Matcha fever is taking over the health food scene and for good reason. The neon green powder is full of antioxidants and blends gloriously into just about any recipe. In these raw matcha macaroons, the green tea powder brings earthy accents to an already healthy and delicious snack. Enjoy!

Why Matcha?

Matcha is a millennium-old tradition in Japanese ceremonial tea culture. It is made from nutrient-rich young tea leaves that have grown in shade for about 20 to 30 days before harvest. The shade stimulates increased chlorophyll and amino acid levels and turns the leaves a darker shade of green. The tea leaves are then picked, stemmed, and de-vined before being stone-ground into a very fine powder. The powder is then stored away from light and oxygen in order to maintain its vibrant green color and nutritional properties.

Unlike regular green tea, matcha green tea is consumed wholly in its powdered form, instead of as water infused with the leaves. For this reason, matcha green tea offers the body more caffeine (about 35 mg per half teaspoon) than regular tea and more (approximately three-fold) antioxidants than other green teas. Meanwhile, an amino acid in matcha called L-Theanine, feeds only a small amount of caffeine to the body for hours on end, so you don’t experience the energy crash you normally would with regular tea or coffee.

Matcha Uses

Matcha green tea powder has a grassy, lightly bitter taste – a more intense flavor profile than regular steeped green tea – but is extraordinarily delightful, especially when paired with a healthy sweetener (think: stevia) and vegan milk (think: frothed homemade almond milk).

The best part about matcha is that it extends beyond beverage form. It seamlessly mixes into other dishes, particularly homemade sweets, without compromising texture. In this macaroons recipe, matcha adds a touch of its iconic flavor to the unsweetened shredded coconut, coconut oil, coconut milk, and coconut syrup. Plus, you don’t need to bake or dehydrate these treats before noshing away.

Matcha Macaroons Recipe: Tips and Preparation

For this matcha macaroons recipe, it is important to have a food processor on hand as it does all the work for you and can help you to finish making this recipe within seconds (literally!).

Select shredded coconut that is unsweetened and vibrant in flavor. I’ve realized that shredded coconut varies vastly in the intensity of flavor, from one brand to the next. Oftentimes, I am left with dull-tasting coconut flakes that do nothing for my recipes. Do some shopping around until you find the coconut flakes perfect for your palate. Because coconut flakes play such a large role in this recipe, you want the best quality you can find.

I like keeping all the ingredients coconut-based, from the sweetener to the milk, but you can swap ingredients for the sweetener and milk components based on what you have available. Honey and agave can replace the coconut syrup while nut milk or even water can replace the coconut milk. (Note: honey is not vegan.)

Also, instead of scraping the insides of a vanilla bean, you could use one teaspoon vanilla extract in this recipe.

Raw Vegan Matcha Macaroons Recipe

Makes 15 to 20 macaroons

Ingredients

• 2 cups + ½ cup shredded coconut
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
• 3 tablespoons coconut syrup
• 2 tablespoons coconut milk
• 1 vanilla bean, scraped (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
• 2 teaspoons matcha green tea powder (my favorite brand: Encha)
• Dash of sea salt

Directions

Add two cups off the shredded coconut into a food processor and blend for a few minutes, or until the coconut flakes turn into a paste.

Add in the coconut oil, coconut syrup, coconut milk, vanilla, matcha, and sea salt.

Blend for an additional 30 seconds, or until the ingredients are just combined.

Add the last one-half cup of coconut flakes into the food processor and pulse a few times. This step will add texture to your matcha macaroons.

Use clean hands to roll balls out of the mixture. Depending on the size you make the macaroons, the number of servings will vary. Place the macaroons on a baking sheet and pop the sheet into the refrigerator to cool and harden the macaroons for about one hour.

Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator if you do not consume them all right away.

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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 post 3 DIY Matcha Green Tea Antioxidant Beauty Infusions appeared first on EcoSalon.

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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Green tea has long held reign in the superfood group. Are you getting your daily dose? Try upping the ante with natural products that include green tea for skin.

You’ve been told of green tea’s benefits for better health. Did you know there are ways to get in on the advantages aside from just drinking the stuff?

The hype over green tea is far from over. Look at how its latest incarnation, matcha, has taken over.

We know that green tea in the diet is a major boon to health. It is related to health benefits for everything from the heart and brain, to preventing Alzheimer’s disease. But this powerhouse is also good for skin.

Green tea is packed with natural antioxidants which help to ward off free radicals, working to prevent disease and sun damage. Its anti-inflammatory effects help to reduce puffiness and tone down irritation. These hallmarks make green tea beneficial to all skin types, including sensitive and mature.

Ready to bring it on? You may be wondering how to get your skin some green tea, pronto. Yes, you can brew and cool the tea, and spritz directly onto skin as a calming toner. Or you can stock up on some quality green tea-infused skincare and makeup products. Let’s take a look.

6 Products Containing Green Tea for Skin

1. Let green tea’s soothing action take down puffiness and dark circles in Dr. Alkaitis Organic Eye Crème. Super potent but mild on delicate eye area.

2. Get the green goodness in Tata Harper Lip Treatments. Each contains a healthy dose of the tea extract to protect against skin aging and environmental damage.

