Recipe • Matcha Latte

Screenshot_2019-03-01 Matcha Green Tea Latte.png

I consider Aldi a barometer of the times. Last week I was perusing the mythical middle aisle and came across organic, Japanese matcha powder. I’ve been in the health and wellness world for coming up to 20 years and remember a time when it was a struggle to find many ‘superfoods’ in health foods shops, let alone a small supermaket. Then you see it on a Starbucks menu and know it’s reached the big time (though be warned - their sweetened lattes are not for the faint hearted and contain an eye-watering amount of sugar).

Matcha means powdered tea and it refers to a lengthy process that begins before green tea leaves are harvested. The leaves are covered with cloth before being picked, which encourages young stems and these are steamed to stop fermentation, dried and aged in cold storage. They are then stone ground into a fine powder. It is traditionally made by mixing a small amount with hot water and whisked with a special bamboo whisk until it is fully mixed and froths.

Unlike normal green tea where you infuse it, with matcha you’re drinking the actual leaves. This higher potency means you get a bigger caffeine hit which is about half that of a cup of coffee.

All matcha is not created equal. As it’s difficult and expensive to make, there are a lot of teas on the market that call themselves matcha as it’s an unregulated term, so buyer beware. For this reason, it’s crucial to buy your matcha from a reputable source so that you know exactly what is in it and if your budget permits, choose organic as this reduces the risk of exposure to pollutants and contaminants for yourself and the planet.

Many people have been extolling the benefits of matcha and it joins the myriad of other ‘superfoods’ at the back of peoples cupboards. Matcha contains small amounts of minerals and vitamins, but it’s most well-known for being rich in polyphenol compounds called catechins, a type of antioxidant.

I’ve had a packet of matcha sitting in my fridge since it first came onto my radar many years ago and I haven’t wanted to part from it (yes, it was expensive and I feel guilty about not using it). After cleaning out the fridge and moving it for the umpteenth time, I thought I’d revist it, making it for Billy as he’d never tasted it before.

MATCHA LATTE

- 1 cup of milk (whole milk, coconut milk, almond milk, whatever your preference is)
- 1tsp matcha powder
- 1tsp vanilla extract

PROCESS
Measure the amount of milk you need by filling up your cup.
Pour all the ingredients into a blender and blend for about 30s until it turns green.
Heat up in a saucepan, stirring with a whisk until it’s hot enough and serve.

TIPS
i. You can substitute using a blender with a milk frother or, for a more authentic effect, use a bamboo matcha whisk.
ii. You can use cold milk and pour it over ice for a refreshing iced matcha latte.
iii. If you have a sweet tooth, add some honey to the mix when you put everything in the blender.

- F

Matcha Powder

Bamboo Whisk

Cup

Vanilla Extract

You might also like:

Will Labelling Foods With The Amount Of Physical Activity Needed To Burn Off Calories Work?

The Royal Society for Public Health has called for the introduction of ‘activity equivalent’ calorie labelling and have suggested packaging containing information on how much physical activity it takes to burn off the calories. Many of the public health interventions are focused on the individual taking full responsibility for their health, however it must be noted that the environment around us has a huge impact on the decisions we make.

Healthwashing

Healthwashing harnesses dubious claims such as ‘natural’ or ‘clean’ and turns them into extremely powerful marketing terms, selling you a lifestyle or a vision of who you could be if you bought their products. The words chosen are deliberately misleading and even meaningless, used because they are unregulated - it’s worth remembering that the front of a product’s packaging is pure marketing only.

Healthism | The New ‘Ism’ On The Block

In age of ever-growing discontent, the ‘isms’ and ‘phobics’ lists keep growing and it’s becoming fashionable to acknowledge your personal privilege every chance you get. For those of us who don’t spend all day online, the current cultural revolution is tedious, constantly shifting and difficult to keep up with; however there’s a new privilege on the horizon, and one that will affect those of us currently untouched by the raging gender and race wars.

Recipe • Dalgona Coffee

This South Korean coffee has gained huge popularity on social media as people unable to get their fancy-pants-coffee are forced to look closer to home to replicate their caffeine fix.

Weekly Meal Plan #4 + Printable Shopping List

It’s that time of the week again when we inhale, take a breath and go out into the world to queue. The only consolation is that this spring is out doing itself with sunshine, so queueing does serve the added benefit of a nice dose of Vitamin D.

Recipe • The Quarantini

The 1920s had prohibition and Speakeasy’s, with many of classic cocktails created during this period in an effort to cover up the harsh taste of illicitly distilled alcohol. The 2020s equivalent may well be the Quarantini, a loose term based on whatever happens to be lurking at the back of your cupboard during a period of self-isolation when you are unwilling or unable to leave the house.

Weekly Meal Plan #3 + Printable Shopping List

It’s that time of the week again where, even though it feels as though time has continued to stand still, it is, in fact Easter weekend. On my walks, I’ve noticed the bluebells and daffodils have emerged and blossom is making way for the leaves on the trees. There’s a definite shift into spring. I haven’t been craving as many comfort foods now the weather is hotter, so enjoy this weeks selection.

Weekly Meal Plan #2 + Printable Shopping List

Here in the UK we are entering week 2 of ‘self-isolation’. The fight-or-flight adrenaline rushes are now subsiding and we are facing the freeze. You may feel this as a lack of energy, lack of motivation and wanting to sleep a lot.

I’ve made another shopping list for the week; again it’s comfort food heavy because that’s what I’ve been wanting. And I have eaten cake for breakfast more than once this week.

Weekly Meal Plan #1+ Printable Shopping List

I’ve made a weekly shopping list you can print it out if you're new to cooking, stuck for ideas or overwhelmed. Some things may be out of stock so you might have to substitute here and there. I’ve chosen recipes that are simple, don’t use too many ingredients and are nourishing.

Recipe • Brown Butter + Rosemary Popcorn

Popcorn has been reborn as a gourmet food in recent years. I, however, grew up eating the unholy sugar-laden Butterkist popcorn which stuck to my teeth. As I munched on another huge bag it occurred to me that I really should just start making my own as it is ridiculously easy and satisfying. I don’t own a microwave, so it’s stove-top popcorn every time for me.

Dinner is Served (On The Floor)

When I was 18, I had a friend who was a lot older than me and when I visited her the only furniture in the house was a rocking chair (reserved for her partner) and a futon mattress that was used as her sofa. It never occurred to me to ask her why she’d chosen this living arrangement; I guess I chalked it up to her being ‘alternative’. Fast-forward a good many years later and here I am, in my own furniture-less abode.

Recipe • Matcha Latte

Recipe • Butter Coffee

Who among you has sworn off coffee because it doesn’t fit into your clean living regime?
Coffee is one of the first things to be sacrificed on the altar of health and giving it up is a sign you’ve committed to the task of upgrading yourself.