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by Lisa Bryan
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Jan 11, 2024
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Matcha tea has become an almost daily ritual for me. It’s loaded with good-for-you benefits, simple to make, and energizing in the best way possible – without the 3pm caffeine slump!
This easy matcha tea only requires two ingredients – matcha powder and hot water. It’s the traditional recipe that’s enjoyed in Japan, with lots of frothy little bubbles on top.
Matcha has a grassy, umami flavor and some may consider it an acquired taste, though I personally love it. If you’d like to ease into the flavor of matcha, you can always add a little sweetener to this tea. You can also make a matcha latte with foamed milk or even sneak the matcha powder into homemade snacks, like my matcha pistachio bliss balls.
But the best part about matcha is that it contains a bunch of health benefits, from being a powerful antioxidant and detoxifier to giving you a calm yet energizing boost throughout the day. So if you’re looking for the next star ingredient to incorporate into your routine, give matcha a try!
Matcha Tea Ingredients
- Matcha powder: I use an organic ceremonial grade matcha (more on that below), like Jade Leaf Matcha or Ippodo Tea Matcha.
- Hot water: You want hot, but not boiling water for this recipe. 175°F is perfect!
- Optional Sweetener: Feel free to add honey, maple syrup, or another sweetener to your liking.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below
Different Grades of Matcha Powder
Shopping for matcha powder can be overwhelming, but there are two main types – ceremonial grade and culinary grade. Here’s a quick summary and how they should be used:
- Ceremonial Grade is the highest quality matcha and most expensive. It’s made from young matcha leaves that have been shaded for longer with stems removed to improve its naturally sweet flavor and radiate an electric green color. This is what’s used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies and is best enjoyed on its own.
- Culinary Grade is a bit lower in quality and price. But this makes it a great ingredient to use in other matcha recipes, where it’s mixed into something. Think of it as a form of cooking wine where you can use it for everything — from baking to cooking.
Matcha versus Green Tea
So what’s the difference between regular green tea and matcha tea? Green tea that’s manufactured into tea bags is steeped in hot water, giving you only about 75% of its nutrients. Alternatively, matcha is a very fine powder made from grinding whole green tea leaves. And once it’s whisked with hot water, you consume the entire leaf with all its shining health benefits.
Matcha is also unique in how it’s harvested. The leaves are shaded from the sun several weeks before harvest to slow down growth, which increases chlorophyll levels and boosts the production of amino acids. That’s what gives matcha its vibrant green color, energizing nutrients, and unique taste.
How To Make Matcha Green Tea
The traditional method is to use a bamboo whisk and matcha bowl. And if you plan to make it often it definitely makes sense to purchase a set, as I’ve done. But you can also use a handheld frother in a pinch, I won’t tell!
- Traditional Method: Add your matcha powder to a small sieve, and sift the matcha over a matcha bowl. Then, pour ¼ cup of hot water into the bowl and use a bamboo whisk to whisk vigorously in a “W” pattern for about 30 seconds. You’ll know it’s done when the tea becomes frothy and there are no chunks of matcha powder in the water. Then, fill the mug all the way up with hot water and enjoy.
- Frother Method: If you’re in a rush, you can always “whisk” the matcha powder straight into your cup with hot water and an electric frother. But don’t try to stir with just a spoon as you’ll end up with clumps of matcha!
- Optional Sweetener: If you find matcha a bit bitter, you can add a touch of maple syrup, honey, or your favorite sweetener to keep the flavors balanced and enjoyable.
More Healthy Drinks
If you’re looking for more healthy drinks options, you can’t go wrong with any of these!
- Golden Milk – The classic golden turmeric milk.
- Turmeric Tea – A soothing, cold weather tea.
- Elderberry Tea – An immune-boosting tea made from dried elderberries.
- Green Juice – A nutrient powerhouse and easy to make!
If you make this matcha green tea, I’d love to hear how it turned out in the comment box below. Your review will help other readers in the community.
Easy Matcha Tea
5 from 1 vote
Prep: 5 minutes mins
Total: 5 minutes mins
Servings: 1 serving
Author: Lisa Bryan
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Description
Matcha tea is warming, healthy, and energizing. Watch the video below to see how I make this in my kitchen!
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon matcha powder
- ¼ cup hot water
- 1 cup additional hot water
- Optional: honey, maple syrup, or other sweetener to taste
Instructions
Sift. Sift the matcha (to remove any lumps) into a mug or small bowl.
Whisk. Pour the ¼ cup of hot water into the mug and use a matcha whisk to whisk vigorously in a "W" pattern for about 30 seconds, until frothy. Alternatively, you can use an electric frother.
Fill up the mug. Add the remaining hot water and enjoy. Sweeten to taste, if desired.
Lisa’s Tips
- If it’s summertime, you can also make iced matcha tea. After you’ve made the matcha tea, chill it in the fridge, then pour it over ice in a glass. It’s refreshing! And if you want to get extra fancy, you could make this iced matcha and salted caramel latte.
- Also, the glass matcha bowl I use in the video above isn’t as big in real life as it looks on video, lol!
Nutrition
Calories: 6kcal | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 15mg | Vitamin A: 100IU | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: Matcha Tea, Matcha Tea Recipe
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Recipe originally posted August 2015, but updated to include new photos, video, and information for your benefit!
