Vegan Coconut-Vanilla Matcha Latte
A few months ago, after seeing so many gorgeously green photos of lattes and baked goods on Instagram, I realized it was way past time for me to see what all the matcha buzz is about. I reached out to my friend Talia (a longtime matcha drinker) about the lack of matcha in my life and she brought me to a local spot to get a matcha latte. The color, the creaminess, the long-lasting energy I felt- I was instantly hooked!
I went home and ordered a bag of matcha from a company that I picked randomly on Amazon. I started experimenting with lattes at home and matcha quickly replaced my regular cup of green tea in the morning. Flash forward a couple of months and I connect with the lovely folks at Encha Organic Matcha. After learning about their “farm to cup” practice, their dedication to organic, bio-dynamic farming and preservative-free matcha, I realized that all matcha is definitely not created equally!
When my package of Encha Organic Matcha arrived it was actually crazy to see the difference in color between the vibrant green Encha and dull yellow/green hue of the other brand (see what I mean?). After making my first latte with Encha I realized that it didn’t need nearly as much sweetener (it was so much less bitter than my first brand!) which allowed the delicate, slightly nutty flavor to come through.
So, wondering why I love matcha so much? After drinking my morning matcha I quickly feel a calm and focused energy that lasts into the afternoon- unlike the anxious jitters followed by an afternoon crash that I used to experience back in my coffee days. Encha calls it zenergy and I couldn’t describe it better myself! Also, did I mention that matcha contains 10x the amount of antioxidants in a regular cup of green tea? Most importantly, the reason I’ve made matcha part of my morning routine is because I love the taste. It’s such a versatile tea and there are so many possibilities for different flavored lattes (not to mention smoothies, baked goods, etc.).
Ok, let’s make some lattes! For days when you’re in a hurry, here’s my single serving 1-minute matcha latte:
- 1 cup hot water
- 1 tsp Encha Organic Latte-Grade Matcha
- 1-3 tsp maple syrup (add however much sweetness you like)
- splash of non dairy milk
- Simply whisk the ingredients together until smooth and enjoy!
For days when you’re in the mood for a treat (or in my case, every day) my Vegan Coconut-Vanilla Latte tastes incredibly decadent but is actually very easy to prepare. I add coconut butter which makes it super creamy and smooth. My sweetener of choice is a medjool date (the super plump and soft kind) because it adds a rich caramel-ish flavor but if you don’t have any on hand maple syrup will definitely do the trick.
- ½ cup warm water
- ¾ cup non-dairy milk
- 1 tsp Latte-Grade Encha Organic Matcha
- 1 tbs coconut butter
- 1 medjool date, pitted
- ⅛ tsp vanilla extract
- dash of cinnamon
- Combine all ingredients in blender until smooth.
- Transfer to a small saucepan and warm on stove at medium-heat until desired warmth is reached (3-4 minutes). Pour into a mug and enjoy right away!
That color!
Prefer to make your lattes on the go? I love Encha’s single-serving packets for busy mornings…
So, this is what my morning matcha latte routine actually looks like…fuzzy socks and snuggling on the couch…
This post was sponsored by Encha Organic Matcha. All opinions expressed are very much my own.
