Matcha McFlurry at McDonald’s

I have mentioned the green tea powder matcha a few times on this site: since it is made up of ground tea leaves, meaning those leaves are consumed whole, it is the healthiest tea available. It is complicated to brew, however, so the easiest way for most people to enjoy green tea powder is to cook with it. In Asia, a lot of companies already add it to various products, like these Green Tea Kit Kats. In the west, some people may be familiar with the green tea latte from Starbucks. If you’ve been to a McDonald’s in Japan or Singapore, at least during the limited times it was available, you will also be familiar with this matcha product:
That’s right, McDonald’s has decided to combine matcha with Oreos, one of the few sweet foods I can’t really imagine complimenting it well. Matcha powder is commonly used in desserts, because the bitter flavor goes very well with sweetness and green tea ice cream is actually one of Japan’s more famous products among travelers. Sprinkling the powder on vanilla ice cream makes for a delicious treat as well. I’m not so sure if it still tastes good once Oreos are added to the mix, though.
I’ve never tried or even seen this dessert myself, but I’m almost certain I wouldn’t like it. I’m not a huge McDonald’s fan as it is and I find their desserts especially off-putting—they are simply much too sweet for my taste. I read a review of this on another site recently and it said you could barely taste the matcha and that it was completely overwhelmed by the sweet vanilla flavor. Knowing what I know about McDonald’s, that rings true.
Apart from the taste, this is just another one of those ideas—like the latte from Starbucks—that takes a healthy food item and manages to make it completely unhealthy by overwhelming it with sugar. Let’s be honest: anyone who orders one of these things because they think it will help them lose weight deserves to be fat.
If you really want to enjoy the health benefits of green tea, have some green tea! If you absolutely can’t stand the taste and you see cooking with green tea powder as a great way to get the health benefits without the flavor, add it to something at least remotely healthy! Definitely don’t add it to some of the unhealthiest foods (I really should be putting quotes around “food”, shouldn’t I) imaginable, with which is pretty much anything on a McDonald’s or Starbucks menu. All of that said, I would actually try the Matcha McFlurry purely out of curiosity. I don’t think I would enjoy—or even manage to finish—it though.

View the original article here

Matcha Green Tea Powder: What is it and Where Do I Find the Good Stuff?

If you pay attention to recipe blogs or Youtube cooking shows, you’ve probably noticed an increase in foods prepared with green tea. The specific ingredient used in these recipes is a powdered green tea called matcha
. You may have heard the name mentioned in health related discussions, seen it on health blogs, or simply seen the statistic that one cup of matcha is equivalent to 10 cups of regular green tea, but what is it exactly and why is it so healthy?
Matcha is unique to Japan and is the tea used in the Japanese tea ceremony. It is a fine powder made by grinding up whole tea leaves that have been de-veined and de-stemmed. Only the highest quality leaves are used. Brewing matcha can be a bit complicated and the process requires a number of specialized implements, which is what keeps many people from trying it. Luckily, it can easily be added to all sorts of recipes or sprinkled onto deserts or drinks (like the matcha green tea latte from Starbucks). For more on this tea and how it is grown and prepared, here is a very informative page entitled Matcha 101.
When drinking regular tea, only the essence is consumed, while the actual leaves are discarded. Matcha is a powder made from whole leaves, so the leaves themselves are consumed, concentrating the health benefits of the tea. For more on the specific benefits of matcha, here is a great page that details them all and even includes the nutritional information for 1g of green tea powder.
One concern I’ve heard quite a bit recently is fear over possible contamination from the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima plant in Japan. Because the whole leaves are consumed, not just the essence as with steeped teas, even trace amounts of radiation could have a negative effect on our health.
Not to worry, though. Most green tea powder comes from the Nishio region, just south of Nagoya or the Uji region outside Kyoto, neither of which are anywhere near Fukushima. In fact, the Japanese Alps are located between the two regions and the site of the disaster, making it virtually impossible for any radiation to reach the Uji or Nishio areas. When purchasing matcha, just make sure you know where it comes from and only buy teas from those two regions or ones located further to the west.
You can find matcha in a number of online stores. As you may have guessed, my favorite is Matcha Source. As the name implies, they are an excellent source for high quality green tea powder, but the founder, Alissa, has also created a great resource in general, with detailed information and even a blog. Her buyer’s guide is especially useful for anyone new to this variety of tea and her detailed brewing instructions complete with photos and a video should ensure you’ll get a great cup every time.
Art of Tea also offers a small selection of matcha powders. I haven’t tried them myself, but I have been very happy with the other teas I’ve purchased through their site. And finally, for those who don’t want to set up a new account on a tea site, there’s always Amazon.com. They actually have a decent selection, although I personally prefer to buy from specialty shops like Matcha Source.
If you’re interested in matcha mainly for the health benefits, you can start out with an inexpensive lower grade and simply use it in cooking. That way you won’t need to worry about the brewing process and the specialized implements required either. Eventually, you’ll probably want to at least try preparing a cup of your own, though. For that, I’d definitely recommend a higher grade matcha green tea powder. Follow the brewing instructions closely and there’s no reason you won’t end up with a perfect cup.

