Four Ways to Enjoy Matcha Tea

You’ve definitely at least heard of matcha tea, even if you haven’t tried it yet. The distinctive and strong taste of this vibrant green tea is well beloved by many tea drinkers around the world, but even more popular are the health benefits of this antioxidant-packed beverage.

Matcha tea is distinct from other types of green tea, since it is made of the entire leaf. Drinking one cup of matcha is the equivalent of drinking 10 cups of normally brewed green tea with respect to its nutritional content. Apart from drinking it as a beverage, matcha is also commonly enjoyed as an ingredient in some foods to give it a subtle tea flavour.

Here are our top 5 ways of enjoying Matcha tea.

Traditional Matcha Tea

Traditionally, matcha tea is enjoyed as a hot beverage, with no ingredients apart from the tea and the water that is used to brew the tea. You don’t even need to wait for the tea to steep – since matcha tea is generally in powdered form, you just need to stir it in! You can also buy a special whisk made of bamboo that helps to stir in the matcha tea and incorporate its flavour into the liquid.

•Step 1 : Sift 1-2 teaspoons of matcha tea into a cup

•Step 2 : Add 2 oz of hot water

•Step 3 : Incorporate using the bamboo whisk or a teaspoon – whisk vigorously in a zig zag motion until the tea is frothy

•Step 4 : Enjoy your tea!

Matcha Latte

If you are looking for something richer in flavour, matcha lattes are a trendy and delicious way to incorporate the subtle taste of matcha with milk. The milk can often help in reducing the bitterness of the flavour of matcha tea as well, especially if you add a little sweetener to the milk. What’s more – you can choose whatever type of milk you prefer, from soy milk, coconut milk, almond milk or regular milk – with matcha, anything goes!

Here’s a nice recipe for a matcha latte that can be enjoyed by vegans!

•Step 1 : Mix 1 ½ tsp matcha green tea powder with 1 tbsp of hot water, and 1 tablespoon of sweetener (maple syrup or agave is recommended)

•Step 2 : Mix ¾ cup of coconut milk with ¾ cup of dairy free milk (almond milk or soy milk works well). Heat the mixture on a stovetop.

•Step 3 : Pour the milk into the matcha. Vigorously froth using a whisk to make it creamy.

•Step 4 : Add sweetener as required and enjoy!

Virgin Matcha Mojito

Who said matcha tea can only be enjoyed warm? Matcha is an extremely refreshing beverage to enjoy cold, given its light and organic flavour. This recipe combines the subtle flavour of the tea with the added zing of lime and mint to make a delicious base for a mojito, perfect to enjoy on a summer day!

•Step 1 : In a glass, muddle 5-6 mint leaves with 2 slices of fresh green lime

•Step 2 : In a separate bowl, sift 1 teaspoon of matcha green tea powder and whisk it into 1 cup of hot water (yes – hot for now).

•Step 3 : Add sweetener as required – agave or sugar works well.

•Step 4 : Pour the matcha tea and lime-mint muddle into a cocktail shaker and add some ice cubes. Give it a good stir or shake.

•Step 5 : Pour the now cold mixture into a glass, garnish with a slice of lime and enjoy!

Matcha Smoothie

Smoothies are a delicious and healthy way to enjoy matcha, which is considered as a superfood because of its high nutritional value. If you already enjoy a morning smoothie made of various fruits, why not consider adding a teaspoon of matcha to elevate the flavour and pack your smoothie with healthy goodness? Here’s a simple recipe for a matcha banana smoothie that is sure to leave your tastebuds tingling!

•Step 1 : Roughly break 2 bananas into pieces (freezing them ahead of time will make your smoothie even creamier)

•Step 2 : Peel and grate about 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger

•Step 3 : Add the bananas, ginger, 2 handfuls of spinach leaves, 1 ½ tablespoons of matcha green tea powder, and 1 cup of water to a blender

•Step 4 : Mix all the ingredients until well combined.

There’s no formula or secret to making the perfect cup of matcha tea – everyone enjoys their cup in a different way. At the Munnar Tea shop, our special blend of Magic Matcha is a versatile and rich flavour that can be incorporated in many different ways