Matcha lattes are all the rage now, but there’s more to the antioxidant powerhouse than its Instagram feed pervasiveness. You can benefit from the silty green tea powder’s potent antioxidants catechins by topically applying matcha to your face and body. But don’t stop reading here and go rogue on me. Instead, do it right by planning ahead with these three matcha green tea beauty recipes, which include a lip moisturizer, a body scrub, and a facemask.

Matcha has been consumed for centuries in Japan and has only recently become a trendy superfood in the West. Matcha powder is derived from nutrient-rich young tea leaves picked from the tips of shade-grown Camellia sinensis tea plants. The leaves are steamed, stemmed, and de-vined before being pulverized. The resulting matcha green tea powder is stored away from oxygen and light in order to preserve its vibrant green color and retain its antioxidant properties.

The concentration of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) available from drinking matcha tea is 137 times higher than the amount available from drinking regular green tea. According to research, EGCG prevents cancer and is effective in promoting heart and metabolic health. But the benefits don’t stop there. Antioxidants are key in promoting skin’s youth by fighting free-radical damage, wrinkles, dullness, fine lines, and uneven skin tone. And what better place to get your dose of topical antioxidants than from the powerhouse itself? Matcha also contains detoxifying chlorophyll and protects the skin from UV damage.

These three matcha beauty recipes maximize the anti-aging effects of matcha green tea on your skin as well as bring more ease and joy to your beauty routine.

Before you get started, be sure to purchase the highest quality matcha powder you can find. Some of my favorite brands include: Encha Matcha, Grace Matcha, and Midori Matcha.

3 Matcha Green Tea Beauty Recipes

1. Matcha Lip Balm

Makes one lip balm

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon shea butter
• 1 teaspoon Beeswax pellets
• 2 teaspoons almond oil
• 1/2 teaspoon matcha green tea powder
• 2 to 3 drops essential oil (lavender, peppermint, or any of your choice)

Directions

In a double boiler over high heat, melt the shea butter, beeswax and almond oil together. Stir until smooth. Once melted, immediately remove the pot from the heat and stir in the matcha powder and essential oil. Once mixed, transfer the mixture to a glass lip balm-sized jar and let it sit at room temperature until it cools and hardens. Once the lip balm has cooled, seal the container closed and toss it into your purse for all your glossy lip needs.

2. Matcha Body Scrub

Makes 1/2 cup

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
• 2 tablespoons matcha green tea powder

Directions

Add all of the ingredients into a bowl and stir until well combined. Transfer the mixture into a glass jar and seal closed. Rub the scrub all over the body and face once per week before rinsing clean.

3. Matcha Mask

Good for one use

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder
• 1 teaspoon raw honey

Directions

Mix the matcha and honey together in a small bowl. Rub the mixture all over cleansed facial skin. Massage into the skin. Let the mask sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing clean.

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The matcha latte is a godsend beverage that can (and should!) replace your morning Joe. Matcha packs more body-loving antioxidants and offers a longer-lasting caffeine high than does regular coffee.

But, when it comes to my matcha latte, I am as picky of a customer as I am when choosing my favorite coffee joint. In order to control all the factors, however subtle they may be, that could potentially ruin my morning matcha latte moment, I’ve reverted to making a homemade version, each and every day. Luckily, it’s a lot easier to nail a good matcha latte recipe than you may think. Here’s my go-to concoction that I’m confident will satisfy your taste buds, too.

Consider purchasing a matcha tea set equipped with a bamboo whisk, sifter, scoop, and bowl so you properly whisk the matcha powder into a clump-free paste before transforming it into a latte. The sifter and whisk, especially, make a huge difference.

As far as the matcha itself goes, simply purchase the purest, most authentic powder you can get your hands on. I am currently using Encha Matcha, which is organic matcha directly sourced from a Japanese farm, but there are lots of quality matchas out there.

Homemade Matcha Latte Recipe

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 1 cup of homemade almond milk (or whichever nut milk you prefer)
• ½ teaspoon matcha powder
• 1 teaspoon honey

Directions

Sift the matcha powder into a small bowl. Add in just one tablespoon of the almond milk. Use a whisk to mix the matcha powder into a thick paste. This step ensures there will be no clumps in your latte. Spoon the matcha paste into your latte cup and whisk in the remainder of the almond milk and honey. You can preheat the almond milk so that it pours in already hot, or if you have a milk steamer, you can steam the matcha latte until hot.

Serve and enjoy!

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The post The Perfect Homemade Matcha Latte with Almond Milk and Honey appeared first on EcoSalon.

These are the perfect accompaniment to a tea party of any size. Whether it’s high tea at three o’clock for the ladies or a tea party for your budding princesses, these teanies add unparalleled nutritional perks. In addition to vitamin C, chromium, zinc and magnesium, Matcha tea contains unique and powerful antioxidants called catechins, which counteract the effect of free radicals, a cause of DNA damage. I also add hemp seeds to the batter and the frosting to bump up the protein, omega-3, omega-6 and phytonutrient content. Just some added health insurance.

Makes 24 mini-muffin-size teanies

Ingredients

Teanies

24 mini paper baking cups
2½ cups all-purpose gluten-free flour (see page 13)
2 teaspoons Matcha green tea powder
1 teaspoon sodium-free baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon guar gum
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ teaspoon coriander powder
½ cup grapeseed oil
1/3 cup coconut nectar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/8 teaspoon stevia powder
¾ cup water
¼ cup unsweetened plain rice milk
1/3 cup hemp seeds

Frosting

1 cup hemp seed butter
¼ cup coconut nectar
1/8 teaspoon green Matcha tea powder
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a 24-cup mini muffin tin with mini paper baking cups.

To make the teanies, whisk together the flour, Matcha tea powder, baking powder, baking soda, guar gum, salt and coriander in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle.

Add the grapeseed oil, coconut nectar, vanilla and stevia and stir to combine. Next add the water and rice milk, and stir until the liquid is absorbed and the batter is smooth. Stir in the hemp seeds and mix well to distribute evenly.

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling the cups to the top.

Bake the teanies for 13 to 14 minutes, or until they are a light golden brown around the edges and bounce back slightly to the touch. Rotate the muffin tin from front to back after 10 minutes of baking.

Transfer the muffin tin from the oven to a wire rack and let sit for about 15 minutes before removing the teanies to cool completely.

To make the frosting, mix together the hemp seed butter, coconut nectar, Matcha tea powder and salt in a small bowl and stir to combine.

Frost the teanies when they are completely cool.

Keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or wrap and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Information Per Serving (1 teanie):
180 calories, 8 g total fat, 0.0 mg cholesterol,
16 g carbohydrates, 80 mg sodium, 2 g fiber,
3 g protein, 7 g sugars

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Image via Debbie Adler

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