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When did you first learn about matcha? I think for me it was either Matcha Mama in Tulum or Cha Cha Matcha in NYC, though we have Cha Cha Matcha here in Venice too! We also have a really cute place called Koala Matcha here in Santa Monica, though I have never tried. It’s kind of odd though, as I’m such a tea girl and matcha only really registered for me in the last 5 years. Though trending high in the last several years, matcha is not a new thing. Like most current health crazes, it has a lot of history and people have been using it for YEARS.

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Vejo Matcha Latte Pod. To learn more about my Vejo blender + get my discount code, click here.

What is matcha?

Before I get into matcha’s story, I first want to talk about what matcha is and isn’t. First of all, matcha is different from maca. I say that because I initially got the two confused! While both are powders, matcha is finely ground whole green tea leaves. It’s not just any ole bunch of tea leaves though… they are young tea leaves of specific varietals, grown in the shade and handpicked. Additionally, matcha is combined with water as a powder, whereas traditional green tea is brewed. Maca on the other hand is an herbaceous root that is also ground into a powder. Another difference (besides the fact that matcha is bright green!!) is that matcha originated in China (though later brought to Japan, specifically to Uji and Nishio) and maca has (literal) roots in Peru. The more you know!!

What does matcha taste like?

Matcha pretty much tastes like strong green tea. Much like coffee, if it is good quality, you don’t really have to add much to it if anything. Matcha is smooth and earthy and almost has a buttery taste. It has umami for sure.

What are the benefits of matcha?

Because matcha is a green tea, you’ll see a lot of the same benefits across matcha and green tea. The main difference? Matcha has loads more antioxidants than regular green tea. Keep in mind that matcha consists of the cream of the crop and therefore has a higher concentration of nutrients! Here’s an overview of the benefits:

Rich in antioxidants
Flushes out toxins
Enhances brain function
Boosts energy (without a crash or making you feel jittery)
Promotes heart health
Speeds up metabolism
Reduces anxiety

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How to make matcha at home:

It might be easier to grab a matcha from Starbucks or a specialty joint, but there are a lot of ways to make matcha at home that will actually be a lot easier on your wallet. It will also allow you to probably consume less sugar, as a lot of conventional places add quite a bit of sugar. You can choose to make traditional matcha tea, but matcha lattes are all the rage and are often easier to drink, especially if you aren’t used to the bright flavor of matcha yet.

To make matcha tea, use 1 - 2 tsp of matcha powder and mix with 1 - 2 tsp of hot water (around 175 degrees F - I love to use this tea kettle) or just follow your package’s label. Whisk the mixture together in an “M” // zigzag motion until dissolved. Next add as much more water as you’d like or even some milk of your choosing to make a latte. If you need it to be sweeter, add honey, maple syrup, or whatever sweetener you want. I also enjoy a dash of cinnamon on mine! You can enjoy matcha hot or cold, so keep that in mind too.

Now… where to get the said matcha powder?! Overall you want to make sure to get a well-sourced, GREEN (not greying yellow, or brown, because that means it lower quality and has probably oxidized, making it less potent) matcha powder. The truth of the matter is that you usually get what you pay for when it comes to matcha, so keep that in mind while perusing matcha choices. Keep scrolling for some of my favorite options:

Straight Matcha Powder

I’m a bit of a purist, so straight powders are best in my opinion. You can use them as is or mix as you please and always know the source and quality behind the product. Here are some great options in different price ranges. Don’t forget that you can pick up some matcha powder at your favorite store too! Cha Cha Matcha sells their ceremonial grade matcha and Alfred sells theirs too, along with cute Matcha Kit.

Pique Tea Sun Goddess Matcha Sticks. I love the Pique Tea brand. Their Ginger Digestion Elixir is my favorite, but their Matcha is great too. They have the highest quality teas and filer for heavy metals among other things. Their products also come in tea “sticks, which are basically a skinny packet of tea crystals that dissolve into water. They are really easy to enjoy at home, but can be taken on the go too. Use discount code ELLEMULENOS for 5% off your Pique Tea order!
Encha Ceremonial Matcha. A great brand of matcha that is a little bit more budget friendly than Pique.
Golde Pure Matcha. You’ve probably seen Golde’s marvelous mixes, but they have a stand alone matcha product too!!
Now Foods Matcha Powder. I love the Now Foods Brand. I buy my seeds, essential oils, and several supplements from them. It only makes sense that they would have quality matcha!

Matcha Latte

If you don’t want to use straight matcha, I totally get it. A latte version is definitely easier to stomach, especially if you’re getting used to the taste don’t particularly enjoy a green tea flavor. I like these because they include straight matcha and a minimal amount of other ingredients.

Vejo Matcha Latte Pod. This is what you see in my photos! I love this because it is so easy. It is blend with matcha and oat milk, along with a bit of stevia and monk-fruit for taste. (0g of sugar though.) To learn more about my Vejo blender + get my discount code, click here. Honestly make a matcha latte has never been this easy. It blends with cold water. I like to add cinnamon and ice after blending!
Golde Matcha Turmeric Blend. I mentioned the pure matcha above, but wanted to make sure that I shared this blend too! It obviously has turmeric and matcha, but also has powdered coconut milk and other spices for flavor. You can blend it with more milk or water.
Four Sigmatic Matcha Latte Blend. Four Sigmatic has great mushroom coffees and this one is no different! Its powdered milk is coconut.

Matcha Beauty Blends

Though I’m an avid multi-tasker, there are certain times where I prefer a “single task” mindset if you will and supplements is one of those areas. These are great options if you want to “kill 2 birds with 1 stone” regarding the beauty category, as most have collagen and other added benefits to them like adaptogens and probiotics. You’ll notice that a couple say they are lattes, but I didn’t list them above. I wanted to keep these separate, as most have a lot going on and didn’t seem as straight to the point regarding matcha. They make matcha more of a side ingredient than the star, which is totally fine. Just depends on what you want!