The Matcha Craze: Why Everyone’s Going Green

17 Amazing Matcha Recipes You’ll Slobber Over

Matcha 

Seeing green? It’s not just you. Matcha has taken the planet by storm. Head to Pinterest or Instagram and you’re bound to see an array of emerald-hued dishes — from matcha lattes to granola. Plus, this trendy powder is full of health benefits — so we understand why everybody’s going green.

Matcha is formed from whole tea leaves that are pulverized into an excellent fine powder. Research indicates that matcha powder has significantly greater levels of antioxidants per serving than brewed tea. It also provides a mellow caffeine boost, allowing you to energize without getting the jitters or the post-cuppa crash. Matcha’s ability to induce alertness also can be attributed to an amino alkanoic acid called L-Theanine, which is linked to promoting relaxation (but not drowsiness). Bonus points: Matcha can also be more detoxifying than regular tea because of its high chlorophyll content.

Before you head to the kitchen, take note: All matcha falls into one among two categories, ceremony-grade and food-grade. While ceremony-grade is taken into account of higher quality and will be used for drinking, the food-grade powder is meant for baking and cooking. That said, there’s no reason you can’t use the ceremony-grade stuff in recipes, too, and it often features a less bitter flavor than the powder typically utilized in foods. Able to get your green on?

17 Matcha Recipes You’ll Love (Matcha Latte Included)

1. Matcha Crepes with Chocolate Ganache

Instagram these brightly-hued crepes and your friends will go green with envy. The batter is full of fiber, because of whole-grain buckwheat flour, and you’ll get a hearty dose of antioxidants from the matcha powder you’ll mix in. These crepes work perfectly at breakfast, with some fresh fruit and whipped coconut milk. Or serve them for dessert, with an easy bittersweet chocolate and coconut milk ganache.

2. Matcha Chia Seed Pudding

The only requirements for this easy breakfast or snack are chia seeds, milk and matcha powder. (We recommend using almond milk, as its natural sweetness mellows the sometimes-grassy flavor of matcha.) From there, add any mix-ins you wish, from toasted nuts, to fresh fruit or chocolate chips.

3. Coconut Matcha Latte

Take one sip of this creamy, slightly earthy beverage and you’ll want to bid adieu to espresso-based lattes for all times. The naturally sweet and rich coconut milk will pair so well together with your green powder that you simply may never crave a pumpkin spice version again.

4. Healthy Matcha Tea Coconut Fudge

Healthy fudge? Now we’ve seen everything. a mixture of pot cheese and psyllium husk give this treat a healthy dose of protein and fiber. Coconut butter lends a luscious texture, while shredded coconut, matcha powder and stevia create a subtly sweet flavor.

5. Matcha Granola with Blueberries

On its own, matcha can have an intense, sometimes bitter taste. During this green granola recipe, roasted nuts and juicy blueberries do wonders to tone down its strong green flavor. Plus, serve it up for breakfast and you’ll get that much-needed a.m. caffeine boost.

6. Matcha Mochi Yogurt Pops

Matcha and mochi are a match made in heaven. In these healthy treats, tart yogurt balances the grassy matcha flavor while bits of chewy, sweet mochi add some texture to every pop.

7. Vanilla Matcha Protein Smoothie

Matcha is the ideal addition to a pre-workout shake because of its mellow caffeine boost and skill to market “calm alertness.” This mix features a subtle tea flavor that’s complemented by the addition of a favorer.

8. Bittersweet Chocolate Matcha

Wrap one among these in some parchment paper and tuck it away for a healthy afternoon snack. Sweet dates and rich chocolate combine nicely with this earthy matcha powder topping. The caramel-like taste of dates is going to be a welcome change from the more acute sweetness of white sugar found in many bars.

9. Matcha Tea Mug Cake

When you’re craving dessert but want to avoid a sugar coma, this easy mug cake is your answer. The recipe involves white sugar but any healthier alternative would substitute just fine — we’d suggest trying coconut sugar or agave. The cake should begin only slightly sweet, but be happy to scale back the quantity of sugar you employ to fit your taste.

10. Chocolate Matcha Butter Cups

Move over, spread cups. Coconut butter and matcha powder combine with a touch of almond flour to make the drool-worthy soft yet slightly chewy center during this rich morsel. Don’t skip out on the matcha-sea salt topping!

11. Matcha Muffins

These protein, fiber and antioxidant-rich muffins make an excellent breakfast or mid-morning snack (if you would like a touch pick-me-up). the simplest part? They’re just 105 calories per muffin, and they’re gluten-free.

12. Miso Eggplant with Tea Rice

Leave it to the parents at Blue Apron to return up with this insanely innovative thanks to use matcha. during this recipe, sushi rice gets an upgrade with the addition of rice vinegar, matcha powder, cilantro and black sesame seeds. The results are a healthy, flavorful and delightful base for this Asian-inspired roasted eggplant.

13. Matcha Cucumber Lemonade

Forget the super sweet, sugar-packed lemonade of your youth. This healthier nutrient-packed version is close to finding a spot in your regular beverage rotation. Cucumber, mint and matcha add subtle, refreshing flavors, while a touch of agave helps sweeten the mixture only enough.

14. Tea Coconut Frozen Dessert

A mainstay on Japanese dessert menus, tea frozen dessert is one among the foremost common ways you’ll see matcha used. Forego the standard dairy-and-sugar filled calorie bomb with this recipe that uses coconut and almond milks to make a creamy base. Honey and dates add sweetness without all the sugar.

15. Berry-Topped Matcha Chia Seed Pudding

Five minutes, five ingredients. It doesn’t get any easier than this! All you would like is almond milk, matcha powder, chia seeds, syrup (or honey) and a fresh fruit topping of your choosing. and therefore, the proof is within the pudding: Each serving packs 32 grams of fiber and 15 grams of protein.

16. Matcha Pear Green Protein Smoothie

Permission to step your smoothie game up, stat. This easy-but-impressive recipe requires only a couple of essentials: one cup of unsweetened almond milk, one pear, one cup of spinach — oh and a few matcha powder, of course! Add during a healthy dose of muscle-building protein and you’ve got yourself an excellent satisfying post-workout smoothie.

17. Matcha Mint Chip Smoothie Bowl

We’re beat on smoothie bowls, especially once they come bearing the gift of tea goodness. Even better: once you get a refreshing hit of fresh mint and delectable cacao nibs.

Buy match green tea powder to make your own recipes as above with your family and beloved friends.