An Appetite for Joy

Spiked with warming ginger, cinnamon and turmeric, this invigorating matcha spice latte is a delight for the senses. And it’s simple to make at home!

Study after study shows that green tea, in particular matcha green tea, can do wonders for your body and mind. Try subbing it for your favorite coffeehouse latte and you’ll thank yourself.

(ALSO TRY THESE MATCHA-GINGER SCONES!)

Matcha tea is an old Japanese creation using the whole tea leaf, ground into a fine powder. For centuries it has been used by those who practice meditation and when you skim through the health benefits you’ll see why. It is grown and harvested in a specific way that boosts its levels of l-theanine and the antioxidant EGCG, two of its most beneficial components.

Here are some astounding benefits of matcha tea!

• IMPROVES FOCUS: Matcha is high in l-theanine, an amino acid that simultaneously increases mental alertness and calmness.
  • L-theanine, in combination with caffeine, has been shown to improve focus and reduce distractibility. The feeling of relaxation induced by the L-theanine buffers the stimulating effects of caffeine. (source)

• EGCG HAS A PROTECTIVE EFFECT ON BRAIN AND BREAST HEALTH: EGCG is a powerful antioxidant found in green tea. One study showed that EGCG levels in matcha were 137 times higher than have been documented in green tea!
  • This study showed that EGCG reduced breast cancer risk in young women (results were age specific).
  • EGCG has also been shown to prevent memory impairment and neuron damage caused by a high-fat, high-fructose diet. (source)

• REDUCES BODY WEIGHT AND METABOLIC SYNDROME SYMPTOMS: Green tea can reduce body weight and alleviate metabolic syndrome. This review takes a look at just how this might happen. (Metabolic syndrome describes a collection of risk factors for stroke, diabetes and heart disease including high blood pressure, fat around the waist, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, low HDL.)

I have purchased inexpensive matcha powder in bulk at my local farmers market as well as a tin of organic powder by Mighty Leaf.  It seems pricey but a little goes a long way. For the price of two fancy coffees, I’ll have many of these matcha spice lattes in my future.

I have a very basic milk frother wand from IKEA. Something like this. If you don’t have one, just heat your milk and whisk some bubbles into it. It’ll be good either way! (Though the frothing does add an extra something.)

RECIPE: MATCHA SPICE LATTE
(For printable recipe CLICK HERE)
Makes 1

½ teaspoon matcha powder (such as this one)
¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch black pepper
8 ounces milk (I use unsweetened almond milk)
2 teaspoons honey

DIRECTIONS:

Combine matcha powder and spices in a mug and add 2 ounces freshly boiled water. Whisk vigorously to dissolve.

Heat the milk on the stovetop or microwave. Remove from heat and stir in honey. If you have a frother, froth the milk (if not, skip this step).

Add milk to the spices and water. Sprinkle with cinnamon and enjoy!