Dirty Iced Matcha Latte
RecipesWhat in the world of badass brews is a dirty iced matcha latte? The answer is quite simple. It’s a sweet, creamy and healthy coffee drink that will give your normal morning coffee routine a definite shake-up—oh, and it’s guaranteed to keep you bursting with energy all morning long, thanks to a double shot of Death Wish Espresso Roast Coffee—and the matcha, of course. So let’s get healthy AND caffeinated, people!
[Photo credit: Match & Co via Unsplash]
What is Matcha?
Despite being introduced several years ago, matcha powder seems to be demanding a lot of attention again lately. You can find matcha shots, matcha teas, matcha desserts and, of course, matcha lattes. Although it comes from the same plant as green tea, matcha green tea is grown differently to offer a long list of nutrients all its own. Depriving the plants of sunlight 20-30 days before harvesting increases chlorophyll production, boosts the amino acid count, as well as creating a darker green color.
The actual matcha is a fine powder that comes from grinding the leaves only—no stems or veins. Because the entire tea leaf is utilized in making the matcha, the nutrients, antioxidants—and natural caffeine are all in greater amounts compared to typical green tea.
Is Matcha Healthy?
The answer is hell YES! Just like coffee offers a ton of health perks, matcha offers a number of benefits for your body, too: It can help protect the liver, promote heart health, aid in weight loss and body detoxing, improve focus and offer disease-fighting antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.
What You Will Need To Make a Dirty Matcha Latte:
Matcha green tea powder
It’s important to use good-quality matcha. The higher the quality, the better your drink will be. Top-tier matcha creates a milky, frothy drink that is smooth as silk and creamy in texture. The taste of matcha is definitely unique. Some describe the aftertaste as “earthy,” "vegetal," even spinach-like. Of course, like coffee, changing the ingredients you mix with matcha can dramatically affect the taste.
Death Wish Espresso Roast Coffee
You may think that the espresso will take over the flavor of the matcha. But it doesn’t. Together, the matcha and Death Wish Espresso Roast create a distinct and flavorful drink. Just be sure to give the espresso time to cool down before pouring over ice.
Milk
Whole milk will give you a creamier, thicker foam, along with a smooth, soft, rich flavor. In contrast, low-fat and skim milk will create more bubbles. You can always experiment with any other kind of milk as well, such as any plant-based milk like soy, almond or coconut. This increases the positive impact on your health as well.
Ice
The more ice you include, the better your cool layering effect will be. This Dirty Matcha Latte recipe is known for its Instagrammable appearance in terms of beautiful colors and layers—not just it’s the amazing flavor, caffeine and health perks.
Sweetener
If you aren’t used to the matcha flavor, you may want to use a sweetener like honey, maple syrup or vanilla syrup. You can also use vanilla plant-based milk, coconut sugar or any of the other endless options for plant-based sweeteners.
[Photo credit: Sentidos Humanos via Unsplash]
Dirty Iced Matcha Latte Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1
Ingredients:
- 1 cup ice cubes (more if you have a larger glass)
- 1 teaspoon matcha green tea powder
- 1 cup milk divided (soy, almond, coconut or other plant-based milk)
- 2 shots Death Wish Espresso Roast Coffee
- Optional: 2 teaspoon vanilla plant-based milk, coconut sugar or other sweetener
Instructions:
1. Start by making your Death Wish Espresso Roast Coffee. Let cool.
2. Fill your glass to the top with your ice cubes. (More ice will give you a more layered look.)
3. In a bowl, whisk the matcha powder, 1/2 of the milk and the sweetener with a blender or matcha whisk until smooth.
4. Pour the matcha mixture over the ice.
5. Slowly pour the rest of the milk over the matcha. The slower you pour, the less likely you’ll disturb the layering effect.
6. Finally, pour your espresso over the top!
Calories: 130
Carbohydrates: 15 grams
Protein: 15 grams
Fat: 4.3 grams
*Nutritional information is only an estimate.
So, if you love your coffee and want another tasty AND healthy beverage, along with a monster jolt of energy (aka dirty) from the matcha and double shot of espresso, then here’s the perfect coffee drink for you to make at home. It will definitely keep you amped up and productive as hell even on your busiest days.