Blended Matcha Green Tea
Cool Vitality
Matcha Green Tea is made from dried green tea leaves that have had the stems and veins removed and then finely ground into a powder. They contain one of the highest natural sources of antioxidants and chlorophyll. It is packaged in metal tins that vacuum sealed for freshness. The powder can be used to make hot tea (often used in Japanese tea ceremony) or it can be added to other foods like French toast, muffins, ice cream, sauces and in this case blended drinks.
The first time I had Matcha Green Tea in a blended drink it was in an establishment in Canada called Teopia. The blended drink was a refreshing blend of pear and guava but it cost $6. A great one time treat but too expensive for a regular drink. I set out to create an acceptable make-at-home equivalent and I think I have succeeded. My husband even says that it's better than the $6 alternative. I hope you will give it a try to leave your comments and alternative methods in the guest book.
Citation: images copyright M. E. Wood, used with permission.
"If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; if you are depressed, it will cheer you; if you are exhausted, it will calm you." ~ William Gladstone
Ingredients
13 ice cubes
1 cup of Guava/Passionfruit juice (3/4 cup if using a Bullet blender)
2 tsp Splenda (optional if banana ripe)
1 banana
1/2 cup plain low fat yogurt (1%)
1/2 tsp matcha
1/4 cup hot water
About the Ingredients
What I Like to Use
Astro Best Yogurt - Individual serving yogurt cups with 100 grams of 1% M.F./M.G. probiotic yogurt.Superior Matcha by Teopia which is 100% Japanese Green tea containing 1384 ORAC antioxidant per 1gm.Minute Maid Real Fruit Beverage (Orange, Guava, Passion Fruit blend) from frozen concentrate made according to package directions. Update: This juice is now very hard if not impossible to find so now I am using Bolthouse's Hawaiian bottled juice which also has a combination of orange, guava, and passion fruit. It can be found in the produce section.Ingredient Update!!
I am currently on my third cannister of DoMatcha green tea and I highly recommend it.
It has superior color and taste. Check out their official website for history, recipes, and ordering information.
Matcha - The Way of Tea
Enjoy this mini-documentary (26 minutes) brought to you by DoMatcha. Learn about the beginnings of green tea, how it is cultivated etc.
Directions
Add ice cubes, juice, Splenda, banana, and yogurt to a blender.
Use crush ice mode to break up ice until it's small enough to use the puree button. Puree to smooth.
Add whisked matcha and continue to blend for another minute.
Serve in large glass with straw. This makes one very large serving.
Getting Out the Lumps
The bamboo whisk is the best tool for blending the dry matcha with water. In a pinch you can use the traditional kitchen whisk but you will never get out all the lumps. I purchased mine online at ebay for $6.50.
Mixing Matcha
Enjoy!
Have You Tried Matcha?
"Wouldn't it be dreadful to live in a country where they didn't have tea?" ~ Noel Coward
Traditional Green Tea Ceremony (2 parts)
Here is interesting video footage from YouTube of the ceremonial steps involved in a green tea ceremony which involves the use of matcha.
"If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty." ~Japanese Proverb
Other Recipes to Try with Matcha
There are so many "Matcha" recipes to be found on FlickR. Here is just a sampling of wonderful ones to try.
- Green Tea Lemon Pudding Cake
In trying to get some tea recipes for our website, www.teality.com, I tried to modify one of my recipes. It's a simple recipe that separates itself while cooking into a cake top with a pudding bottom . - Green Tea Ice Cream
Recipe here - Green Tea Sweet Cookies
Made using Amai's Green Tea Sweet recipe. - Matcha Cupcakes
This recipe but with a matcha flavored whip cream frosting. - Matcha Brownie
Dark brown and green decadent brownies. - chocolate matcha loaf cake
This lovely loaf won't last long!
Shopping for Matcha on eBay - Not all matcha is created equal...
Teaopia raised their Matcha prices and I stopped buying it from them. I went without for a while then I found a distributor on eBay (ytcimports). They have a reasonable price, quick shipping, and from what I can tell a good product (I can't tell the difference when I make smoothies and cook with it from what I was using before). They don't always have it in stock but it is worth a look if you can't find it locally where you live. There are a number of other different stores that offer it as well. Here are just a few. Be sure to read their descriptions and compare shipping costs. If you have success with one do tell us in the comments below.
Thank you for stopping by my Blended Matcha hub. Feel free to share your experiences with matcha or to leave behind some warm fuzzies before you leave.
Best wishes!
