Effortless Gut-Loving Matcha Latte Recipe
Ah, matcha. So trendy, so cool. But unlike a lot of other trends these days that have us asking whether it’s just a temporary fad or something that’s here to stay, matcha has proven to stand the test of time. Though it’s recently come back into popularity, according to matchaful.com, matcha has been around since the Tang Dynasty, ruling in China during the 7th to 10th century!
Back in the day, matcha was an integral part of the Japanese Tea ceremony which involved the following four principles: harmony, purity, respect, and tranquility. Though the ceremonial aspect of matcha isn’t quite as important these days (imagine your local Starbucks barista leading you in a special ceremony every time you order your grande matcha frappucino, extra whip), it’s interesting to consider a caffeinated tea being involved in a ritual where tranquility is also an important factor.
The cool thing about matcha, which makes it much nicer to drink in the morning if you ever experience anxiety, GI issues, or the jitters from coffee, is that it contains theanine. This is an amino acid that acts basically as a time-release capsule to the caffeine. This means that after your cup of matcha, you receive a slow increase in energy levels throughout the course of the day. So rather than the spike and subsequent crash of energy you may get from drinking a cup of coffee, drinking matcha keeps you both energized and zen throughout the day.
But that’s only the beginning. Matcha provides a whole host of benefits as it is super high in antioxidant levels, vitamin C, and even fiber!! I love it for the calm alertness it provides me, but I also love the effect it’s had on my blemish-prone skin - check out the blog I wrote about it here.
Although I didn’t love the grassy-sweet taste of matcha at first, I grew to love it. Originally, I decided to try replacing my usual cup of joe with matcha to help my anxiety levels and lower GI issues I was experiencing. Now I can’t start my day any other way! This recipe also contains gut-loving collagen peptides, which aside from giving the latte a slightly foamy texture, provides me with some other amazing amino acids like glycine, purine, and l-glutamine, which are incredibly healing for the gut.
So if you’re sick of feeling anxious after a cup of coffee or you want to experience sustained energy for hours after your morning pick-me-up, try this recipe out. This recipe is also helpful if you’re concerned with inflammation or have ever experienced GI issues from coffee. Enjoy this latte with one of my paleo hazelnut chocolate muffins, for a decadent and guilt-free breaky that’ll keep you satiated and alert all morning long.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 tsp organic matcha powder (I love Domo brand)
3 TBSP collagen peptidez (about 20g of protein, my favourite brand is New Earth Organics)
1 - 4 drops of vanilla Stevia, to taste (optional) OR 1/2 tsp raw honey
Hot water
Non-dairy milk of choice: My current obsession is oat milk. It's so creamy and delicious! I warm 1 cup Earth's Own Barista Oat Milk on the stove until hot and top off the hot water, matcha paste with that. It does contain some added sugar, so you may want to omit the sweetener above. Other options include Eden brand unsweetened soy milk (if you consume soy), unsweetened almond milk, full-fat coconut milk.
Makes 1 serving.
Directions:
Boil water. Add the matcha and collagen protein powder to your favorite mug.
In a small saucepan, heat your milk choice until hot to the touch. If you’re lucky enough to have a milk frother, froth it up!
Once the water is boiling, add just enough to the mug to cover the powder. Using a matcha tea whisk, or any other small whisk, vigorously whisk the tea until the powder + water combination turns into a homogenous paste. Add a little more water and your warm milk. Use whichever ratio of hot water to milk that you like.
Finish off with a few drops of stevia or a small spoonful of raw honey, if you’d like, stir, and enjoy.
Bonus points! Remember the tea ceremony principles? While you drink your matcha latte, set an intention for yourself to embody whichever of those speak to you that day.
There you have it! Are you a matcha-lover? What’s your go-to matcha tea recipe? Let us know in the comment section below!
PS - Matcha truly must be one of the most versatile teas in the world. Not only can it be used in a variety of different recipes and baking, but I also love it as a face mask! Check out my super simple 3-ingredient DIY matcha face mask recipe here. Your skin will thank you!
