“Hi, I will have a Venti Iced Matcha Latte with Almond Milk and Sweet Cold Foam. Oh, and add vanilla!” I said to the barista behind the counter wearing a black and green ballcap and an apron. As she wrote my name on the cup, she rang me up. The pricey drink totaled a whopping $8.06.
Out of spite, I made a vow to myself to stop ordering my go-to drink at Starbucks this summer and instead learn how to master the art of matcha at home.
Surprisingly, matcha has a lot of caffeine. One teaspoon of matcha powder has around sixty-eight milligrams of caffeine, not too far off from a standard cup of coffee. A standard cup of coffee has around ninety-five milligrams. The main difference in the caffeine boost department is that matcha’s buzz is much more energizing and longer lasting than coffee. Subsequently, the tea also provides a calming and relaxing effect.
Preparing a cup of matcha is a demanding process, even more so than brewing a perfect cup of coffee. Quality matcha elevates the flavor of your tea. According to the Strategist on October 6, 2020, matcha powders can be inconsistent varying in flavor and bitterness because of the rushed or irregular tea-leaf processing. One way to ensure that the earthy flavor remains consistent is to purchase powder that is imported from Japan.
To start off making your drink, grab a separate bowl and add a teaspoon of matcha powder to your bowl. A small amount goes a long way, so do not go overboard. At this time, you can add an optional sweetener of choice. Personally, I like to add honey as a healthier option. If you prefer adding flavored syrups to your drink, this is the time to add. Rose, vanilla, lavender, coconut, raspberry, and vanilla are some compatible options that complement the earthy flavor.
Once you add your sweetener or syrup, pour two tablespoons of boiling hot water on top of your matcha-sweetener-syrup mixture. Grainy drinks are the worst, so be sure to give your mixture a good whisk. Once the liquid forms small bubbles on the top, it is stirred well. The boiled water will help make sure that clumps do not form at the bottom too.
A perk to making matcha at home is that you can make it picture worthy. Pick out your favorite Instagram-able glass and fill it all the way up to the top with ice and then pour your milk of choice over the ice. My personal favorite is almond milk. Leave a third of your glass empty for the matcha mixture and your favorite creamer. Once you pour in your matcha and creamer, you are set.
Take a picture before stirring; the layers are gorgeous. The best part of making matcha at home is that you have the ability to be creative. Afterall, it is much cheaper than standing in the Starbucks line.