What is Matcha Tea?
Matcha has been made for nearly 1,000 years in Japan.
It was originally from the Camellia sinensis plant, however it is cultivated and grown differently which gives is a unique nutrient profile.
Before harvesting, framers cover the leaves of the matcha for 20-30 days to avoid direct sunlight. Intern the chlorophyll production increases, the amino acid content is boosted, and the plant gets a darker green hue.
After harvesting, the tea leaves have the stems and veins removed before being ground to a fine powder and the distinct bright green matcha is made.
Unlike a cup of green tea, where the leaves are boiled and thrown out, matcha contains the nutrients of the whole tea leaf. This results in an increased amount of caffeine, antioxidants and brain boosting amino acids like L-theanine, compared to typical green tea.
Does Matcha Have Caffeine?
Yes matcha does contain caffeine. Often people think that matcha has less caffeine than coffee, however it varies from from serving to serving.
This is also the case for whether matcha contains more caffeine than coffee or vice versa.
Our Nespresso matcha pods contain 64mg of caffeine, where as our keto coffee Nespresso pods contain 60mg. This could mean that coffee has less caffeine than matcha but the average cup of black coffee contains 95mg of caffeine, and therefore matcha would have a lower caffeine content.
Like all food products it is best to check the label for the specific details of an individual product.
Does Nespresso Make Green Tea Pods?
No, Nespresso does not make green tea. If you want to use your Nespresso machine for beverages other coffee, then Nespresso is not the place to purchase your pods.
However, you can get matcha pods for Nespresso as here at rejuvenation water, we make Nespresso matcha tea pods that are compatible with all original Nespresso machines.
If you don't have a Nespresso machine but want one, here is a list of our favourite Nespresso and Nespresso compatible machines.
Are Matcha Pods Good?
If your are an avid matcha tea drinker then you maybe wondering if matcha pods are as good compared to traditional matcha tea powder.
The answer is yes, they have the same great taste and are just as packed with nutrients but with half of the preparation time and hassle.
In fact, we think that this makes our matcha tea Nespresso pods even better than matcha powder, especially as we have added B vitamins to the blend.
How to Make a Matcha Latte
A matcha latte is made with green tea powder and steamed milk. They are very similar to cafe lattes, only there is no coffee.
Traditionally, it is combined with a large whisk and the milk steamed with a large coffee machine.
This is the beauty of our new Nespresso matcha pods, now at the push of a button you can enjoy the rich, green superfood. Plus, with most Nespresso machines there is an accompanying milk frother to quickly and easily heat up your milk with no effort.
Step 1 - Add the milk of your choice to a milk frother and heat
Step 2 - Place your Nespresso compatible matcha pod in your Nespresso machine and press the 'espresso' button
Step 3 - Pour the milk into the matcha tea and enjoy!
Watch our youtube tutorial here.
Matcha Latte Recipe Variations
Vegan Matcha Latte
Matcha goes well with coconut, almond, oat, and soy milk as they do not cancel out matcha's unique and tender flavor and rich nutty aroma.
Coconut milk is by far the most popular milk used for matcha latte. However, you can add any other plant-based milk that you like.
Flavoured Matcha Latte
To add some flavour to matcha latte some people mix in ingredients such as orange peel, lemon or lime zest, fresh ginger, cardamom and turmeric root (or powder). Unless you have fresh spices available, a powdered form is best.
If you want to make your matcha latte a bit sweeter, you could add syrup, honey, white sugar, coconut sugar or agave.
If a matcha latte is too much milk then you might prefer a matcha macchiato!
By Alex Warmisham ANutr - Nutritionist at Rejuvenation Water
