Simple, Sustainable + Tasty Matcha Lattes

Matcha literally means “powdered tea”. And that’s exactly what you’re consuming, green tea leaves that are ground down into a powder. Since you ingest the whole leaves, it’s a more potent source of nutrients than traditional steeped green tea. A serving of matcha contains 3x the amount of caffeine compared to steeped green tea. It’s similar to the amount in a cup of coffee. However, matcha powder contains a natural substance called l-theanine, which induces relaxation without drowsiness. This is why I prefer a matcha latte over a cup of coffee. Also, I think the taste is better, and it’s a green drink so how could it not intrigue you? Here’s how to make a matcha latte faster than your coffee maker can brew your cup of coffee. Plus, it only requires three ingredients Let’s get into it!

What you’ll need:

-½-1 tsp matcha powder

-1 cup Dairy-free milk (or more depending on your cup size)

-Natural sweetener of some sort to taste

I was able to find matcha powder in bulk at my local co-op and used a date as my sweetener but I also think using pure maple syrup or honey would taste really yummy as well. For my non-dairy milk I used oat milk but any kind would work.

How to make it:

1. Heat up milk on stovetop or microwave. The amount of milk I use depends on the size of my cup. I usually just measure out the milk in the cup I’m using to know exactly how much to use.
2. Add matcha powder and sweetener of choice to the blender
3. Once the milk is hot (right before a boil) add it to your blender but leave a little on the side and blend
4. I like mine really frothy so I blend for a good 20-30 seconds
5. Pour into your favorite cup, add the remaining hot milk (I try and be fancy and make designs but it never works haha)
6. Enjoy!

It takes a total of 5 minutes, if that, tastes super yummy and is super nutritious. This drink is jam-packed with antioxidants, boosts your metabolism, detoxifies naturally, relaxes the mind and body and is rich in fiber.

Note: Matcha is traditionally prepared during Japanese tea ceremonies, and the act of preparing and consuming the drink is very sacred. This drink, I’ve heard, is much more bitter than the recipe I’ve listed above but is an experience that I respect very much and hope to enjoy one day.