You’ve probably had a Starbucks Matcha Latte at some point. But, what if I told you that you can make your own Barista Quality Matcha that’s cheaper and healthier? Yep, you can! I want to share a recipe I came up with and absolutely love. It involves Matcha and a few other spices including cardamom and cinnamon. Want to find out how to make this delicious Matcha? Keep reading!
What is Matcha?
Matcha is finely grounded green tea. Interestingly enough, the word Matcha actually means “powdered tea.” When you make a cup of matcha, you’re actually drinking the tea leaves. The only thing is, they’re dissolved instead of brewed.
Matcha tea leaves are prepared slightly differently than regular tea leaves. The Matcha tea plants are covered with a shade cloth before being harvested. This is done so that the tea grows with more robust flavor and texture than regular green tea. Next, the leaves are steamed, dried, and then grounded into a fine powder.
Are Matcha Lattes healthy?
Matcha lattes are not only delicious but they are very healthy. Matcha contains catechins, a type of antioxidants which are believed to have cancer fighting effects on the body. Studies have shown that matcha can help protect the liver. It may also boost brain function, prevent cancer, and promote heart health.
I have to make a quick distinction though between your typical Starbucks (or other store-bought) Matcha latte and homemade Matcha.
Starbucks Matcha lattes aren’t as healthy as you’d think. They are filled with way too much sugar. A grande Starbucks Matcha latte has 32 grams of sugar. That’s more than the recommended daily amount of sugar we should be consuming!
However, a homemade Matcha latte tastes just as great (if not greater) than its Starbucks alternative and it’s much lower in sugar.
Related: Quick and Easy Anti-Inflammatory Golden Chai Latte Recipe in Less Than 7 Minutes
Best Tips for Preparing Matcha
Have you ever prepared Matcha that didn’t turn out how you’d expected? I have, and it’s not the best feeling. But, if you keep a few of these tips in mind, you should be able to avoid most issues.
- Use water that’s just under boiling, around 175 degrees. If your water is too hot, the tea might taste bitter. But if your water isn’t hot enough, it may be difficult to properly whisk the matcha and you may get lumps in your latte.
- Sift your Matcha powder before preparing. This also helps you avoid any lumps.
- Start off with about 3 tablespoons of water to 1-2 spoons of Matcha and whisk away all the clumps.
- Add more water and keep whisking as you go
How to Choose Good Quality Matcha
According to In Pursuit of Tea, you can identify quality matcha by looking to see if the product is from Japan and mentions being “stone-ground.” Matcha labeled as hand-picked and from an early spring harvest are also great but not necessarily indicators of quality.
Beyond inspecting the packaging, you should inspect the Matcha powder itself. It should be bright green in color with rich vegetal aromas of pine, and hints of chocolate, nuts, and cream. The consistency should be fine like cornstarch though some clumps are normal.
Ultimately, focus on the taste. The best Matcha has an intense flavor with notes of bitterness, sweetness, and savoriness.
Related: How to Stop Obsessing Over Food and Be Healthy for the Right Reasons (ft. Rebekah Buege)
Culinary Grade or Ceremonial Grade Matcha?
You might have seen these terms floating around the internet. What’s the difference? Which is better.
Thrive Market puts it this way. Ceremonial Grade Matcha is perfect for the tea connoisseur. If you’re making Matcha tea or lattes, this grade is the one you want to choose. Ceremonial Grade Matcha has a rich, robust flavor that’s perfect for your Matcha drinks.
On the other hand, Culinary Grade Matcha has a medium-bodied flavor and is made to blend with other ingredients. It can be used in baking, cooking, smoothies, and more.
The bottom-line is, both are great options. You can also use Culinary Grade Matcha in your lattes. If you prefer a less robust flavor, this may be the option for you.
Related: 7 Reasons to Add Rose Tea to Your Self Care Routine
How to Make Your Barista Quality Iced Matcha Latte at Home
Ready to make an excellent Barista Quality Iced Matcha at home? Follow these steps!
Homemade Barista Quality Matcha Latte
Make your own Barista quality matcha latte at home!
Ingredients
- 1.5 tsp Ceremonial Matcha from Thrive Market
- ¾ - 1 cup Califia Oat Milk (or your choice of milk)
- ¼ tsp Ground Cardamom
- ¼ tsp Ground Cinnamon
- ½ tsp Madagascar Vanilla from Trader Joes
- 1 tsp Cane Sugar (or to taste)
- Optional: Ice
Instructions
Step 1: Sift your Matcha to remove any lumps. Combine cardamom, cinnamon, matcha and cane sugar in a bowl or mason jar.
Step 2: Pour 3 tablespoons of boiled water over the mixture and use your matcha ID to blend. Keep adding water and blending as you go. Add up to two ounces of water.
Step 3: Prepare your glass with ice and the cup of oat milk.
Step 4: Pour the matcha mixture over the milk and stir.
I hope you enjoyed learning about Matcha and making your homemade Matcha latte! What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear them!
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It might sound silly but I’m just now learning that matcha is ground tea leaves! Great post! I’m bookmarking it to make this.
That’s okay! I learned that recently too! Awesome, let me know how it goes!