View the original article here

102 Matcha Green Tea Recipes That Are Healthy And Tasty

Matcha is the healthiest of all the teas, but it is unfortunately also the most difficult to prepare correctly. Luckily, it is very easy to use in cooking and pairs especially well with sweet flavors, hence the abundance of desserts among the 102 recipes below.
To get cooking immediately, click on a heading in the table of contents to jump down to that section of the post.
SnacksBreakfastMain DishesDessertsDrinks
Read on if you want a little more information on matcha.
Matcha is a Japanese green tea powder made from the highest quality shade-grown tea leaves. As a powder, it is consumed whole, rather than steeped, meaning you get all the nutrition contained in the leaves.
If you find yourself on this page, chances are you already know about matcha and its health benefits, so I won’t go into more detail here. If you are looking for general information on matcha, try this page. Head to this one for information on its health benefits.
You can get matcha green tea powder in any specialty tea store and more recently, in most health-food stores.
Personally, I get mine over the internet. Most online tea stores carry matcha, but my personal favorite is Matcha Source. Check out their wonderful buyer’s guide for help in selecting the perfect grade of matcha for your needs.
For many people, Amazon is the most convenient place to buy tea. Most of their matcha is not that great, but they do carry DoMatcha, which is an excellent brand.
dates, cocoa powder, almonds, matcha, coconut butter, coconut flakes, maple
freshly popped popcorn, granulated sugar, raw pumpkin seeds, matcha, corn syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, dark chocolate
fine sea salt, ceremonial grade matcha green tea powder
oats, milk, matcha, cinnamon, sweetener, pomegranate
smoked salmon, mung bean noodles, haricot vert, basil leaves, spring roll wrappers, olive oil, sesame oil, lemon, mirin, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, matcha
peanut butter, honey, coconut oil, old-fashioned rolled oats, matcha green tea, ground flax seed, peanuts, mini chocolate chips, chia seeds, cocoa powder
bread flour, active dry yeast, milk, egg, unsalted butter, raw cane sugar, matcha
avocados, lemon, lime juice, matcha, minced garlic, tomato, onion
active dry yeast, all-purpose flour, matcha, bench flour, milk, egg, butter, semi-sweet chocolate chips
coconut flour, matcha, baking powder, eggs, buttermilk, honey (or other sweetener), plain Greek yogurt, chopped pistachios, cooked or canned black soy beans
buckwheat flour, unsweetened almond milk, coconut sugar, eggs, coconut oil (or unsalted butter), matcha, full-fat coconut milk, dark chocolate, hazelnuts
rolled oats, nuts and seeds (like almonds, walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds), brown sugar, oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract, dried blueberries, matcha
oat flour, pepita seed meal, coconut sugar, matcha, egg, almond milk (or other), applesauce, vanilla extract, coconut oil
hemp or almond milk, agave nectar or maple syrup (optional), vanilla extract, matcha, chia seeds, blueberries, raspberries
cashews, greens, bananas, mint leaves, vanilla extract, matcha, Vega One powder, almond milk (or milk of choice), sweetener (optional), cacao nibs
yogurt, matcha, sweetener (optional), blood orange, walnuts (or pecans or almonds), optional: berries and chia seeds, apple and muesli, cherries and almonds
ground flax, soy milk, apple cider vinegar (optional), all-purpose flour, baking powder, matcha, canola oil
eggs, gluten free flour blend, matcha green tea powder, milk (any kind), vanilla extract
broccoli, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, matcha, parmesan cheese, optional: prepared pesto, fresh basil, fresh sage, fresh cilantro
matcha soba, egg, imitation crab meat, sliced ham, Japanese cucumber, olive oil, dashi granules, mirin, soy sauce, caster sugar
buckwheat flour, flour, matcha, soy sauce, mirin, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, spring onions
