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Author:
Franco Salzillo
Matcha is an authentic superfood with a ton of healthy antioxidants. Still, it’s also a gentle, herbal drink that belongs up there with the most refreshing summery beverages on the planet.
Making matcha, though, requires some knowledge. You must dissolve the green powder in warm water before incorporating it into your ice-cold drink. That powder, by the way, is made with tender green tea leaves, and it’s incredibly concentrated!
Ice cold matcha tea is delicious enough already — think of an herbal, slightly minty drink with a pleasant bitterness.
Well, you need some sweetness to balance matcha’s bitterness, and you can get it from regular granulated sugar. Sure, you can also use honey for a heart-warming, syrupy drink.
You can also use any zero-calorie sweetener for different results, but what you can’t miss is a splash of cream in that matcha — the Japanese will use water for their tea, but unless you’re in Japan, you want to make your tea as creamy as possible!
The Samurai drank matcha before battle, and it’s because the ceremonial drink has reasonably good amounts of caffeine. This makes matcha one of the first energy drinks in the world. So, if you need an all-natural boost that’ll quench your thirst at the same time, then the matcha iced tea is for you.
And before we head on to the recipe, here are a few extra tips. Get authentic matcha tea, if organic, even better. And stay away from the sweetened stuff; that’s not the real deal.
Ok, authentic matcha is a bit expensive, but even a small bag lasts a long time, especially if you take care of it. Keep the matcha away from heat sources, excess moisture or direct sunlight. Matcha is quite delicate, and it can lose some of its aromatic properties if not treated right.
Now we’re ready to make a lovely cup of matcha iced tea the Japanese way. Forget about the overly sweet stuff you get at those big coffee shop chains; make your own and go authentic instead.
Pour the warm water into a small mixing bowl and add the matcha. Whisk with a fork until fully dissolved. Alternatively, shake the mixture in a container with a lid until foamy.
Add the cold water into the dissolved matcha and stir to combine.
Sweeten the matcha with your favorite sweetener, sugar or honey.
Fill a glass with crushed ice and pour the sweetened matcha.
