Lemon-infused matcha latte recipe

Coffee has its benefits. It provide that much-needed hit of caffeine. But it may protect us from some common diseases. One study found that mortality rates were lower for coffee drinkers than non-drinkers, which provides a fairly compelling reason to continue with your latte habit.(1)

That said, coffee can also have its downsides. The main reason you might be keen to put down your coffee cup is that the sudden hit of caffeine can cause unpleasant side effects.(2)

Drinking too much coffee - or simply being sensitive to its effects - is associated with anxiety, insomnia, restlessness and even panic attacks.

A matcha latte recipe to start your day

Imagine if there were a delicious hot drink which gave you the sense of energy and alertness that coffee provides, without the jitters?

It turns out that this drink not only exists, but Japanese people have known about it for thousands of years.

Matcha is a very high quality type of green tea. It’s made with only the finest and youngest tea leaves, which are ground into a fine powder. Rather than steeping the leaves, you simply mix the powder with water and drink them whole.

This gives you access to even more of green tea’s well known health benefits. Just another reason to swap over to a green tea latte.

Restful alertness

Like coffee, matcha green tea contains caffeine. A cup of matcha contains slightly less caffeine than a cup of coffee, but still enough to keep you feeling energised.

However, matcha also contains another, less well-known nutrient, called l-theanine.

It’s a non-protein amino acid which is associated with lowering stress. It helps to put you into a state of relaxation.

But the best thing? When l-theanine meets caffeine, it tones down its effects. Unlike coffee, matcha won’t give you any jitters or feelings of anxiety. This is because l-theanine stops the effects of caffeine from overwhelming your system.

Not only that, but l-theanine is associated with improved memory and focus.(3) That makes matcha the perfect drink to enjoy before tackling an important task. If you’re approaching a big meeting, take a moment to enjoy a quiet matcha latte beforehand. It may not only relax you, but help improve your overall performance.

Lemons to lift

For those who haven’t yet tried matcha, it has a naturally creamy and slightly sweet taste, with a hint of fresh grassiness. Ceremonial Grade Matcha like ours is the highest possible quality of matcha.

It’s so revered in Japan that it’s usually reserved for traditional tea ceremonies, where it is served to honoured guests.

You can drink matcha made simply with hot water, using your bamboo whisk to blend the fine powder into a little hot water to make a paste. Then simply top up with as much hot water as you would like.

However, for those special days when you’d like an extra boost, our lemony matcha latte