Yukon Gold potatoes, flour, egg, matcha, unsalted butter, ginger, orange juice, butternut squash
farfalle, zucchini, matcha, raisins, pistachios, fennel leaves, olive oil
green tea soba noodles, zucchini, olive oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, honey, lemon, basil, mint
eggplants, cilantro, garlic, ginger, sushi rice, white miso paste, mirin, soy sauce, rice vinegar, matcha, black sesame seeds
milk, butter, flour, eggs, vanilla pod, matcha
powdered sugar, egg white, matcha
matcha, milk, heavy cream, plain flour, corn flour, eggs, caster sugar, vanilla bean
powdered sugar, almonds, eggs, matcha, granulated sugar, white chocolate, heavy cream
unsalted butter, powdered sugar, egg, flour, kosher salt, almond meal, matcha, turbinado sugar
mochiko (sweet rice flour), baking powder, butter, eggs, evaporated milk, vanilla extract, matcha, mini chocolate chips, confectioner’s sugar, Dutch process cocoa powder
white chocolate, heavy whipping cream, unsalted butter, matcha
matcha, eggs, grapeseed oil, cake flour, lemon juice, whipping cream, red bean paste
cake flour, all-prpose flour, sugar, baking powder, matcha, unsalted butter, eggs, milk, vanilla extract, strawberry jam or preserves, strawberries
avocados, coconut milk, matcha, honey, vanilla extract, white chocolate, cacao butter, vanilla powder
all-purpose flour, sea salt, black sesame seeds and paste, baking powder, eggs, vanilla extract, unsalted butter, unsweetened coconut milk, granulated sugar, powdered gelatin, ginger liquor, matcha, heavy cream , superfine sugar, sesame paste (or tahini), whole milk
cocount oil, full-fat coconut milk, creamy coconut butter, matcha, ground Ceylon cinnamon, vanilla extract, finely shredded unsweetened coconut, Himalayan salt
eggs, matcha, all-purpose flour, Confectioner’s sugar, rum, mascarpone cheese, heavy cream
coconut milk, agar flakes, maple syrup, matcha, vegetable oil, ground sesame seeds, dark chocolate
sugar, powdered sugar, matcha, egg whites
glutinous rice flour, matcha, vegetable oil, milk, eggs, sugar
eggs, almond butter, flour, corn starch, matcha, anko (sweetened red bean paste), Greek yogurt
mascarpone, eggs, granulated sugar, heavy cream, matcha, confectioner’s sugar, cake flour, cornstarch, dried osmanthus flowers, honey
white chocolate, heavy cream, matcha, unsalted butter, freeze-dried raspberries
coconut oil (or butter), eggs, vanilla almond milk, flour, matcha, baking powder
heavy cream, whole milk, matcha, eggs, granulated sugar
half-and-half, matcha, sugar, salt
unsalted butter, all-purpose flour, matcha, granulated sugar
coconut butter, almond flour, powdered xylitol (or powdered sugar), matcha, dark chocolate, coconut oil, sea salt, cacao nibs
cake flour, all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, matcha, baking powder, unsalted butter, eggs, milk, sweetened red bean paste
unsweetened cocoa powder, all-purpose flour, kosher salt, baking powder, butter, eggs, vanilla, matcha, honey, powdered sugar
cottage cheese, vanilla paste, sweetener, coconut butter, matcha, shredded coconut
plain yogurt, honey, vanilla extract, almond extract, mochi bits, kosher salt
unsweetened chocolate, Dutch process cocoa powder, all-purpose flour, baking soda, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, eggs, buttermilk, pure vanilla extract, matcha
animal cracker, butter, granulated sugar, sea salt, black sesame seeds, cream cheese, all-purpose flour, sour cream, vanilla extract, almond extract, eggs, matcha, black sesame powder
eggs, all-purpose flour, white chocolate, matcha, baking powder
full-fat coconut milk, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, matcha, medjool dates, honey, xanthan gum
matcha, milk, mascarpone, cream, caster sugar, gelatin powder, a layer of chocolate cake
plain Greek yogurt, full-fat coconut milk, honey, cacao powder, chia seeds, mint extract, matcha
white chocolate, butter, whipping cream, matcha, cocoa powder
full-fat coconut milk, matcha, agave nectar
