You are here to learn some healthy recipes made with matcha, which means you are familiar with this Japanese green tea powder. It had been used only for making hot drinks. But today, matcha is becoming popular all over the world. From tea to desserts, cakes to cookies and lattes, matcha is everywhere. This green tea powder is used to enhance the flavour of dished and make them healthier.
Before we learn how to make recipes with matcha, let us find out more about matcha green tea powder.
What is matcha?
Like green tea and other true teas, matcha powder derives from the same plant: Camellia Sinensis. But the methods of cultivation and processing tea leaves are different from other teas. Farmers prepare tea leaves for matcha by covering the plants for around one month. Then they separate the stem and veins and make the fine powder of the leaves. Growing the plants into shade helps the leaves to get a dark green colour which gives the matcha powder its lively colour.
We can say that matcha is the top quality of green tea and holds different nutritious values. It contains more theanine and caffeine than green tea. Matcha has more health benefits than green tea. Rich in antioxidants, it is good for your liver, heart, brain and may help you to reduce weight.
All in all, matcha is the best option to add to drinks and other food dishes.
What does matcha taste like?
If you have never taste matcha, I suggest you taste it once. You can prepare a simple matcha tea by dissolving it with a whisker into hot water, or you can try some other dishes. In general, matcha looks vibrant, and in taste, it is slightly bitter, vegetal, and has a sweet note in the end. I can say matcha combines well with every dish. You can add sweetener to enhance its delightful natural flavour. HerBlend’s Japanese Matcha is best for culinary and tea.
Matcha is available in two forms: ceremonial matcha and culinary matcha. Both are bold in flavour. People use ceremonial matcha for making tea, whereas culinary matcha uses in smoothies and other food items. The earthy flavoured matcha can be used in drinks and for baking food items.
Now, let’s start with a recipe that can be the best alternative to your regular drink.
Recipes
Matcha latte
If you are a great lover of latte, try out this new flavour latte. This matcha latte recipe is easy to make and doesn’t need fancy types of equipment. You can easily prepare a light, creamy and delicious recipe at your home.
Ingredients
- Matcha powder- 1tablespoon
- Water- 2-3 spoons
- Milk- ½ cup or 1 cup, suggested coconut or almond milk
- Sweetener of your choice (honey, sugar, maple syrup)
How to make matcha latte
Method
- Put the matcha tea powder into a cup.
- If you are using sugar as a sweetener, put it along with matcha powder.
- Now pour the hot water over the powder and stir it with a whisker. I suggest you use the traditional bamboo whisker for preparing matcha. If you don’t have it, use the normal whisker available in your kitchen.
- It is time to exercise your arms because whisk the mixture vigorously to dilute it. Make sure there are no lumps. The mixture should look smooth and creamy.
- Heat the milk (dairy or non-dairy). You can either boil it to make it warmer or just heat it. It is up to you.
- Now add the milk into the prepared matcha mixture. For making an iced matcha latte, use chilled milk.
- Add the sweetener(if you didn’t add earlier) and whisk again to make some froth. At this stage, you can also use a milk frother.
Your matcha latte is ready to enjoy!
Matcha cake
Matcha cake is rich, soft, and delicious. You’ll gonna love the cake in matcha flavour. All you need is the base ingredients for cakes, and just add the matcha powder to give it a unique taste. The best thing about matcha is that even after baking, it does not fade in colour. You will get a healthy matcha cake in rich green colour that will soothe your eyes.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour- 2 cups
- Matcha powder- 2 tablespoons or ¾ cup
- Baking powder – 3teaspoon
- Salt – a pinch
- Sugar – 1 cup
- Butter (room temperature)- 1cup
- Eggs- 3 (optional)
- Vanilla extract- 2 teaspoon (optional)
- Milk- 1cup
How to make matcha cake
- Preheat the oven at 179⁰c and prepare the cake tin. Apply some butter around the side and at the bottom. Also, place parchment paper in the cake tin.
- Now take a medium-size bowl and mix the dry ingredients, all-purpose flour, matcha powder, baking powder, salt into it.
- Into another bowl, take the butter and beat it with the electric blender or hand beater. Beat until it becomes soft. It is time to add sugar and continue the mixing. Keep mixing until you get a fluffy and light consistency of the mixture.
- Add vanilla extract, eggs and whisk them.
- When the wet ingredient mixture prepare, start adding the dry ingredients mixture into small batches. If the batter seems thick, add the milk as required. We need to have the same consistency as the other cake batters.
- Transfer the batter into the cake tin and put it into the preheated oven. Let it bake for 20-25 minutes at 180⁰c.
- Check the cake with a toothpick or knife. Insert the toothpick into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean, it means the cake is ready. Let it cool completely.
- Decorate the cake with your most-liked frosting and enjoy this mouthwatering matcha cake.
You can alter the number of ingredients as per the required size of your cake.
Matcha ice cream
Like other ice creams, matcha ice cream has a creamy and smooth texture. This matcha easy-to-make recipe is sweet, slightly bitter, and has an earthy flavour. Indulge in wholesome matcha ice cream on a warm day.
There are many ways to make matcha ice cream, but I choose the easy option for you. Here is the healthy and delicious ice cream recipe.
Ingredients:
- Whole milk- 1/2cup
- Matcha powder- 2-3 tablespoon
- Sugar-1/2 cup
- Heavy whipping cream- 2cups
- Condensed milk- 1cup(optional)
How to make matcha Ice cream at home
- Put the milk into a pan and heat it. Don’t boil the milk, just heat it. If you have chosen sugar rather than condensed milk, dissolve the sugar in the milk.
- Sieve the matcha powder into a bowl, add the milk and condensed milk. Stir it properly with no lumps.
- Now beat the heavy whipping cream with a whisk in a separate bowl until it forms a stiff spike. Once it is prepared, add the matcha mixture and whisk for more time.
- The ice cream mixture is ready to put in a freezer. After an hour, take out the matcha ice cream and again whisk it. This process will make the ice cream smooth and more creamy.
- Refrigerate it for another 5-6 hours. Matcha ice cream is ready to eat.
You can increase and decrease the quantity of the ingredients as per your choice. Besides, you can balance of sweetness of matcha ice cream by using both sugar and condensed milk; It is up to you.
There are many more dishes like matcha coolies, matcha chocolate bar, matcha barfi you can make. Matcha is healthy to eat, and you can add this into your favourite dish and get its benefit.
Buy the best matcha green tea powder from Herblend online tea store
