Healthy Iced Matcha Latte Recipe
Drinking matcha is an excellent way to experience a heap of health benefits and get a shot of caffeine. Unfortunately, most matcha drinks you can buy ready-made are packed with refined sugar.
Luckily, that is not the only way to consume matcha. With some high-quality matcha powder, you can make your own healthy iced matcha latte at home. Follow our four-step recipe below for the perfect cold matcha drink.
If you would like to know more about how to make healthy coffee at home, take a look at our blog.
What This Article Covers:
- What Is Matcha?
- Matcha Health Benefits
- Recipe for Healthy Iced Matcha Latte
- Healthy Iced Matcha Latte Recipe Variations
What Is Matcha?
Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder. It is made by pulverizing the leaves of the shade-grown Camellia Sinensis plant. This plant makes all sorts of delicious teas. The difference between them is how the plant is handled.
It is consumed differently from regular green tea. Other teas are made by brewing the dried leaves of the plant in hot water and removing them. Matcha is made by adding the powder directly to hot water or milk and letting it dissolve and combine.
Matcha is considered healthier than standard green tea. As the leaves themselves are ground up into a powder, you consume the entire leaf and, therefore, all its benefits.
Matcha Health Benefits
There are a variety of benefits that come from drinking matcha. A study done over 16 weeks showed that ingesting matcha helped prevent kidney and liver damage in diabetic rats.
Another study performed on 23 humans showed an improvement in attention span, memory, and reaction time when consuming matcha versus a placebo. While this was a rather small study, the results are intriguing.
Three other studies on cancer cells in test tubes showed that EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate), the catechin in matcha, is effective in combatting skin, lung, and liver cancers. Further studies are required to see the full effects on cancer in humans, but so far results are promising.
Matcha is also full of antioxidants, which can neutralize disease-forming free radicals. A free radical is a molecule made during normal cell metabolism, but it is unstable and can cause damage to other healthy molecules, including DNA and protein.
If you’re wondering if a healthy instant coffee exists, check our blog. We have a variety of articles about different coffees and their benefits.
Recipe for Healthy Iced Matcha Latte
This recipe is super easy to make at home. You only need six ingredients and 10 minutes to make the ultimate iced matcha latte. Read on to see some of our top tips for getting the most out of your matcha.
We have also included a few variations to the recipe. You can try them out to make your matcha a perfect fit.
Matcha has a really strong taste, and it’s not for everybody. If you’re looking for a caffeinated drink but want something a little different from a regular cup of coffee, have a look at our collection of low-acid, flavored coffee beans.
For the healthiest iced coffee recipe, have a look at our blog.
Equipment
- Blender or ice crusher
- Handheld milk frother or whisk
- Mug or glass
- Spoon
Ingredients
- ¾ cup cold almond, coconut, oat, soy, or dairy milk
- 1 tsp matcha powder
- 2 drops of vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp honey, agave nectar, or maple syrup
- 1 scoop of protein powder (optional)
- Hot water
Directions
Follow these easy steps to create an incredible, healthy iced matcha latte.
- Add 1 teaspoon of matcha powder to your empty mug. To start with, add 1 teaspoon of hot water to your matcha and mix with your handheld frother or whisk. Continue adding hot water as required until the lumps are completely dissolved.
- In a separate receptacle, mix crushed ice with your cold milk of choice.
- Add your sweetener (honey, agave, or maple syrup) and stir until combined.
- Add the milk and ice mixture to your matcha mug and stir with a spoon.
Tips for the Perfect Iced Matcha Latte
- Don’t let your water boil. Boiling water can lead to bitter matcha. Take your water off the heat just before it starts boiling and give it 30-40 seconds to settle. The perfect water temperature is between 175℉ – 200℉.
- Sift your matcha powder before adding water. This reduces clumping.
- Use milk you would drink by itself. Unlike with strong coffee, you will really taste your milk with matcha. So make sure you love it.
- If you want a variation of a coffee-like tea drink, try out our delicious healthy chai tea latte.
Healthy Iced Matcha Latte Recipe Variations
To tailor your iced matcha latte to your personal tastes, there are a few things you can do.
- Swap the honey for maple syrup for a vegan alternative.
- Play with flavors. Some people like to add flavored syrups such as lavender to switch up their matcha.
- For a hot latte, replace the cold milk with hot, frothed milk and skip the crushed ice.
Just like with coffee, not everyone will like their matcha made the same way. It’s important to experiment with ratios and flavors to find the perfect mix for your tastes. For more information about the healthy amount of coffee, have a look at the blog on our website.
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- How to Make Healthy Coffee
- Healthy Coffee Recipes for Weight Loss
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- Organic Iced Coffee
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