Matcha's popularity has risen dramatically recently, and we can now find it in everything from health food stores to bakeries to local coffee shops. When a drink appears on the Starbucks menu, you know it has reached peak popularity!

Starbucks matcha drinks were introduced in 2016. The green tea drink is made with matcha powder, which is made by grinding shade-grown green tea leaves into a fine powder. The powder is whisked with hot water, steamed milk, and a sweetener, creating a creamy and frothy beverage using a bamboo matcha whisk.

The most popular way to consume matcha is to combine it with milk to make a matcha latte. This green tea-based drink is a customer favorite for its unique taste, vibrant color, and numerous health benefits.

Why is Starbucks Matcha Latte Popular?

One of the reasons that the matcha latte has become so popular is because of its unique flavor. The drink has a strong, earthy taste that is a pleasant departure from traditional coffee or tea-based drinks. The vibrant green color of the drink is also eye-catching and makes it stand out from other beverages on the menu.

But the matcha latte isn't just delicious; it's also packed with health benefits. Matcha powder is rich in antioxidants, which help to protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. The drink is also a great source of caffeine, providing an energy boost without the jitters that can come from drinking coffee. Matcha contains high levels of polyphenol antioxidants linked to reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer and promoting anti-aging effects. It also contains L-theanine, an amino acid that can enhance memory and help induce a state of calmness.

Matcha has less caffeine than coffee, providing a longer-lasting energy boost without the jitters and subsequent crashes that coffee can cause. Matcha is a good choice for people who are sensitive to caffeine or have a busy day ahead. Starting your day with a nutritious matcha latte can provide you with focused energy and fresh breath without the adverse side effects of coffee.

Many people buy matcha lattes from Starbucks rather than making them at home due to convenience, but the habit can become costly. Additionally, it raises questions about whether Starbucks' matcha lattes are as healthy as they appear.

Origins of Matcha Powder

Matcha is not just a fleeting trend or a substitute for coffee; its history dates back almost a millennium. The Matcha Green Tea Powder origins can be uncovered in the Tang Dynasty in China, spanning the 7th to 10th centuries, when tea leaves were steamed and compressed into bricks for easy transport and trading. The Song Dynasty, which ruled from the 10th to 13th centuries, popularized this tea preparation.

Eisai, a Japanese Buddhist monk who studied Buddhism in China, brought back tea seeds and the Zen Buddhist method of preparing powdered green tea in 1191. The seeds were believed to produce the highest quality tea leaves in Japan and were planted in Kyoto on the temple grounds, the home of the Kamakura Shogun. During this time, matcha was produced in limited quantities and was considered a luxury item.

The Zen Buddhists developed a new cultivation method for the green tea plant, called Tencha, which involves growing it under shaded conditions. This method is credited with maximizing the health benefits of matcha to produce a high quality matcha powder, which has become more than just a trendy beverage among Hollywood elites but a storied and esteemed part of tea culture.

What Goes Into a Starbucks Matcha Latte

Whether a Starbucks Matcha Latte is healthy or not depends on which country you are in. In the UK, there is no online information about the ingredients used to make the two types of matcha latte: the Starbucks iced matcha latte and the hot matcha latte. However, an ex-Starbucks UK employee confirmed that the matcha mixture used is 100% pure, with no added sugar.

However, when it comes to the matcha mixture used in the United States, the matcha powder is pre-blended with sugar, which is listed as the first ingredient in the nutritional information available online. It may suggest that the sugar content in the latte is higher than that of the matcha. Good quality matcha has a sweet aftertaste, and adding milk makes the drink even sweeter. Pre-blending the matcha with sugar could be a way to cover the taste of lower-quality matcha, which is often bitter.

Additionally, adding syrups and extras to the latte can significantly increase the calorie count. In the USA, a Grande Matcha Latte made with non-fat milk contains 190 calories and 33 grams of sugar. The Starbucks Matcha latte is different from any other regular coffee latte, but if you're looking for a healthier option, making your homemade matcha latte recipe is the way to go, as you have more control over the ingredients and the taste.

Benefits of Drinking Matcha Latte

Matcha is a beverage that offers several benefits for the body due to its high content of antioxidants and nutrients. It has been linked to enhanced brain function, weight loss, a decreased risk of cancer, and other remarkable advantages.

These benefits become even more significant when the powder form of the tea leaf is ingested directly, as it promotes sensations of energy, vitality, and concentration. While it has only about 10% of the caffeine content of coffee, it is more concentrated, so it contains a considerable amount of caffeine. In addition, matcha is abundant in catechins, essential antioxidants that provide numerous advantages for the skin and overall hydration.

When considering whether Starbucks matcha is healthy, it's important to understand what makes matcha good for you. Matcha is packed with antioxidants and nutrients from how the leaves are grown and processed. The leaves are covered for 28 days before harvesting, which increases chlorophyll production, resulting in a higher percentage of catechins than normal green tea. These catechins can help to prevent cell damage and lower the risk of several chronic diseases.

However, not all matcha is created equal. Starbucks uses a cheap Chinese matcha powder, which is less vibrant in color and can be very bitter. To make the matcha more palatable, Starbucks adds a significant amount of sugar to their matcha powder, which makes up over 50% of the powder. A Starbucks iced matcha latte contains a huge amount of sugar, undermining any associated health benefits of drinking matcha.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

• Simple to make. To prepare a matcha latte, you only need matcha powder, water, milk, and sugar.

