Matcha Latte
Fuel Your Morning
Are you looking for a magical potion that gives you fuel to jumpstart your morning while providing the mood boost you need to be optimistic about the day ahead? While it may not be a magical potion, a matcha latte could be the perfect addition to your morning ritual to start your day right.
Come with us as we explore what matcha is and the benefits of a matcha latte. We will then share how you can make a delicious matcha latte at home.
What Is Matcha?
Matcha is a type of green tea. It starts from the same tea plant that makes white, black, green, and oolong tea — Camellia sinensis. Recipes like matcha tea lattes use culinary or premium-grade matcha.
Centuries ago, matcha was used in Japanese tea ceremonies to aid meditation and invoke contemplation. This calming ritual is practiced today, although only high-quality, ceremonial-grade matcha is used for this practice.
The Camellia plant is grown in the sun for other forms of tea. However, tea plants set aside for matcha production spend a lot of time growing in the shade. This shade is one of the reasons that matcha is so high in chlorophyll and other phytonutrients. Chlorophyll is what gives matcha green tea powder its green color. It’s a powerful antioxidant.
What makes matcha unique is its high levels of catechins. Catechins are a phenolic compound found in many teas and are antioxidants. There are 137 times more catechins found in matcha than in green tea.
Another big difference between matcha and other teas, including green tea, is that the whole leaf is consumed instead of steeped. Green tea leaves used for matcha are the youngest of the tea leaves.
Once harvested, they are steamed to preserve their nutrition and bright color and then dried. The dried leaves are then ground into a fine powder to mix with your warm liquid of choice — we recommend water or non-dairy milk like oat milk as opposed to cow’s milk.
What is Ceremonial Grade Matcha?
Ceremonial matcha is the most premium-quality matcha available. And because it’s made with only the very best green tea leaves, ceremonial matcha has significantly more antioxidants, caffeine, and chlorophyll.
What Are the Benefits of Matcha Lattes?
A morning matcha tea latte can provide you with more than the pick-me-up you crave. Let’s take a look.
Smoother Energy Boost
Matcha lattes give you the energy boost you need to get your day going. Unlike other caffeinated espresso beverages, matcha provides a caffeine boost plus a dose of L-theanine. L-theanine helps to reduce the constriction of blood vessels that caffeine can cause, which may cause you to feel jittery.
Starting the day with the Kroma Wellness Beauty Matcha Latte provides a smooth energy boost while supporting you through the day with a dose of collagen protein and amazing superfoods — Turmeric, Maca, Ginger, and Goji.
Rich in Antioxidants
Your body is constantly protecting itself against free radicals. Free radicals are molecules with unpaired electrons. These unpaired electrons will attach themselves to DNA, proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids.
While free radicals can be a normal byproduct of certain bodily functions, like the immune system and exercise, they can also be caused by external factors. These include smoking, pollution, and highly processed foods.
Your body can neutralize the free radicals on its own, but if there are too many free radicals for your body to handle alone, it can cause oxidative stress. This type of stress may lead to decreased cognitive function, low mood, and reduced muscle strength.
Antioxidants from matcha, L-theanine, chlorophyll, and flavonols, can help to neutralize free radicals by giving up one of their electrons to the free radical, making it stable with complete electron pairs.
High in Phytonutrients
Phytonutrients are nutrients found only in plants that may benefit humans' overall health. Chlorophyll, caffeine, and catechins are each important phytonutrients with their own potential health benefits.
A specific type of catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is perhaps the most recognized phytonutrient in matcha. Matcha has the highest levels of EGCG naturally available. ECGC has many possible benefits, including antioxidant effects, heart health, weight management, and skin support.
Our 100 percent vegan Fasting Matcha is perfect for a morning boost or an afternoon wake-up. Not only does Fasting Matcha contain the power of matcha, but it’s crafted with spirulina, ginger, turmeric, and goji for even more antioxidant power. We turn to monk fruit to add a touch of sweetness but without the sugar spike or calories.
Supports Brain Function
The phytochemicals found in matcha are highly supportive of brain function. Caffeine can improve performance on cognitive tasks and increase alertness. L-theanine is believed to support relaxation and feelings of calm.
If a mood boost is what you need, L-theanine may be able to help. L-theanine may have the ability to maintain mental health, support sleep, and promote an overall lift in mood.
What Does Matcha Taste Like?
Matcha has a pleasant grassy or vegetal, meaty (like a meat broth), and nutty flavor, with a slightly bitter taste that transitions into a sweet aftertaste. Some have also described matcha as having an initial flavor of dark chocolate.
How Can You Make a Matcha Latte at Home?
Matcha lattes are becoming increasingly popular at coffee shops, but you don't have to leave the house to make the perfect matcha green tea latte. All you really need to make your own matcha tea latte is:
- Organic Ceremonial Grade Matcha
- A matcha whisk or frother
- Hot water
- Your non-dairy milk of choice
- Your favorite mug
For this matcha latte recipe, simply use your matcha whisk and some hot water to fully integrate your powder. Then, steam and froth your milk and add it to the mixture.
Finally, you can enjoy your matcha latte sweetened or unsweetened. You can use simple syrup or choose healthier alternatives like agave nectar or maple syrup if you want it sweetened. You can even add a pop of flavor with some vanilla extract!
But what if you don’t have time to make your own latte? Before you swing through the drive-thru for a Starbucks matcha latte, invest in a one-step matcha tea latte option made with quality matcha powder.
With the Kroma Wellness Beauty Matcha Starter Kit, you’ll get everything you need to make the perfect matcha latte. Add the hot water or non-dairy milk of your choice — almond milk or coconut milk are delicious alternatives to whole milk.
Our kit comes with our Beauty Matcha, our signature tumbler, and a milk frother to help cut your prep time down.
If you prefer iced matcha lattes, add ice after you’ve prepared your matcha. If you have the time, pop it in the fridge before adding ice to take some heat off so the ice doesn’t water down your creamy latte. You can also simply follow our Iced Blueberry Oat Milk Matcha Latte Recipe, for a fruity twist on a basic matcha latte.
If you want to incorporate matcha into your diet in other ways, you can try making Beauty Matcha Chia Pudding or Beauty Matcha Bars with Chocolate Ganache.
The Bottom Line
Creating a morning routine can kickstart your day. Adding a morning matcha latte can help boost your energy without the jitters, provide your body with phytonutrients, and support your overall brain function.
Supporting your body throughout the day with whole foods and beverages is an important way to boost your health. Kroma Wellness has many options, from lattes and smoothies to bone broth and porridge, to keep you moving throughout the day.
Reset your diet, reclaim your health, and try all our delicious products with our 5-Day Reset.
Sources
Determination of catechins in matcha green tea by micellar electrokinetic chromatography | PubMed
Free Radicals, Antioxidants, and Functional Foods: Impact on Human Health | PMC
Antioxidant Properties and Nutritional Composition of Matcha Green Tea | PMC
What Are Phytonutrients? Types and Food Sources | WebMD
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG): Chemical and biomedical perspectives | PMC
Effect of Green Tea Phytochemicals on Mood and Cognition | PubMed
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