Matcha lattes are just the tip of the iced-latte-berg. In Japan, there's an opaque-green, frothy-waved ocean of healthy matcha-flavored drinks and foods. Are your goggles ready? Let's dive in... Kerplush!
Glug, glug, glug– Down below, you'll find a titanic-sized list of 30 + healthy matcha recipes. I curated these recipes to suit you and your healthy, low-sugar diet, including many of my own creations.
Ready to sink... your teeth into a matcha energy bite or matcha banana bread?
With matcha's distinctive rich, earthy flavor, captivating bright green color, and remarkable health benefits– it's worth diving deeper.
Before this ship sails from the shores of Tokyo, I'll make you two promises. One, I promise you're going to find at least one recipe that will inspire you. And two, I promise that I didn't use a single matcha pun... do you trust me?
Full speed ahead!
Healthy Matcha Latte Recipes
Satisfying, creamy matcha lattes, guilt-free
1. Coconut Matcha Latte Recipe
Coconut milk is my favorite dairy-free milk for making matcha lattes. I know it sounds like a weird combination. For some reason, matcha and coconut milk just go together. And yes, you can use the same recipe to make an iced matcha latte. Too coconutty for you? Oat milk or almond milk can be used as an alternative.
2. Mango Coconut Matcha Latte
Combine pure mango juice and coconut milk with the earthy tones of matcha? Jaja—n (voilà!). You get this refreshing, vibrant drink with three layers of color. It's an invigorating choice, especially on a hot summer's day.
Get inspired to try out other matcha-fruit combinations too. Matcha pairs well with fruit like strawberries, bananas, or blueberries.
3. Bulletproof Matcha Latte (Paleo + Vegan Option)
If you've heard of Bulletproof Coffee, this is the best matcha version I could find. Add coconut oil, grass-fed butter, your nut or seed butter of choice, vanilla extract, sea salt, and a spoonful of honey or not. It's nutrient-dense, energy-boosting, and sounds so creamy and yummy.
4. Matcha Collagen Latte (for your skin)
Matcha's potential to enhance your skin's health is no secret. Green tea is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer properties. These qualities have been closely examined for their ability to combat the bacteria responsible for skin redness and acne breakouts without causing irritation.
In Japan, collagen supplements are very popular. Scientists are still debating the benefits of collagen powder and other collagen supplements. You may want to consider adding collagen powder for the potential benefits for your skin's health.
Healthy Matcha Drinks and Smoothies
Healthy ways to kick-start your day without coffee
5. Hot or Iced Matcha
Even if you don't yet own a bamboo matcha whisk, you can still make matcha at home. Good quality matcha can have a naturally sweet flavor with no added sugar. To make it straight, choose a higher-quality matcha.
Read this beginner's guide to learn how to whisk matcha or learn why matcha is healthy besides the nutrition.
6. Matcha Avocado Smoothie
Matcha + avocado = a mean, green nutritional powerhouse packed with antioxidants, vitamins, healthy unsaturated fats, and flavor. Simply blend your choice of milk, half an avocado, frozen mango, a teaspoon of matcha powder, and a touch of maple syrup or vanilla for natural sweetness.
7. Matcha "Brain Food" Smoothie
A delicious mix of many of the top ten healthiest plant-based ingredients. There's no added sugar. It's a green glass of power-packed fuel for your body and brain! This recipe was inspired by Jim Kwik's list of the best foods for your brain.
8. Matcha Lemonade
This refreshing drink is ideal for all seasons since it can be enjoyed both hot and cold. It's easy to prepare – simply whisk your matcha, add cold or hot water, and squeeze in some lemon juice. You can add just a touch of honey or maple syrup. Pro tip: garnish with a frozen slice of lemon.
9. Matcha Hot Chocolate
This comforting drink is two of my favorite treats combined. Taste the fusion of soul-warming hot chocolate and the added health benefits of matcha. Matcha pairs best with white chocolate.
This recipe calls for almond milk. And I checked online- you can find low-sugar or zero-sugar white chocolate like Lily's. Drink it guilt-free.
10. Matcha Amazake
Amazake is a traditional Japanese rice-based drink, renowned for its natural sweetness and deep cultural significance. By whisking matcha powder into amazake, you create a gentle, sweet beverage that can be served either hot or iced.
11. Matcha Teashot (Non-Alcoholic)
One might easily conclude that a 'green tea shot' is made with green tea. Nope. Not one drop. So I decided, 'Hey, why not?' Rolled up my bartender sleeves and created the non-alcoholic version that contains green tea for lightweights like me.
