Making Mealtime Meaningful: Discover how we're giving back with the 12T Cares program →

You’ve likely seen matcha blended drinks at your local coffee shops and even at Starbucks. Matcha is a form of green tea milled into a fine powder and used to make anything from tea to baked goods. Matcha has a bright green color and a deep earthy flavor. The healthy properties in matcha powder have become all the rage in the health and wellness world. I wanted to learn a little bit about this newest healthy trend.

Japanese matcha leaves are meticulously cultivated into this specific powdered format, making matcha more expensive than typical green teas. The growing and harvesting process involves shade-protected leaves to maximize the development of that distinctive green color. Each leaf is hand-selected to ensure the best quality, then stone-ground into a fine powder. Lesser quality matcha will be more brown in color so the most desirable product will have that bright jade-green hue. To maximize your matcha experience, you’ll want to choose good-quality matcha.

If you’re looking to make your coffee habit a little healthier, then matcha is a great alternative. One of the characteristics of matcha is that it contains caffeine, but it is also rich in antioxidants and is believed to be a metabolism booster.

To prepare matcha is a simple yet unique process that involves using a bamboo whisk to blend the powder into a drink, warm water for tea, or warm milk for a latte. A popular way to curb that distinctive matcha flavor is to add a little bit of honey to your tea or latte. If you’re reluctant to make the purchase of your own container, then try your local coffee shop and give it a try.

What’s so fun about matcha is that it is so versatile. From beverages to baking, there are a variety of ways to integrate a healthy ingredient into some of our favorite indulgences, and that’s an easy way to incorporate some healthy foods into our everyday lifestyle.

Subscribe to 12 Tomatoes