sunflower seeds, flax seeds, Medjool dates, matcha, coconut shreds, banana, lemon juice, sweetener, mint
unsalted butter, powdered sugar, eggs, all-purpose flour, ground almonds, matcha, sea salt
roasted almond butter, almond milk (or milk of choice), vanilla brown rice protein powder, sweetener, oat flour, matcha, dark chocolate, lemon flavor (or almond flavor)
unsalted butter, vegetable oil, granulated sugar, coconut sugar, eggs, baking powder, baking soda, ground nutmeg, vanilla extract, matcha, flour, milk, icing sugar, shredded white coconut
whole milk, heavy cream, eggs, matcha, vanilla
unsalted butter, powdered sugar, all-purpose flour, matcha, sliced almonds
sparkling water, unsweetened cocoa powder, unsalted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, baking soda, eggs, powdered sugar, matcha, whole milk
rolled oats, dried unsweetened shredded coconut, oat flour, cocoa powder, sea salt, almond meal, brown rice flour, maple syrup, coconut oil, vanilla extract, raw cashews, agar flakes, matcha
all-purpose flour, milk, eggs, unsalted butter, matcha, Cointreau or Grand-Marnier, cornstarch, vanilla extract, heavy cream, orange zest, candied orange zest
ground flaxseeds, non-dairy milk , whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, matcha, lemon zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, vegan margarine, vanilla extract, chopped pistachios
all-purpose flour, matcha, dry instant yeast, butter, egg, raisins, candied orange peel, candied lemon peel, candied ginger strips, glazed cherries, rose-flavored marzipan, confectioner’s sugar
all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, greek yogurt, milk, granulated sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla extract, vanilla bean, confectioner’s sugar, cream cheese, matcha, heavy cream, raspberries, pistachios
matcha, coconut milk, sweetener, mango, lemon
glutinous rice flour, icing, shortening, matcha, green tea lotus seed paste, roasted melon seed
puff pastry, raspberries, pistachios, whipped cream, matcha, milk, flour, egg
butter, matcha, sweetener, milk, vanilla extract, egg, sea salt, almond flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, chocolate chips, strawberries
dates, almonds, lemon zest, chia seeds, cashews, coconut oil, coconut creme, sweetener, lemon, matcha, mint oil, carob powder
Oreo cookies, butter, cream cheese, granulated sugar, eggs, matcha, vanilla extract, strawberries, white chocolate chips, chocolate chips, heavy cream
eggs, cream of tartar, granulated sugar, powdered sugar, almond meal, matcha, white chocolate chips, peach-flavored brandy, glitter sprinkles
coconut water, baby spinach, banana, avocado, lime juice, lime zest, ice cubes, maple syrup, matcha
white chocolate chips, unsweetened almond milk, matcha
matcha, crushed ice, lime, mint, sweetener (optional)
coconut milk, matcha, sweetener (optional), vanilla powder
matcha, ginger, almond milk (or milk of choice), lemon, kale, banana, avocado
blueberries, pomegranate juice, matcha, ice, sweetener (optional)
non-dairy milk, matcha, Kathy’s secret ingredient, bananas
matcha, ice, almond milk, boba balls, sweetener (optional)
pure cane sugar, fresh lemon juice, matcha
matcha, milk (or almond milk), honey (optional)
green tea liqueur, Irish whiskey, simple syrup, matcha, milk, cocoa powder
simple syrup, matcha, Hendrick’s gin, cucumber, limes, tonic water
matcha, milk, honey, vanilla extract, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream (optional)
banana, pineapple, kale, matcha, milk, lemon, ice cubes
bananas, ginger, almond butter, matcha, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground cloves, milk
cocoa, honey, coconut milk, dark chocolate, vanilla extract, almond milk, matcha, medjool dates, avocado, banana, baby spinach, almond butter, cocoa nibs
banana, matcha, almond milk, kale, peaches, ginger, ice
Bailey’s Irish Cream, matcha, vanilla ice cream, milk, whipped cream (optional)
milk, bananas, matcha, caramel
mangoes, bananas, matcha, unsweetened almond milk, honey, orange juice

View the original article here