Do you have a favorite morning routine that supports your wellness?
I am not a morning person, but I love my matcha latte routine. Making a Matcha Latte in the morning has quickly become one of my favorite daily acts of self-care. I’m seriously obsessed! I even stick to my matcha ritual when I travel. I love sampling matcha from different cafes, coffee shops, and matcha bars, especially when I’m exploring a new city, so keeping up the ritual isn’t hard. Of course, I also travel with my own personal supply of organic ceremonial matcha so that I can make my own latte first thing in the morning after a big glass of water. Sipping on a warm, frothy matcha makes me feel instantly comfortable, no matter where I am in the world. I never thought I would come to love tea this much, but there’s truly something special about a good, organic matcha latte. I don’t even miss coffee!
My morning matcha routine is an act of self-care. It’s a sacred quiet time that I take for myself to set the tone of my day.
Why I drink matcha
Matcha is a special kind of green tea that is grown in the shade. Being shade-grown protects the tea from harmful UV rays and makes matcha especially high in chlorophyll and antioxidants (which have cancer-fighting properties). This specialty tea is famous for containing L-theanine, an amino acid that can promote a calm, alert feeling. Matcha is also said to promote brain health, enhance mood, and aid in weight loss. If you are a coffee drinker who’s sensitive to caffeine, switching from coffee to matcha may help you balance hormones, stabilize blood sugar, reduce anxiety, and improve sleep. It may also help with your complexion thanks to its high chlorophyll and antioxidant content. I’ve noticed that my skin is clearer and more youthful since switching from coffee to matcha.
Why I use collagen and MCT Oil
I don’t usually go along with trends unless I genuinely think they are worthwhile. Although I don’t follow a ketogenic diet, I have noticed that adding high quality collagen and fat to my matcha helps keep my blood sugar stable by ameliorating the effects of the caffeine. By mitigating the effects of caffeine on blood sugar, fat and protein are helpful in avoiding that dreaded afternoon caffeine crash. Maintaining stable blood sugar is especially important if you are trying to balance your hormones or recover from adrenal burnout. Basically, if you’re sensitive to caffeine, but don’t want to give up your morning cup, “keto” matcha lattes might be the way you can have your cake and eat it too.
Adding these ingredients can also be helpful if you are experimenting with intermittent fasting, or if you don’t have a big appetite in the morning. They should not replace meals though. In my opinion, if you are hungry you should eat real food, not just drink a supercharged latte.
Collagen
Similar to gelatin, high-quality collagen is made from the scales of fish, or from the bones and skin of cows, sometimes pigs. It is the hydrolyzed form of gelatin and is generally an easy source of protein for your body to digest. It may promote youthful skin, hair and nail growth, mobile joints, and gut health. Keep in mind that collagen is not a complete protein and only contains 8 of the 9 essential amino acids required for health.
MCT Oil
MCT Oils, or Medium Chain Triglycerides,
My Favorite Matcha: Organic All the Way
If you are already a matcha fan, or if you want to give matcha a try, my favorite matcha company is Soar Organics. Use code CORY15 to get a 15% discount on your order. Their organic matcha is high quality, part of the proceeds go to feed hungry children, and all of their packaging is environmentally sustainable. Plus, the owners are lovely people, so I feel good about supporting them. Their Organic Ceremonial Match is my favorite. It is stone milled and the color is bright green. The flavor is smooth, and slightly sweet. You won’t be disappointed.
Good matcha tea should be bright green and slightly sweet with a fresh vegetal aroma and flavor.
Matcha Latte Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1/2-1 Full Tsp Organic Ceremonial Matcha Powder, such as Soar Organics,
- 8-10 Oz Hot Water (170F-180F, if the water is too hot you will burn the tea and it will taste bitter),
- 1/4-1/3 Cup Non-Dairy Milk, such as my homemade Cashew Milk.
Optional Ingredients:
- 1 Tsp – 1 Tbsp MCT Oil, start slow and see how you feel
- 1 Scoop Collagen Peptides, Marine or Bovine
Instructions:
Heat filtered water to 170F-180F. If the water is too hot you will burn the delicate tea and it will taste bitter. Good matcha tea should be bright green and slightly sweet with a fresh vegetal aroma and flavor. Add the matcha powder and collagen powder (if using) to a high sided mug or stainless steel milk frothing pitcher. Add approximately 1/4 cup of the hot water and blend/froth with an electric handheld frother. Alternatively, you can choose to go the traditional route and use a bamboo matcha whisk. Using the bamboo whisk is a calmer, more meditative experience. Whisk the matcha in an “M” shaped pattern. I find that I feel more grounded on the mornings where I take the time to use the traditional method.
Regardless of which method you use, once you have good foam and the matcha and collagen are well dissolved you can add the MCT Oil. Froth/whisk one more time, then add the remaining hot water and non-dairy milk. Stir, whisk, or blend one last time to combine, and enjoy! For a true latte, you can steam the milk, or use an electric foamer to make a really nice froth before adding it to the tea.
Heat filtered water to 175F. If the water is too hot you will burn the delicate tea and the matcha will taste bitter.
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