3. Brush on the benefits daily with W3LL People Purist Mineral Blush. Also contains skin calming aloe and chamomile.

4. Cleanse with green tea? Absolutely! YULI Halcyon Cleanser is pH balanced and clears the skin gently.

5. Treat skin post-cleanse to YULI Modern Alchemist, a powerful anti-aging oil combo. Works like prescription retinol creams without the harsh side effects.

6. Exfoliate, perfect, and protect skin at once with Qet Botanicals Matcha Green Tea Body Polish. Made with olive and coconut oils to keep skin soft and hydrated.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Image of green tea via Shutterstock

The post Green Tea for Skin: Our Top Superfood Cosmetic Product Picks appeared first on EcoSalon.

Matcha green tea’s vibrant green powder tastes a lot like green tea, but it offers more potent and meaningful health benefits. 

Matcha green tea is a fine powder green tea native to Japan. Matcha green tea tastes like green tea, only a bit more full-bodied. In one gram of matcha green tea there are 34 milligrams of amino acids, 14.26 milligrams of L-theanine, 35 milligrams of caffeine, 318 milligrams of fiber, 447 milligrams of carbohydrates, 1.75 milligrams of vitamin C, 291 units of vitamin A, 26.6 milligrams of potassium and just 3 calories. Each gram also contains 105 milligrams of catechins.

Matcha tea and stylish accessories retailed Matcha Source was founded by Alissa White, who is a huge proponent of matcha tea and its life-changing benefits, both on the inside and out. Alissa says, “Drinking matcha in concert with eliminating or reducing sugar is a powerful way to clear up your skin and promote your inner glow. Its highly alkaline and the chlorophyll in it helps to remove heavy metals from the body. Thus matcha naturally eliminates body odor. Try iced-matcha in the summer instead of iced-coffee for a hydrating pick-me-up.”

What is in the matcha tea to make it so beneficial? Catechins. Catechins are a type of antioxidant found in tea, red wine, chocolate, berries and apples. Part of a molecular family called flavonoids, catechins function as antioxidants – they protect the body from free radicals and play a prominent role in everything, from heart disease to cancer to aging.

A diet rich in catechins reduces body fat and may be useful in the prevention and improvement of lifestyle-related diseases, most notably obesity. It has also shown to aid in the prevention of age-related disorders, such as artherosclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and cancer. The catechin most active and abundant in matcha tea is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg). EGCg has shown in clinical applications to reduce inflammation, improve skin cell health, treat arthritis, control blood sugar levels in the body, suppress tumor promotion, improve survival rates of bladder cancer patients, lower the incidence of breast cancer and prevent and treat lung, pancreatic, skin and stomach cancer. Each gram of matcha green tea contains 61 milligrams of EGCg.

Matcha green tea is available in powdered form, which makes it particularly beneficial to the body. When you drink matcha tea, you ingest the entire leaf, receiving 100 percent of the nutrients of the plant. (This is unlike brewed green tea, in which you ingest the water that leaches nutrition from the leaves but not the leaves themselves.) Matcha powdered green tea boasts three times more antioxidants than regularly brewed green tea. It’s safe to say that matcha offers unparalleled nutrition, especially with regards to its antioxidants. It completely runs other antioxidant powerhouses to the ground. Its oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) is valued at 1,573 units per gram, while goji berries, pomegranate, blueberries, acai berries, broccoli and spinach hold only a 253, 105, 93, 60, 31 and 12.6 rating, respectively.

So, how do you get started? Alissa says, “I recommend starting with one-two teaspoons of powder in the morning. See how you feel.  You can add a second serving in the afternoon or add a little more powder to your morning ritual.  Matcha does have a caffeine but it’s also rich in L-Theanine which is a natural mood enhancer.  Part of the lore of the tea is that Buddhist monks drank it prior to meditation because the caffeine kept them alert while the theanine kept them calm.  The result is a gentle sustained lift lasting several hours.  Perfect for work or play. Matcha is full of fiber and can help kick start your system if you are sluggish.  Be sure to drink plenty of water if this applies to you. Some of our Matcha Source customers, drink it 2-3 times a day and can’t imagine a day without matcha tea!”

Try Matcha Source’s classic grade organic morning matcha tea to get started. Matcha Source works with farmer and growers who have been cultivating premium quality matcha teas for centuries.  Tea, like wine, is impacted by quality of soil, water and climate. In addition to location, or terroir, the handling of the leaf during production is also critical for creating rich tasting smooth creamy matcha tea flavors. Matcha Source teas are shade covered at end of harvest to enrich chlorophyl production. At harvest they are hand-picked, steamed, air dried and then ground on hand-carved stone grinding wheels. The early harvest selections are blended by tea masters for ultimate mouth feel and incredible flavor. Also all matcha is shade covered at end of harvest for three weeks. This is a critical step in creating the unique nutritional profile of authentic matcha. There are other “green tea powders” on the market but they are not shade covered and do not have the same benefits or flavor.

Watch Alissa prepare matcha tea so you know how to do it yourself in the comfort of your own home.

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Photo Credit: cyclonebill

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