To get this water temperature, bring water to a boil and allow to cool for 3 minutes. Mix using a small whisk or (pictured below) a small mixer like the one I favor. Mix well until all lumps are dissolved and the tea is smooth. Enjoy!

Cold Brew– add 1 teaspoon of Matcha powder to your Steep & Go (pairs with any brand of bottled water) or your Steep & Go Cold Brew Bottle set. I recommend having your bottle already chilled in the fridge since this makes for an exceptionally refreshing experience. Add tea to your bottle, screw the Steep & Go into place, shake heartily, and enjoy! You can also use any other bottle you have from home, I like the Steep & Go for ease of use and the pop-top.

Matcha Latte (either hot or cold)- add 1 teaspoon of Matcha to milk and mix well (again, I love to use my mini mixer). Add a touch of honey or agave if that’s your preference. Enjoy!

One of our lovely customers shared her iced Matcha Latte recipe with us, shown here-

“I use a little more than 1/2 tsp. of your Matcha and add a little water from my instant hot water tap. I use a battery powered foamer to mix it well. I let it get to room temp or put it in the fridge for a few minutes. Add some ice cubes and fill the rest of the 12 oz tea glass with cold almond/coconut milk blend and stir.” Renee’s Iced Matcha Latte.

I hope you’re ready to dig into your Matcha stash now, or order some if you’ve yet to try it! Perhaps some Matcha ice cream is next on the agenda…