A recipe for the perfect matcha green tea almond latte, and tips on where to buy matcha in London & San Francisco.
Photo by Annicken on Unsplash
Matcha green tea has been on the circuit for a while now. First touted as the new green tea, and later as the new coffee, it hasn’t quite managed to take off at a level of popularity that I personally feel it should. Matcha is a key ingredient in Japanese culture and something we studied during the Japan day of my world cuisine module at Natural Chef school.
I first bought a tin of the stuff last year when I came across it, reasonably priced at a food fair in London. Some Matcha brands can work out as expensive as £1 per serving, which lets be honest takes it out of the category of an every day drink. I actually took that tin to America with me, and continued to make up a cup whenever the feeling arose. I especially enjoyed throwing it into the occasional morning smoothie!
Matcha is great for so many reasons. Firstly it’s a cool green colour – who doesn’t love drinking something that wouldn’t look out of place at an aliens coffee morning? Secondly it gives that ‘pick me up’ buzz I love from coffee without the side effects. No jitters, and no runny tummy. Lastly, it’s quite the super-tea; It’s antioxidant rich (catechin is the antioxidant), it’s thermogenic which means it stimulates metabolism, it helps maintain cardiovascular health, and may help balance blood glucose levels.
In the UK I have tried brands by Clearspring and Teapigs. The higher the grade (highest is ceremonial), the sweeter the tea, which means less need to add a sweetener (Matcha can taste bitter). You can also make cake or ice-cream with matcha – here’s to green cake with no food colouring! Or these coconut truffles look divine…
In case you find yourself out and about in London or San Francisco and are looking for a Matcha hit – here’s where I’ve enjoyed a taster this last year;
London
- Good Life Eatery, 59 Sloane Avenue, SW3 (nr Sloane Square). Almond milk available, which is properly steamed with the matcha using the milk steamer (rather than adding steamed milk on top of the matcha). Thick and delicious
- Retreat Cafe, 11 Lettice Street, SW6 (part of The Power Yoga Company in Parsons Green). Almond options available. With cinnamon – which is where I pinched the idea to include it in my recipe. Gives it an extra touch of sweetness, along with some honey. Cinnamon also helps with blood sugar balancing.
- Yumchaa, Camden, Soho + market stalls. Delicious though no almond milk – just organic soy or bog standard milk available.
San Francisco
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- Peet’s, various locations (i.e. nearly every street corner in SF). Yep Matcha green tea & almond milk in a national coffee shop (which started in Berkeley which was where I went to natural chef school!). Make sure you ask for unsweetened, though. Not sure what sweet things they are putting in it…
- Samovar Tea Lounge, Castro, Zen Valley & Yerba Beuno Gardens. Delicious Matcha milkshake on the menu. Again be careful of sneaky sugar which they will put in unless you ask them not too.
What’s your recipe for the perfect Matcha latte? Where have you tried in London or San Francisco ?
Matcha Latte with Almond Milk
- ½ tsp matcha green tea powder
- Pinch cinnamon
- 2 Tbs Boiled water
- 1 cup / 250mls Almond Milk
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp honey to taste (optional)
- Whisk together the matcha powder, and cinnamon with the water until fully dissolved.
- Meanwhile warm the almond in a saucepan until hot, but not boiling. Pour in the green liquid and the vanilla extract. Next using a handheld immersion blender, blend the tea & milk till fully incorporated, since the millk is warm it should just naturally froth up. Taste, and add honey if too bitter (this will depend on the type and grade of matcha you have)
- Pour into a mug and enjoy
I love me a matcha almond latte! I haven’t seen it up here in Edinburgh (although I can’t say I have really looked) but I do make them at home, using VitaLife (ceremonial grade) matcha that I buy in bulk online. I was so jealous of your Peet’s instagram as you really raved about it and I was wishing that I could be out and about and just grab a matcha latte. Anyway, your recipe will give other folk out of London/ San Fran a way to enjoy this really fantastic pick me up drink. And my favourite ‘food’ way is in my morning yogurt with honey, fruit on top and some walnuts. So easy. As I type I have a cold matcha on the go as a mid-afternoon lift. Addicted? Perhaps.
Lovely post, Ceri. And great images.
Hi Kelly. Thank you!! So glad to know I’ve found a fellow matcha fanatic in you! Hopefully cafe’s will start getting the hint and be putting them on the menu everywhere soon. That and turmeric tea too? Now that would be asking for a miracle! Good to know about another brand you’re using. I must try your yoghurt idea too – looks sensational. And fun. Food should be fun!
Hi Ceri, this looks fantastic. I love matcha and I still have some some in a small tin that I bought from The Tea House in Covent Garden (Matcha-Uji). So far, however, I have only tried matcha on its own, this addition of the almond milk sounds tempting though…
As for the feedback about the layout – I love that the recipe is on top, that is always my main concern of the recipe blogs that you need to scroll lots until you get to the recipe. And I scanned through the post itself trying to get the idea, though not necessarily reading every word…
Thanks for this recipe!
Hi Pawel, thanks so much! Good to see your comments – to hear of another place I can buy in London and also what you think about the layout. I may trial it from now on . Have fun trying the matcha with almond milk. I am sure you will be as hooked as I am!
I love matcha everything–this looks beautiful!
Thank you! Another fellow Matcha fan. Hooray!
I’ve always wanted to try a matcha latte with almond milk, I love the look of all the frothy goodness on top! I keep waiting for matcha to go on sale, think I just need to bite the bullet and buy some!
Do it! I was really surprise how easy it was to get the frothy top without a milk steamer – feels very luxurious! It is a treat, since its so expensive but why not? Especially as its a treat that’s nothing but good for you!
How have I never tried a Matcha Latte? I’m heading to Peet’s this afternoon to get a fix.
Hope all is well Ceri.
xoxo
E
Well to be fair, I only had my first one a few months ago, and made the Peet’s discovery far too late into my Berkeley adventure! Hope you enjoyed! Lovely to hear form you Erin, all is going very well thank you, I hope with you too xxx
How have I only just tried this now? I honestly thought it sounded horrible ha ha, but no, amazing! Thanks 🙂
Ah, finally come over to the dark side of matcha almond latte beverages! Happy you approve 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. Simple and amazing also the pinch of cinnamon gives such a lovely flavor to it.
THanks, glad you enjoyed it!