Healthy Matcha Snacks
Matcha-flavored snacks both kids and the young at heart love
12. Matcha Energy Balls
Feeling low? Pop a matcha bomb for a blast of energy. Kapow! Make them with an easy mix of pitted dates, shredded coconut, your preferred milk, matcha powder, and peanut butter or almond butter.
13. Matcha Chocolate-covered Strawberries
If you didn't know already, matcha pairs wonderfully with strawberries. All you need is fresh strawberries, matcha powder, and white chocolate. I would try a low-sugar or zero-sugar white chocolate like Lily's.
14. Matcha Chocolate-stuffed Dates
Remove the pits from the dates, fill them with melty matcha chocolate, and sprinkle with crushed nuts or shredded coconut. Let them chill until the chocolate solidifies. That's it!
15. Matcha Yogurt-covered Blueberry Bites
Combining blueberries with matcha is a winning duo of flavor and antioxidants. Add matcha powder to Greek yogurt and add blueberries. Use two spoons or an ice cream scooper to create bite-sized balls. Freeze for two hours.
Healthy Recipes for Matcha-flavored Desserts
The perfect balance of bitter and not-too-sweet
16. Vegan Matcha Tea Ice Cream
I'm a big fan of green tea ice cream. In Tokyo, I was looking for matcha-flavored vegan ice cream everywhere. It was nowhere to be found. The dream of a new healthy, non-dairy version continued to churn in my mind... Now you can hold it on your spoon!
17. Matcha Dessert Takoyaki
This recipe is a matcha-flavored twist on a classic Japanese street food. There's no tako (octopus) on the inside. It's a gluten-free, low-carb, and low-sugar dessert. You can also try my #1-ranked-on-Google low-carb, keto takoyaki for dinner!
18. Healthy Matcha Banana Split
The most delicious and healthy banana split you’ll ever try. Slice a banana in half and top it with matcha yogurt. The best part is going wild with your favorite toppings: nuts, fruits, cinnamon, honey, peanut butter, and more!
19. Matcha Tofu Muffin
You might be surprised to hear that tofu is used as an ingredient in desserts, not only in savory dishes like stir-fries. It can be used as a replacement for dairy and eggs. Tofu gives desserts a smooth, creamy texture. Because of tofu's neutral flavor, you'll taste the matcha and other ingredients.
20. Matcha Okara Brownies
Okara is a nutritious byproduct of the tofu-making process and is often used in various culinary scenes in Japan. Okara powder is made from the soybean pulp that remains after soy milk is extracted. It can be used to enhance the nutritional content of recipes while providing a creamy texture in baked goods.
Who knew brownies could be healthy? To make these brownies, substitute okara powder for normal flour. Combining white chocolate, matcha powder, egg, maple syrup or honey, and okara powder.
21. Matcha Okara Mushipan (Steamed Cake)
Try out another healthy matcha recipe with okara powder. Mushipan, also known as steamed bread or steamed cake, is soft, fluffy, and slightly sweet. (You many need to translate recipe to English.)
22. Matcha Banana Bread
Simply add some matcha powder to your banana bread recipe. This recipe uses olive oil for normal oil, yogurt, and dark chocolate or Stevia-sweetened chocolate chips.
23. Matcha Quinoa Cookies
I had never thought of using quinoa as an ingredient for cookies. These are sweetened just a tad with pure maple syrup and banana.
How about cookies for breakfast– why not?
Healthy Matcha Recipes for Breakfast
Add matcha to your favorite breakfasts
24. Healthy Matcha Pancakes
What's wonderful about pancakes is their adaptability, allowing you to explore healthier alternatives. Try adding matcha powder to your go-to pancake recipe. This gluten-free pancake recipe uses almond flour and coconut milk.
25. Matcha Porridge
This dish offers a morning infusion of antioxidants, sustained energy, and enhanced focus. It's a nutrient-rich and soothing start to your day, with a unique and vibrant flavor that you can customize with various toppings to suit your preferences.
26. Matcha Chia Pudding
Chia seeds are little powerhouses! Get the health benefits and the creamy, indulgent texture that has made chia pudding a sensation in recent years. Chia seeds provide omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and plant-based protein. This fusion of flavors and nutrients has made matcha chia pudding a popular choice among health-conscious breakfast eaters.