• It is possible to adjust the sweetness level like less sugar. This recipe calls for 1 tablespoon of simple syrup, but you can vary the amount to taste. This recipe is intended to closely resemble Starbucks' matcha lattes (but still not quite as sugary). You can adjust how much sugar you can put into the latte.

• Coffee has fewer stimulants than tea. One teaspoon of matcha powder is used in one matcha latte, which has about half the caffeine content of a cup of coffee. Perfect for a morning pick-me-up or an afternoon pick-me-up without the crash.

STARBUCKS MATCHA LATTE RECIPE

Ingredients:

• Matcha powder - since Starbucks is using ceremonial grade matcha powder in making matcha latte, using this grade of matcha powder is highly recommended.

• Water - both warm and hot water is needed.

• Milk - you can use any type of milk such as oat milk, soy milk, almond milk, whole milk, coconut milk, cashew milk or just a regular milk.

• Simple syrup - prepare a simple syrup such a maple syrup.

PROCEDURE FOR MAKING ICED VERSION MATCHA LATTE AT HOME

1. Matcha powder should be dissolved. To dissolve the matcha powder, mix it with hot water to make a matcha paste. For this stage, it is also recommended to use a handheld electric milk frother or whisk, which helps dissolve any clumps and foams in the matcha.

2. Pour over ice, then top with milk and simple syrup in a glass. Combine cold milk, simple syrup, and matcha in an ice-filled glass. It creates lovely layers.

3. Shake vigorously.

4. Enjoy. Prepare the matcha latte and enjoy it!

PROCEDURE FOR MAKING HOT MATCHA LATTE AT HOME

1. Dissolving the matcha powder is necessary. To dissolve the matcha powder, mix it with hot water. A handheld electric milk frother/whisk is also advised for this step because it aids in breaking up any clumps and foams in the matcha.

2. Milk and simple syrup should be added halfway to the glass. The milk should be steamed or heated until it is hot before pouring over the matcha and simple syrup. Using an electric milk frother is advised to heat and steam the milk.

3. Shake vigorously.

4. Enjoy. After whisking in the matcha latte, serve.

   

FAQs

IS DRINKING A MATCHA LATTE GOOD FOR YOU?

If the amount of sugar in the latte is kept to a minimum, matcha lattes can be nutritious. Matcha green tea powder contains antioxidants that may shield your cells from free radicals, which may contribute to heart disease, cancer, and other issues.

WHAT KIND OF MATCHA POWDER SHOULD I USE?

To get the greatest flavor, use high-quality matcha powder. If you cut corners here, your matcha will taste bitter and unappealing. It would be best if you always used Japanese green tea powder because matcha grown in Japan is typically high quality.

Culinary-grade matcha is used in baking and lattes because it is grittier and bitterer than ceremony-grade and has a less vivid green tint. Contrary to popular belief, ceremonial grade matcha has fewer antioxidants than culinary grade.

IS MATCHA HEALTHIER THAN COFFEE?

Both matcha powder and coffee have few calories; however, coffee contains roughly twice as much caffeine. The milk and sweetener in a matcha latte or coffee latte provide the calories.

WHAT DOES STARBUCKS PUT IN THEIR MATCHA LATTE?

The ingredient list for Starbucks' Matcha Tea Latte includes milk and matcha green tea powder. Their matcha green tea is sweetened with sugar and pulverized green tea.

IS STARBUCKS MATCHA LATTE HEALTHY?

Matcha powder contains antioxidants and contains extremely few calories (under 10 per serving). Calories, fat, and sugar are added with milk and sweetener. Starbucks matcha lattes are quite sugary, making them less healthful.

WHAT MAY HAPPEN IF I DRINK A MATCHA LATTE EVERY DAY?

It is safe to consume Matcha regularly. When deciding how much Matcha to drink, the caffeine concentration is the most crucial factor. Matcha should be consumed in moderation, as should any caffeinated beverages, especially after noon. Potential matcha side effects do not appear to have any significant negative effects when drunk in moderation, but excessive doses of Matcha that contain significant levels of caffeine may cause headaches, diarrhea, sleeplessness, and irritability.

Experiences by Japan Crate: Uji Matcha Tea Experience Set

Matcha's antioxidant concentration is notably strong in catechins. Epigallocatechin gallate is the most potent catechin in it (EGCG). It may enhance cell repair, minimize bodily inflammation, and keep your arteries healthy.

Experiences by Japan Crate has an Uji Matcha Tea Experience Set that is perfect for those new to the art of matcha. This set includes a whisk holder, matcha powder, 3 pieces of mochi, a whisk, a spoon, and a tea bowl.

TAKEAWAYS

It only takes four ordinary ingredients and about a minute to make this creamy, light, and invigorating Starbucks matcha latte. It is simple to make using maple syrup as a natural flavor. Making it at home also saves a lot of money. This Starbucks Matcha Latte knockoff is simple to make—combine the ingredients and serve over ice. When combined, you get a lovely and highly healthy foam coating.

Get your Uji Matcha Tea Experience Set now and visit our website now! We offer a lot of exclusive deals and promos just for you!