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THE BEST MATCHA CHAI LATTE RECIPE!

In this post I’m going to share with you what a matcha chai latte is, its many health benefits, and I’m going to give you the best recipe to make the perfect matcha chai latte at home. 

To make this homemade version of a traditional matcha chai tea latte, all you need is simple ingredients:

• Matcha powder;
• Chai tea concentrate;
• Milk of your choice;
• Honey.

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I discovered matcha tea only a few years ago, while chatting to a friend who is very into healthy foods and drinks. I admit I had never even heard of it!

Since then, I did a bit of research and I was hooked.

I drink matcha tea quite often (especially in winter), but I do find it a bit plain. That is why I prefer to mix and flavour this tea with some other ingredients, such as lemon or orange slices or fruit juices.

So far, I have tried many variations, but the one I prefer is definitively the matcha chai latte. This recipe combines the flavour and health benefits of the matcha and chai, making it a super drink to consume hot or cold.

Read this post to learn all about it!

WHAT IS MATCHA POWDER?

Matcha is a fine powder made using tea leaves.

For a better explanation of what matcha powder is, I found this article from time.com: “Matcha is a type of green tea made by taking young tea leaves and grinding them into a bright green powder. The powder is then whisked with hot water. This is different from regular green tea, where the leaves are infused in water, then removed. Drinking brewed green tea “is a bit like boiling spinach, throwing away the spinach and just drinking the water,” says Louise Cheadle, co-author of The Book of Matcha and co-owner of the tea company teapigs. “You will get some of the nutrients, but you’re throwing away the best bit.” With matcha, you’re drinking the whole tea leaves.”

HOW IS MATCHA TRADITIONALLY MADE?

I found the process for making traditional matcha really fascinating.

According to the same article from Time, “Matcha leaves are grown on green tea bushes kept under shade. The shade increases the amount of chlorophyll content in the leaves, which is what makes them bright green and full of nutrients. The leaves are picked by hand and the stems and veins are removed. According to Cheadle, the leaves are traditionally ground by granite stones into a super fine powder. “It takes an hour to grind the leaves, and it’s done in the dark to protect the nutrients,” she says.

“The finest matcha comes from Japan, where it has been grown for centuries and forms part of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony,” she adds.”.

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IS MATCHA THE SAME AS GREEN TEA?

The short answer to this question is yes and no!

I know it’s confusing, but bear with me for one second.

Both green tea and matcha tea come from the same plant, the Camellia Sinesis. However, due to the way they are grown and processed, their flavour, texture, colour, taste and preparation methods are different.

Moreover, their nutritional profile is different, giving matcha tea a higher content in important nutrients such as antioxidants, tannins and amino acids.

WHAT IS MATCHA POWDER GOOD FOR? What are matcha tea benefits?

Matcha powder contains valuable nutrients that are extremely beneficial to your health.

Although more research is needed to prove its many health benefits in a scientific way, Matcha tea can improve:

• heart health;
• cognitive performance;
• liver health.

For an in depth description of matcha tea health benefits, you could check this article from web.md.com.

THE NUTRITIONAL PROFILE OF MATCHA POWDER

The following values are described in this article.

ANTIOXIDANTS

Matcha tea contains 134 milligrams of antioxidants, known to: 

• speed metabolism, 
• increase endurance, 
• reduce free radicals and toxins.

TANNINS

Tannins are also known as polyphenols. They are found in teas and red wine.

Matcha contains 99 milligrams of tannins.

These nutrients are said to prevent heart diseases and cancer, although more research is needed.

amino acids

Matcha contains 45 milligrams of amino acids. In particular, L-Theanine can provide energy boost and improve brain functions such as learning and memory.

CAFFEINE

Matcha tea (and green tea as well) contains caffeine, although in less amounts than coffee.

The amount of caffeine present in matcha tea depends on how long the tea has been steeped: the longer you steep the tea, the higher the caffeine content.

what is the best brand of matcha powder?

As you can imagine, there is no easy answer to this question.

There are several good brands that sell matcha powder, and not all products might be available in the grocery stores where you live.

I suggest you read this article to get a general idea of what to look for when buying matcha powder. After that, check your local health store or consider buying on line, whatever works best for you.

WHAT IS MATCHA CHAI LATTE?

A matcha chai latte is a drink that can be served both hot or cold. It is a chai latte made using small amounts of matcha powder and chai spices.

In other words, a matcha chai latte is a combination of a regular chai and matcha powder.

Are chai and matcha good together?

