This week is mental health awareness week so I wanted to talk about things that I use to help with mindfulness and calm. Today it's Matcha!
I'm now coming in to my 9th week of being furloughed which seems completely crazy. I'm trying to keep myself as busy as possible but I'm finding myself getting a lot more tired than I normally do which doesn't really make any sense.
When I used to feel like this I'd always reach for the coffee. I love a macchiato but it really doesn't love me. Coffee always makes me feel worse and gives me a serious case of the jitters. I discovered Matcha a few years ago and I have never looked back. I swear by the stuff and have at least one cup a day.
I'll tell you about all of the reasons I love Matcha and the many health benefits it has, and I'll also talk you through how to make the perfect Matcha Latte!
The benefits of matcha
Matcha is a type of green tea from Japan that is consumed as a form of finely ground powder. 85% of the nutrients in green tea come from the leaf and with Matcha you are injesting the whole leaf meaning you're getting a tonne of good stuff!
If you're a fan of coffee, but not of the headaches that can come with it, Matcha is a great alternative. Matcha contains caffeine, but it is slow release which makes a massive difference. It's packed with natural anti-oxidants and amino acids. Drinking 1 cup of matcha tea gives you the equivalant nutrients of 10 cups of normal green tea! Maddness
It's been said to help with your metabolic rate, personally I've not really noticed a difference in this department, but I have felt a lot of benefits from it. My energy levels increase, I feel more alert and better able to concentrate. I also notice that it calms me down. If you suffer with anxiety I'd definitely recommend giving it a try. (It's been used by buddhist monks for years to help with meditation)
Another great thing about it is how good it is for your skin on account of all of the natural anti oxidants. It protects against UV Radiation and I've noticed a big difference in my skin since I've been drinking Matcha. I used to really struggle with break outs but since following a good skincare routine and drinking Mathca once a day I've noticed a massive improvement.
How to make the perfect Matcha Latte
There are lots of differnt ways to drink Matcha, but my favourite is definitely a Matcha Latte!
What you'll need:
1.Ceremonial Grade Matcha- I am using OMG tea at the moment which I purchase from Holland and Barrett. An 80g pot is £28.95 and you'll get around 80 cups of Matcha out of it which is great value (36p a cup to be precise!)
I also really like teapigs matcha, a little more expensive at £35, but a really great tasting Matcha. These have been the best two that I've tried.
2. I like to use Almond Milk, but you could use Cocunut milk or regular milk if you'd prefer
3.If you like your green tea a bit sweeter I'd recomment adding some honey
4. A whisk! This makes it much easier to mix in the Matcha and stops you getting lumps. I use an electric whisk that I got from tiger for around £2. You can also use a bamboo whisk which most Matcha retailers will sell.
To start with, you'll need to boil a kettle. Put 1/2 teaspoon of Matcha in your favourite mug (most Matcha pots come with a Matcha spoon for measuring, but half a teaspoon is about right)
You'll only need a small amount of water for mixing your Matcha, then use your whisk to get out any lumps. Once your Matcha is smooth, add in your honey and give it a good whisk.
Next fill another mug about 3/4 full with your chosen milk and heat it in the microwave for about 3 minutes.
When your milk is ready add it to the matcha and whisk!
Tada! You'll have the perfect Matcha Latte
If you don't like the sound of a Matcha Latte there's plenty of other ways to use it.
The traditional way is to drink it with hot water- this is great if you're a fan of traditional green tea.
It's also lovely mixed with apple juice in the summer.
You could also try it as an iced latte by following the steps above, minus the microwave.
If you're not normally a fan of green tea, it's also great in baking (so i'm told) so you can get your fix that way!
Hope you enjoy!
Just Lucy Jane x
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