27. Matcha Yoghurt Bowl
For a quick, nutritious meal that's pretty. All you do is add a teaspoon of matcha powder to your yogurt to infuse it with a unique flavor and the vibrant green color of matcha. Add your favorite toppings like cacao nibs, nut butter, fruit, and seeds.
Healthy Matcha Savory Dishes
Savory dishes that matcha matches
28. Matcha Salad Dressing
Ready to take your everyday salad to the next level? All you need is matcha powder, lemon juice, olive oil, white vinegar, salt, and pepper. It's simple and easy to prepare. For added creaminess and extra nutrition, consider including tahini, which imparts a richer and nuttier flavor to your dressing.
29. Matcha Hummus
Whether you prefer to make your hummus at home or purchase pre-made hummus from your local supermarket, adding some matcha powder can transform this versatile dip into something new.
30. Matcha Quinoa
One of quinoa's selling points is that you can prepare a batch and use it throughout the week in various dishes. Use quinoa as a salad topper, rice substitute, or baking ingredient. Elevate your normal quinoa by adding some matcha powder when cooking it or make some matcha salad dressing.
31. Matcha Pesto
When you stop to think about it, earthy matcha and aromatic basil are both types of leaves. So why not try combining the two for a new twist? This unique fusion is worth trying once. You can always go back to your traditional pesto. I don't know about you, but I'm intrigued.
32. Matcha Salt
Matcha salt is called matcha jio in Japanese. Like most people in Japan, I associate matcha salt with tempura. Traditionally is used as a seasoning for deep-fried foods. But I encourage you to not let you stop you. It also goes well with sashimi, grilled chicken, fried eggs, salad, and even popcorn or ice cream.
Did you find a new recipe you want to try?
What’s your favorite way to use matcha?
Commonly Asked Questions about Matcha
1. What is matcha green tea powder?
Matcha comes from the same plant as green, black, and oolong teas: Camellia sinensis. In Japan, matcha is made of specially-grown green tea leaves. It's the exact same plant species– the growing, harvesting, and production methods are different. Making matcha powder from start to finish is a time and labor-intensive process, which is generally why it's expensive.
Farmers cover the tea plants for about one month to limit their exposure to the sun. With reduced sunlight, the tea leaves become less bitter and a gorgeous bright green color.
The young tea leaves are picked, steamed, and dried. The stems and veins are removed. What remains, called tencha, is stone ground into a fine powder.
The powder is whisked together with hot water to make a frothy, bubbly, and delicious cup of matcha.
2. What is the healthiest way to consume matcha?
I highly recommend drinking matcha straight, with no added milk or sugar. Traditionally, this is how matcha was consumed in Japan for centuries. To this day, if you attend a tea ceremony in Japan, you'll be served straight matcha.
If you're used to drinking soda or juice, drinking plain matcha with no added sugar is an acquired taste. You could start by trying out a slightly sweetened matcha latte. Add a bit of sugar or a natural sweetener like honey. Then gradually, you can reduce the amount of sweetener, day-by-day or week-by-week. You can read my story of how I gave up soda and switched to green tea.
Besides drinking it straight, these are my two healthiest matcha recipes. The ingredients in my matcha-flavored green smoothie are all good for your brain. And my non-alcoholic green tea shot will wake you in the morning with a sharp ginger pow! Especially if weight loss is your goal, I recommend either of these two to start your day.
I know a Starbucks matcha latte might appear to be healthy. Even 200 calories of their regular matcha latte contains 28 grams of sugar.
3. How much caffeine is in matcha?
Compared to a cup of coffee, the caffeine content of matcha may be slightly less or about the same. But there's one important variable to remember: the amount of matcha powder you use.
For a cup of matcha, a typical serving is between 2–4 grams (½–1 teaspoon), which contains anywhere between 38–176 mg of caffeine.
The typical serving size is smaller than a cup of coffee. As long as you stick to the Japanese serving size, the caffeine content may be slightly less or on par with coffee.
Generally speaking, matcha contains 19–44 mg of caffeine per gram according to Healthline.
Matcha doesn't give you that same caffeine rush and crash as coffee. It makes me feel warm and calm, not jittery at all.
If you have any more questions, let me know in the comments below.
Learn more
Matcha Green Tea - Why It's So Healthy (Besides the Nutrition)
Matcha or Sencha: Powder vs Tea Bag
How to Make Matcha (with traditional bamboo whisk)
Ceremonial Grade Matcha vs Culinary Grade Matcha (coming soon)
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