- \n
- It\u2019s ground up green tea leaves.\u00a0\u201ccha\u201d means tea and \u201cma\u201d means powder. Profound, isn\u2019t it?<\/li>\n
- It\u2019s not new.\u00a0At all. It\u2019s actually older than the sandwich.\u00a0Monk Eisai\u00a0<\/a>was the first person to grind up green tea leaves and drink it in powder form in the 12th century. For generations after, the\u00a0J<\/a>apanese tea ceremony<\/a>, an elaborate\u00a0ceremony that takes much longer than your\u00a03pm\u00a0tea run, has carried on the matcha tradition.<\/li>\n
- It tastes \/ smells like freshly ground baby veggies,\u00a0with a hint of sweetness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What\u2019s the bandwagon about?<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Matcha has three times more\u00a0cancer \/ heart disease \/ virus-fighting antioxidants as green tea.<\/li>\n
- It\u2019s versatile.\u00a0You can use it for hot and cold beverages, ice cream, hummus toppings, smoothies, and everything in between.<\/li>\n
- It’s balanced.\u00a0Monks and matcha-lovers love the balance between caffeine and the calming effects of L-Theanine, an amino acid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How do you handle it?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- Matcha stays good for a year\u00a0on the shelf, but once the package is opened, it should be used in 3-4 weeks.<\/li>\n
- Store it in the fridge\u00a0or a cool, dark, dry place in an air tight container.<\/li>\n
- The powder should be bright,\u00a0electric green. If it\u2019s dull or yellow, it probably has gone bad.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Adapted from:\u00a0The Kitchn<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Greatist<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMatcha Tea<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/52c58dfae4b042338f2e2887\/53552ffde4b0c67c912fbd13\/555cbc48e4b0f815448c40c2\/1432140873416\/\/img.jpg\")
<\/a> Photo Credit: 5th Joy<\/p>\nThis is the traditional preparation of matcha tea- you’ll need the tea, a bowl, a small scoop, a sifter, and a bamboo whisk, known as a chasen. The bamboo whisk will help you get the right froth, so probably worth investing!<\/p>\n
Ingredients<\/strong>: 1 tsp Matcha green tea powder; hot water<\/p>\n
Method<\/strong>: Scoop about 1 tsp Matcha powder onto the sifter over your small bowl. Little tea pebbles will remain in the sifter- break these until they’re small enough to pass through the sifter. Add a small amount of hot (but not boiling) water- just enough to make the tea into a paste. When the matcha is mostly dissolved, add hot water to about 2\/3 your bowl’s capacity. Whisky briskly, making Ms or Ws in the bowl, until you have an even covering of bubbles.<\/p>\n
Adapted from\u00a0Fifth Joy<\/a><\/p>\n
Matcha, Matcha Rice\u00a0with\u00a0Pistachio and Chocolate<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/52c58dfae4b042338f2e2887\/53552ffde4b0c67c912fbd13\/555cbce7e4b04c7b4bd1fc97\/1432141032032\/\/img.jpg\")
<\/a> Photo credit: Matcha Los Angeles<\/p>\nMatcha is used a lot in desserts and beverages, but here’s an interesting recipe for a dinner dish! The combination is matcha, pistachio, and chocolate is amazing.<\/p>\n
Ingredients<\/strong>: 1 cup Arborio rice; 2 1\/3 tbsp Matcha green tea powder; 2 1\/2 cups water; 3 tbsp sugar; 1\/2 tsp cornstarch or flour; 100g dark or milk chocolate, melted; 2 tbsp ground pistachios; chocolate flakes for sprinkling<\/p>\n
Method<\/strong>: Mix 2 tbsp Matcha and 2 tbsp sugar with 2 cups of water. Cook cup of rice with green tea mixture until rice becomes soft and liquid has been absorbed. Stir 2 tbsp of pistachios into the rice. In two bowls, divide 1\/3 rice in one bowl and 2\/3 rice in the other bowl. Mix the melted chocolate with the 1\/3 rice and let cool. With a round mold for shaping food, put a layer of green tea rice. Flatten, put a layer of chocolate rice, and then green tea rice again. Sprinkle with pistachios, chocolate flakes and matcha. In a small saucepan, boil 1\/2 cup water. Add one tsp matcha, one tsp sugar, and the cornstarch. Stir vigorously until you reach a dense consistency. Serve with the rice.<\/p>\n
Adapted from\u00a0M<\/a>atcha Los Angeles<\/a><\/p>\n
A Match-a Made in Heaven\u00a0Julep Cocktail<\/h2>\n
![\"Photo](\"http:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/52c58dfae4b042338f2e2887\/53552ffde4b0c67c912fbd13\/555cbd6ae4b01cedd85a4503\/1432141163220\/\/img.jpg\")
<\/a> Photo Credit: The Bojon Gourmet<\/p>\nAh, the caffeinated cocktail, truly in a league of its own. Matcha goes well in many cocktails- try this not-too-sweet, citrus-y one to start!<\/p>\n
Ingredients: <\/strong>2 tsp matcha; 1\/2 cup bourbon whiskey; 1\/2 cup lightly packed fresh spearmint leaves; 3\/4 cup cool water; 2 tbsp organic blonde cane sugar; 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice; ice<\/p>\n
Method: <\/strong>Place matcha in a bowl, and gradually work in 1 tbsp of water, until it is a smooth paste. Gradually stir in rest of water. Mash mint leaves and sugar with a muddler in a jar or measuring cup until sugar is dissolved and leaves are bruised. Stir in the bourbon and 2 tbsp of lemon juice. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on the mint. Pour into two ice-filled tumblers and garnish with mint leaves.<\/p>\n
Adapted from\u00a0The Bojon Gourmet<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMatcha-Makers Shakin’\u00a0Around Foodstand<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/52c58dfae4b042338f2e2887\/53552ffde4b0c67c912fbd13\/555cbe61e4b0e33efddffc6e\/1432141410383\/\/img.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nMatcha Protein Pancakes- recipe up on Niatrition.com
\nIngredients: <\/strong>Banana, Flax Seeds, Spinach, Egg white, Protein powder, Matcha<\/p>\nHomemade by\u00a0NiaTrition<\/a><\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/52c58dfae4b042338f2e2887\/53552ffde4b0c67c912fbd13\/555cbf06e4b00b37566cc471\/1432141577601\/\/img.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nMatch green chia seed pudding layered with banana and plain greek yogurt. \u00a0An excellent post-workout energy boost and packed with protein!
\nIngredients<\/strong>: Almond Milk, Almonds, Banana, Chia seeds, Greek Yogurt, Matcha<\/p>\nHomemade by\u00a0nhoesterey17<\/a><\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/52c58dfae4b042338f2e2887\/53552ffde4b0c67c912fbd13\/555cbf75e4b05ec33c6c99e1\/1432141686516\/\/img.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAddicted to Matcha
\nIngredients: <\/strong>Almond Milk, Coconut Sugar, Matcha, Love
\nLocation:\u00a0Matcha Cafe Wabi<\/a><\/p>\n
- It tastes \/ smells like freshly ground baby veggies,\u00a0with a hint of sweetness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n