Matcha energy drink

What is matcha?

Before we look at how to make matcha drink recipes, let’s talk more about this amazing ingredient. Matcha is a type of powdered green tea that’s taken the world by storm thanks to its impressive health benefits.

While powdered tea originated in China, it was in Japan that matcha truly took off. Japanese Buddhist monks studying in China found the drink helped them to achieve a meditative state of calm focus. In approximately the 8^th century, they brought it home with them. Matcha drink recipes soon became popular with Zen monks, nobles, and samurai alike. This led to the development of the Japanese tea ceremony, which is designed to promote mindfulness and tranquillity.

Like other types of green tea, you prepare matcha from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant. What makes it special is the way that producers grow and harvest it. Prior to picking, tea farmers shade the plants from the sun. This boosts the production of chlorophyll, giving the leaves a vibrant emerald color and exceptional nutritional value.

To keep the quality of matcha high, producers use only the youngest and freshest leaves. They pick these by hand, then gently steam and dry them before removing any stems and veins. Finally, farmers grind the leaves into a fine, vivid green powder. You then whisk this in hot (but not boiling) water to make matcha tea. As such, unlike other types of tea, you’re consuming the entire leaf when you drink it – hence the extra benefits.

This unique process gives matcha a complex creamy, grassy flavor, with a natural sweetness that’s balanced out by umami undertones. As well as enjoying a traditional cup of tea, you can use the powder in a range of matcha drink recipes. Including this matcha energy drink!

Does matcha give you energy?

We often reach for coffee when we need energy, thinking of tea as more of a relaxing drink. However, tea also contains caffeine, which acts as a stimulant. It blocks the effects of adenosine, reducing tiredness and increasing energy levels. Matcha actually has a higher caffeine content than other types of green tea.(1) As such, matcha drink recipes can be effective at boosting both mental and physical energy.

And it’s not just the caffeine that helps you feel more alert when enjoying matcha drink recipes. The tea also contains an amino acid called l-theanine, which helps to enhance focus and attention. What’s interesting is that the combination of caffeine and l-theanine could be especially beneficial for concentration and cognitive performance.(2)

One reason for this is that l-theanine alters the effects of caffeine. This helps you to avoid the energy crash and jitters that people sometimes get with coffee. What’s more, l-theanine has a relaxing influence on the mind and body, reducing feelings of stress and anxiety.(3) This is because it increases levels of gamma aminobutyric acid, a neurotransmitter that produces a calming effect. Matcha drink recipes can therefore enable you to achieve the state of calm alertness that Buddhist monks so value!

Excitingly, in addition to boosting mental energy and performance, green teas like matcha may also protect against cognitive decline.(4) This is partly thanks to potent plant compounds called catechins. These act as antioxidants, defending our cells against the damage caused by free radicals.

So, it’s no wonder that products such as the matcha love energy drink are hitting the market! However, matcha drink recipes offer far more benefits than simply fighting fatigue. Time to get into the details.

Other health benefits of matcha

First off, as mentioned above, matcha is bursting with antioxidants that protect us from oxidative stress. Experts have linked such damage to several harmful health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. As well as protecting the brain, matcha could therefore lower your risk of chronic diseases and reduce signs of ageing. Combined with the tea’s high vitamin C content, this also means it could do wonders for your complexion!

Notably, matcha is rich in a catechin called epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or EGCG. Studies suggest this has anti-cancer properties, neuroprotective effects, and a positive influence on cardio-metabolic health.(5)

Indeed, matcha drink recipes could be especially beneficial for the cardiovascular system. For example, research has found that green tea reduces the risk of heart attack, heart disease, and stroke.(6) This may be due to its ability to lower blood pressure and decrease levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol.(7) The latter can build up on the walls of your arteries, limiting blood flow and raising the chance of clots.

What’s more, healthy matcha drink recipes may assist with weight management.(8) The tea might boost your metabolic rate, enable you to burn more fat, and lower your BMI. This is advantageous because being obese can increase your risk of developing numerous serious diseases.

Likewise, green tea could help to protect the liver, improve blood sugar management, and reduce the risk of bone fractures. The latter is thanks to potent polyphenols that help to increase bone mineral density, lessening the chance of osteoporosis.(9)

All of which means it’s not surprising that green tea – which includes matcha drink recipes – is associated with greater longevity.(10) So, without further ado, let’s go over how to make this delicious and wellness-boosting matcha energy drink.

Our matcha energy drink recipe: the perfect pick-me-up

Out of all the possible matcha drink recipes you could go for, why choose this one? Well, it’s quick and easy to make, bursting with nutrition, and tastes amazing! Here’s how to whip yourself up an energy-enhancing glass.