The combination of matcha and chai is truly delicious. Most importantly, while you are enjoying this drink, you will benefit of its many health properties.

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Is a matcha tea latte healthy?

Matcha tea latte is a very healthy drink, provided you use high quality ingredients and don’t add refined sugar to it.

Opt for a sugar alternative instead, such as honey, stevia or maple syrup.

Also, you could swap dairy milk for a plant based one, such as oat milk or almond milk.

why you should try this MATCHA CHAI LATTE RECIPE

Before we get to the actual recipe, let me tell you why you should give it a try.

• Firstly, this recipe is very easy to make and only takes a few minutes to prepare. 
• Secondly, this drink is delicious and warm, making it an ideal and healthy substitute for more sugary ones such as a pumpkin spice latte.
• Last, but not least, matcha is super good for your health!

I hope you enjoy it!

MATCHA CHAI LATTE RECIPE

In order to create a delicious concoction of matcha chai latte at home, simply follow my recipe to make your own chai tea concentrate, as shown in this blog post.

You can make the concentrate beforehand and store in the fridge for up to a week. This way, you will always have it ready when you want!

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INGREDIENTS

For this delicious recipe, you will need:

• 1/2 cup of the chai tea you have prepared (chai tea concentrate);
• 3/4 cup plant based milk of your choice;
• 1 tsp of Matcha powder;
• Honey, or any sweetener of choice, to taste;
• Ground cinnamon to sprinkle on top.

METHOD

In a small sauce pan, slowly bring the tea concentrate to a boil, over medium heat.

In the meantime, add 1 teaspoon of matcha powder to a small bowl.

When the tea concentrate is just about to start boiling, remove it from the heat and set aside.

Pour half of the hot tea on the matcha powder and start mixing it, using a bamboo whisk. Mix for about a minute, and until the matcha starts frothing.

Once frothed, add the remaining tea concentrate and mix well.

Warm up your milk of choice with the help of an electric milk frother (or a handheld frother if you have one), or on the stovetop, or in the microwave.

Pour the warm milk on top of the tea and slowly and gently mix.

Add honey to taste (optional).

Sprinkle cinnamon on top and enjoy!

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MY BEST TIPS

Here are my best tips to make the perfect cup of matcha chai latte.

USE HONEY

Matcha powder can add bitterness to your chai latte, and some people may find the taste a bit putting off. That’s why I think adding honey is important. Naturally, give it a try and see what you prefer. You could add maple syrup if you prefer. Stevia is a good alternative as well, although not my first choice in this specific drink.

USE A BAMBOO WHISK

A bamboo whisk is a must have for this recipe. You should avoid using a metal whisk as it can change the flavour of the matcha, making it even more bitter. If you don’t have a traditional matcha whisk, just place the matcha powder in a mason jar instead of a bowl, add the tea concentrate, close the lid firmly and shake the mix. 

WATER TEMPERATURE IS IMPORTANT

When warming up the tea concentrate, make sure to remove it from the heat just before it reaches boiling point. The right temperature is very important when making matcha latte! If using water past the boiling point (100 degree Celsius), the resulting drink will be very bitter.

MAKE AN ICED MATCHA LATTE

You can make this hot matcha recipe as described, or turn it into a nice hot summer day drink. If you prefer an iced matcha latte, simply use a tall glass and add ice cubes at the end.

USE A CHAI TEA BAG IF YOU NEED

If you don’t have time to prepare a tea concentrate beforehand, or you simply have run out, you can easily use a chai tea bag. If following this quick method, use 1/2 a cup of water and warm it up on the stove top. When the water is boiling, remove from the heat and add the tea bag. Let it steep for a few minutes before discarding the tea bag. You can then use this tea as your base for a chai matcha latte.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT TYPE OF MILK

When it comes to choosing a plant based milk instead of dairy, there are several options available. For a healthy matcha chai latte, soy milk, cashew milk, or almond milk all work well. However, they tend to be very “thin” milks. Opt for full fat coconut milk or oat milk if you prefer a richer consistency. You could buy the barista version of your preferred milk for a super creamy frothy milk. If using dairy milk, use whole milk and not the reduced fat one.

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THE BEST MATCHA CHAI LATTE RECIPE: CONCLUSIONS

I hope you will give this matcha chai combo a try. Now that we are in the middle of the summer, this will make an ideal cold drink to serve to your family and friends as well.

Let me know in the comments below if you try it, or you have applied your own variations.

I’d love to hear from you!

Also, don’t forget to check my other posts on how to make chai tea at home!

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