Matcha has rapidly become the newest rave, and for all the good reasons. It’s a relatively healthier source of energy than coffee, customizable, easy to make, and delicious! Today, I’m going to share how to get started on your matcha journey!
What Do I Need?
To begin with, you need a bowl to mix your matcha in, a scooper, a whisk stand, a bamboo whisk, and of course your matcha. This may all sound very complicated, but as a beginner, there are several sets that are at an affordable price that include almost everything you need. As a beginner, I would recommend not splurging on the highest quality tools until you are comfortable with it. There are several sets on amazon for a more affordable price that are great for beginners, my favorite being the Tang Pin Matcha Set. This way, you can get durable and reliable tools at a more convenient price. Next comes your matcha.
How Do I Choose My Matcha?
Remember the abbreviation OCGTS, or orange candy gets too sweet. Here’s what it stands for,
– Origin: The best matcha typically comes from Japan, and more specifically, regions such as Uji, Kyoto, and Nishio.
– Color: High quality matcha should be a vibrant green color, not yellowish or lime green.
– Grade: Ceremonial grade is the highest quality, and in my humble opinion, the better tasting option. Premium grade is best for daily consumption and like culinary grade matcha, can be used in cooking and food.
– Texture: High quality matcha should be fine and smooth, not clumpy or gritty.
– Taste: The best matcha should have a balanced palette of natural sweetness and umami, and it should not be overwhelmingly bitter
– Smell: Fresh matcha should smell almost like a sweeter version of a grassy plant.
My Recommendation
Of all the matcha powders I have tried as a beginner, my favorite has been the Marukyu Koyamaen Ceremonial Grade Matcha from Japan. This matcha has been incredible in terms of color, quality, bitterness, and blend. It has the perfect balance of sweet to umami and has that rich, vibrant green color that indicates its quality and freshness. It is also not incredibly expensive, which as a beginner is a bonus.
Here’s a Bonus Recipe!
Apart from making a regular matcha latte with milk, here’s a fun recipe for a blueberry matcha! You will need:
-1 tsp matcha
-1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
-1/4 cup of hot water
-1 cup of your favorite milk
-1 or 2 tbsp of your favorite sweetener (I recommend agave syrup)
-Ice cubes
Blueberry Syrup: Combine the blueberries and sweetener and cook over medium heat until it thickens to a syrup, then strain and set aside
Matcha: Whisk the matcha powder with the hoot water until it forms a smooth paste with no lumps
Assemble: Add icecubes to your class, add your milk with sweetener if you’d like it sweeter, pour over your matcha, and top with your blueberry syrup for a delicious blueberry matcha iced latte!
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