The Dairy-Free Matcha Latte That Will Make You Forget Coffee

Did you just see the words forget coffee, and think - noooo, not possible?

If you class yourself as someone up for a challenge, and open to trying new things, then let me tell you about the coffee contender - the dairy-free matcha latte.

What’s in a matcha latte?

A latte is an espresso coffee made with hot steamed milk - thank you, Italy. A matcha latte - is a matcha green tea made with hot steamed soy milk - thank you, Japan!

Unlike a coffee where you need to grind the beans, and have a few barista skills up your sleeve, a matcha latte is much simpler.

You simply need matcha green tea powder, a saucepan to heat your plant-based milk of choice (like coconut, oat, almond, hemp, or go traditional Japanese latte style with soy milk).

Make sure you choose a good quality matcha green tea powder, and that you check the source of your ingredients before you get into perfecting your recipe.

Green tea leaves should be finely ground, preferably organic, and grown in the shade for a period of time as this aids the increase of amino acids like Theanine, caffeine and chlorophyll levels making good quality matcha darker green.

Wondering how to perfect your matcha recipe? Read on.

If you are choosing plant-based milk to go with your matcha latte, then you may either want to make your own almond milk or choose a barista grade brand of milk to get going.

Decide whether you want to make your matcha latte over a stovetop (recommended) or if you are pressed for time, in the microwave.

Like a great latte, you don’t want to burn anything - the milk, or in this case, the matcha.

Start by adding a little hot water (not boiling) to a ½ teaspoon of matcha tea powder, and make it into a thin paste. Don’t be too heavy-handed with the water otherwise, you’ll end up with a watery matcha latte, and that will fall short of the standard we are aiming for.

Slowly add in your milk (or mylk) of choice, and then heat to a low simmer so as not to burn anything.

Pour into your cup of choice (if it’s not already in one), and enjoy all the benefits of a matcha latte.

What are the benefits of a matcha latte?

Matcha green tea is full of antioxidants and helps boost your energy, focus and metabolism.

Now, coffee also has health benefits, but matcha brings with its calming energy. Yes, matcha still contains caffeine like a traditional latte, but because it contains an amino acid called L-Theanine which slows the release of caffeine, it has a calming effect, and lasts longer than a shot of coffee in your latte.

Is it better than coffee?

If you want to feel energised (like your morning coffee latte does), and you want that energy to last, then the answer is yes, a matcha latte is better.

Like coffee, you can add more matcha green tea powder to your latte while you perfect your recipe, and you can even sprinkle a little bit of extra matcha powder on the top, or even a touch of spice if you like your latte with a little personality.

With 137 x the antioxidants of regular green tea, and all the caffeine of a regular cup of coffee, plus, plant-based is good for the planet, test out the easiest dairy-free matcha latte recipe ever - it’s sure to get you on team green.