Matcha: the cult-classic tea that’s taken everyone by storm. With origins in Japanese Tea Ceremonies, this bright green beverage has traveled a long way, and today can be found served hot or iced in almost every coffee shop, including Starbucks in the form of their classic green tea latte.
Matcha alone is made up of green tea leaves that have been grown in the shade for weeks, and then are ground into a super fine powder. This powder can then be whipped up into anything that your heart desires— seriously. Classic matcha tea is made by whisking matcha powder into hot water. Stir in a little steamed milk and a green tea latte is created. As one search for ‘matcha’ on Pinterest can prove, this powder can be turned into and infinite amount of cookies, candy, ice cream and more.
This super-food is much more than just a pretty tea or an additive to our favorite sweets. Matcha is made from the entire green tea leaf, instead of just soaked in water like a plain old cup of green tea, so all of the natural antioxidants found in the plant are even more beneficial. Because of this massive amount of antioxidants, matcha is rich in nutrients that promote some much needed, and well-deserved natural stress relief.
Matcha is also packed full with nutrients, that with regular exercise, can help to naturally boost and balance metabolism. Most importantly for busy college students, matcha is packed with caffeine and the amino acid theanine, which provides an energy boost that’s actually healthy, and thankfully won’t leave you with a headache and a buzz-crash before class is even over.
Sara Kirchner, a college freshman, swears by the burst of natural energy that matcha provides. “Nowadays I have such a packed schedule, so caffeine is necessary,” says Kirchner. “The matcha latte from Starbucks is my favorite. It gives me all the energy I need to get through my morning classes, but it’s not as crazy strong as coffee.”
Matcha is both delicious and healthy. Honestly, is there any other combination that can top that? Since matcha is such a champ, Valley pulled together a quick and simple recipe for the perfect matcha latte that you can easily whip up at home.
Matcha Latte (hot or iced)
- 1 tsp matcha powder
- 2 tsp sugar
- 3 tbsp warm water
- 1 cup cold or warm milk
- Blend sugar and matcha in mug or cup
- Add warm water and stir together until completely mixed
- Warm the milk in a sauce pan and pour into mug, or used cold milk for an iced latte
- Whisk the milk and matcha paste together until frothy and light
- Enjoy!
Now that you’ve added a new tea to your beverage repertoire, or have learned more about an already favorite, share with us @valleymag on Twitter your go-to spot to grab a green tea or your favorite matcha-filled treat!
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