Lavender Matcha Latte
Known for its calming and soothing properties, lavender complements matcha beautifully in this beverage which will help relax the mind and encourage the spirits.
Matcha has hit the caffeinated beverage scene with a bright green splash, but most people still don’t know much about it. Matcha is a type of green tea with a long history of traditional use in China that has been popularized in modern Japanese tea rituals. It is made by grinding the shade-grown Camellia sinensisleaves into a fine powder. The standard green tea many of us enjoy regularly is prepared by steeping the leaves in hot water. This differs from matcha wherein the whole powdered leaf is used and dispersed into various hot and cold drinks.
Consuming the whole leaves instead of a simple infusion creates a beverage jam-packed with antioxidants and many wonderful benefits. Matcha is rich in catechins, which can help protect the body from cellular damage and promote the reduction of inflammation. Alongside its antioxidant properties, matcha contains the amino acid, L-theanine, which promotes relaxation and helps reduce stress without causing drowsiness (Unno et al., 2018). This supports matcha’s ability to increase mental clarity; the combination of caffeine and L-theanine enhances focus without the jittery side effects of coffee.
Did we mention matcha’s unique phytochemical composition may offer protective benefits against neurodegenerative disorders, providing a tasty approach to improved long-term brain health (Kochman et al., 2020)?
There is a whole latte to celebrate in this recipe! It provides all the benefits of a commercial matcha drink without the sugar, and the added benefits of herbs including lavender (Lavandula spp.). Known for its calming and soothing properties, lavender complements matcha beautifully in this beverage which will help relax the mind and encourage the spirits.
We know you’re going to love this DIY lavender matcha latte recipe! Here’s how to make this delightful drink at home.
Lavender Matcha Latte
Known for its calming and soothing properties, lavender complements matcha beautifully in this beverage which will help relax the mind and encourage the spirits.
Lavender cold foam:
1 cup milk of choice (dairy, or non-dairy)
1/2 tablespoon lavender (Lavandula spp.) flower bud
1 teaspoon butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea) flower, powdered
1 teaspoon black currant, powdered
Matcha latte:
1 teaspoon matcha (Camellia sinensis) powder
1/2 cup cold water
Ice cubes
3/4 cup milk of choice
1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup to taste (optional)
- Start by creating your cold foam: add milk to a jar and add in your lavender, butterfly pea flowers, and black currant powder. Close your jar and let it infuse in the fridge overnight so that the milk can take on the lavender flavor and turn slightly purple. (Tip: make a larger batch, so you can use it again throughout the week!)
- When you’re ready to make your latte, strain flowers from the milk and create the foam by using a milk frother. Set aside.
- Sift matcha (so it is lump-free) into a mug or small bowl. Add cold water and whisk until frothy.
- Add ice cubes to a tall glass.
- Pour in cold milk, then frothed matcha.
- Add honey or maple syrup to taste and stir or whisk with a tall spoon.
- Top with lavender cold foam.
In Closing,
Sip and enjoy the earthy richness and energizing properties of matcha, which, paired with the floral notes and calming aromatics of lavender, create a perfectly balanced beverage. Whether you’re looking for a morning pick-me-up or an afternoon treat, this latte offers a delightful and healthful way to enjoy the benefits of matcha and lavender.
Originally Posted ByHerbal Academy
REFERENCES
Kochman, J., Jakubczyk, K., Antoniewicz, J., Mruk, H., & Janda, K. (2020). Health Benefits and Chemical Composition of Matcha Green Tea: A Review. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 26(1), 85. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26010085
Unno, K., Furushima, D., Hamamoto, S., Iguchi, K., Yamada, H., Morita, A., …Nakamura, Y. (2018). Stress-reducing function of matcha green tea in animal experiments and clinical trials. Nutrients, 10(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10101468