Matcha Tea Latte

Matcha Tea Latte is a hot beverage made with green tea Matcha powder, steamed milk and a pinch of honey. 

After making that amazing Matcha Whipped Cream a couple weeks for those spooky Bloody Monster Eyes Halloween Milkshakes a couple weeks ago, I have been hooked on everything Matcha. Matcha is a great ingredient for baking and drinks to add so much flavor and supply some great health benefits. 

Health Benefits of Matcha

Matcha comes from green tea leaves and is finely ground into a powder.  There are different grades of Matcha powder : Ceremonial, Premium and Culinary. Ceremonial is at the top but can be pricey while Culinary is the cheapest but may be slightly bitter. For everyday consumption, I recommend the middle grade of Premium with its subtle flavor while being rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. There are many health benefits to drinking a Matcha Tea Latte but here are a handful of my tops reasons:

1. Energy without the crash. Matcha provides a boost of lasting energy without the crash for better concentration and alertness. 
2. Full of antioxidants. These antioxidants help counteract the harmful effects of free radicals in the body to prevent chronic diseases and illnesses. 
3. May help burn more calories by boosting metabolism. 
4. L-theanine has relaxation properties to reduce stress without making you sleepy. 
5.  Antibacterial properties to neutralize bacteria in the mouth for better oral health. 

 

Matcha Tea Latte

Matcha Tea Latte is really creamy and has a fantastic lingering sweet after taste.  Some people say Matcha is one of those ingredients one needs to acquire a taste for because it is a little strange but I think any tea drinker will really enjoy this latte. I sure do and it is a great alternative to coffee to get some of those health benefits mentioned above and still get some caffeine. I also notice that although Matcha has about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee, it does not make jittery at all. Just alert and ready to take on the day. 

Steamed Milk

The type of milk used in your will alter the taste and the amount of microfoam (froth) you will get for a Matcha Tea Latte. Dairy milk works the best when creating lattes for creating a microfoam while a vanilla almond milk can add more flavor and creaminess but less foam. Coconut can also be another alternative to a dairy milk. 

Ways to Steam Milk

1. 1.  Mason jar. Heat the milk up in the microwave in a mason, close the lid and shake. Careful as the jar will be very hot. 
   2. Whisk. Bring milk to a simmer on the stovetop and then whisk until a froth forms. 
   3. Espresso machine. Use the wand from your espresso machine to steam the milk according to your machines instructions. 
   4. Electric mixer. Carefully use an electric mixer in your hot milk to form a froth. 
   5. Milk frother wand. Submerge the wand in hot milk and emulsify until that froth forms. 
   6. Traditional Bamboo Whisk can be used. Whisk until a froth forms.