Morning Matcha

Often at the end of fasting as I’m re-introducing foods, my body will tell me something has to go. Sugar, wine, beer, gluten, and dairy have in turn gotten the ax. Two years ago, however, I was surprised and saddened to feel my body revolt against one pleasure I’d always enjoyed – coffee! It was tragic. But really, my love affair with coffee was about the Coffeemate, an addictive combination of almost-dairy and sugar that I had been trying to give up for years. Finally, my body rejected it outright. During that fast I’d been reading about matcha. It was just hitting a stride in popularity. With some free space in my morning-hot-drink routine, and mourning the absence of coffee, I started experimenting. Now I enjoy a homemade matcha latte most mornings, sometimes two of them. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • 1 tsp Matcha (I like Jade Leaf, or, locally, Mizuba)
    A note on Matcha: there are different categorizations of matcha. The two most common are ceremonial grade (best for everyday drinking) and culinary grade (best for cooking and baking).
  • 12 oz hot water
  • 2 scoops collagen peptides (I like Vital Proteins )
  • 1 tsp honey (I use locally harvested Heritage Honey )
  • 2 Tbsp coconut milk (I like Trader Joe’s canned variety – no added ingredients!)
I start with my favorite mug and 6 oz hot water.
Next, add the matcha powder.
I have a traditional bamboo whisk, but sometimes my hands don’t work well in the morning to create that nice froth with the bamboo whisk. I’ve found a metal one works just as well. I like this one because the cylindrical handle lets me roll it between my hands like a beater to easily incorporate the matcha and froth it a little.
Mmm. Smells good already.
Next, add another 6 oz of hot water.
Then, add the collagen peptides. They provide good joint support. My grandmother swore by gelatin, but I could never get it down before it became that snot-like texture (eww!). These collagen peptides melt into the hot drink and do not gelatinize.
Two scoops, please! Collagen is also good for gut flora, another bonus for those of us with autoimmune disorders who may tend toward leaky gut or gut inflammation. It is a supplement that is easy to take, with virtually no flavor.
Local honey is an asset in acclimating the body to local environmental allergens like pollen, especially if you use local honey. A teaspoon a day keeps the allergies away!
Lastly, two tablespoons of coconut milk rounds out the latte and gives the depth of flavor I used to enjoy in my morning coffee with creamer. This canned coconut milk from TJ’s has no added ingredients, but sometimes separates in the can depending on the temperature. I warm it up for 30 seconds in the microwave before adding it to the latte.
Stir. Breathe in the aroma. Sip. Enjoy!

4 comments on “Morning MatchaAdd yours →

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  1. Yum! The peptides are a nice secret boost, totally undetectable. I love the antioxidants in green tea. Super healthy for you.

  2. My sister has gotten me to try Matcha. My Mom enjoys Trader Joe’s Matcha latte. I like their unsweetened canned tea. Smaller serving signs work best for me since I’m on dialysis. Thank you for posting your recipe. We may give it a try.

    1. Trader Joe’s has single serving Matcha packets that are tasty. Worth a try, or using without committing to a 100g tin. 🙂