To begin, chop up a banana and pop the slices into a blender. Pour in 400ml of oat milk (or another plant-based milk alternative), then add three or four lime peels. These will give your drink plenty of zest! You can always mix things up by using the peel from yuzu, lemon, or other similar fruits instead. For an even more citrusy zing in your matcha drink recipes, try adding the juice from your chosen fruit too.

Next, sprinkle in one and a half teaspoons of matcha powder to add color and a burst of nutrition. Feel free to use a little more or less to adjust the strength of the matcha taste to your liking. Finally, pour in one or two teaspoons of vanilla extract to give the beverage a delicious depth of flavor.

All you need to do now is to blend the mixture until it’s smooth and creamy. The texture will be similar to a smoothie, but not quite as thick. Then you’re ready to serve your matcha energy drink! Pour the beverage into a glass and decorate it with a dusting of bright green matcha powder. For extra refreshment on warm days, add a handful of ice cubes before blending or to the glass before serving.

As this is a matcha energy drink, we recommend enjoying it early in the day or before a workout. That will ensure you get the maximum benefit from this focus-boosting powdered green tea.

Energy and beyond: the benefits of bananas

The banana in this matcha energy drink recipe does much more than provide texture and sweetness to the beverage. Like the tea itself, this humble fruit also helps to fight fatigue.

Bananas are relatively high in calories compared to other types of fruit, with plenty of sugar, carbs, and fibre. As such, they can give you an instant yet sustained burst of energy.(11) What’s more, bananas are rich in minerals like potassium and magnesium. These act as electrolytes, supporting muscle contraction during exercise. They might even help to reduce cramping and soreness, although further research is necessary to confirm this.

This physical energy boost makes bananas the perfect addition to matcha drink recipes, as the tea itself is most useful for mental energy.

The high fiber content of bananas also helps to support your digestive health. The resistant starch in the fruit acts as a prebiotic, nourishing the good bacteria in your gut. Your gut microbiome influences everything from the immune system to brain health, making this a key benefit. Fiber additionally promotes feelings of fullness, which can be useful for healthy weight management. Moreover, it may be beneficial for moderating levels of blood glucose and reducing spikes in blood sugar too.

In addition to assisting during workouts, the high levels of potassium and magnesium in bananas supports heart health. For instance, potassium can help to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of hypertension, heart attack, and stroke.(12) Magnesium also assists with regulating blood pressure, plus keeps the heart beating in a steady rhythm.

That’s a lot of good reasons to use bananas in matcha drink recipes! Not to mention, the two flavors complement each other perfectly.

All about our ceremonial grade matcha

In order to get the maximum benefit from your matcha drink recipes, it’s important to choose a top-quality product. This ensures that the powder is rich in all the protective plant compounds discussed above. There are several different grades of matcha on offer, distinguished by the type of leaves used to make them.

Our Organic Ceremonial Matcha is the highest grade available, crafted from the youngest and finest leaves. This is the variety used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. It has a bright green color, fresh grassy scent, and sweet, delicate flavor.

We source our matcha from tea producers in Uji, a city outside Kyoto that’s famous for its superior quality tea. They grow the plants using organic techniques, so you can rest assured there were no pesticides or other chemicals involved. Farmers pick the shaded leaves by hand, then steam and dry them before finely grinding them using a stone mill. They do this to order, ensuring that the powder is always fresh.

We pack our matcha in environmentally friendly amber glass jars, and ship them out to you at home. Please reuse or recycle these once you’ve used up all the powder making matcha drink recipes!

Want to savor the unique flavor of matcha in its purest form? Simply mix a teaspoon of powder into 80ºC water with a bamboo whisk (or chasen). Start by using a circular motion to dissolve the powder, then switch to a more vigorous zigzag pattern. This should give you a gorgeously foamy and frothy tea topped with small bubbles. For the best taste and texture, drink it straight away before the powder settles on the bottom of the cup.

Beyond matcha drink recipes: other ways to use powdered tea

There are plenty of other matcha drink recipes you can make besides traditional tea or this matcha energy drink. For example, one classic option is to whip up a warm and creamy matcha latte (or an iced variety!). You can also add the powder to your favourite smoothies, or have a go at making matcha lemonade.

However, it’s possible to use matcha in baking too. The powder adds a stunning green hue to all kinds of dishes, in addition to tasting amazing. Try mixing some into recipes for pancakes, brownies, cookies, ice cream, biscuits, or cakes for a delicious and colourful dessert. Fancy something savoury? Stir the tea into bread dough, pesto, salad dressings, granola, or hummus for a unique vegetal twist.

Matcha’s balance of sweet and umami notes makes it surprisingly versatile, so don’t be afraid of experimenting with the powder! Whether you prefer matcha drink recipes or tea-infused food, this beloved ingredient is certain to become one of your favourites.