We are very excited to offer two new teas to the Local Coffee + Tea menu, both are Matcha powdered green teas. We have a ceremonial grade as well as an organic ceremonial Matcha.
Matcha Powdered Green Tea
There is no tea that is as celebrated or as famous as Matcha (powdered green tea). The tea first appeared in Japanese tea manuals sometime during the 12th century, making it one of the country’s most ancient varieties and used in the Japanese tea ceremony for centuries. It was believed by the ancient Japanese that tea was a gift of the heavens and held great restorative and spiritual power on earth. The development of the tea ceremony or Chanoyu began as a way for people to show and appreciate reverence to this power and was practiced by the Buddhist monks who drank the tea for meditative properties during long religious ceremonies.
From the unique way the tea is produced, to the important place it still holds in the cultural life of Japan this celebrated tea has taken on a whole new power and meaning throughout the rest of the tea drinking world.
So what makes Matcha so special?
This greenest of green teas is a beverage where the LEAVES are consumed, not strained like other teas. You will actually drink 100% of the polyphenol nutrients contained in the leaf, giving Matcha the label of healthiest natural beverage in the world today. Along with the nutrients, you will receive a good dose of energy for wakefulness combined with lots of amino acids for relaxation. A truly great combination of ingredients which we can all benefit from today. I think those Buddhist monks were very smart in recognizing the power of this tea!
Matcha Whisk
The vibrant, emerald green color of the powder is attributed to some very careful cultivation. The Gyokuro Japanese tea plant variety is shaded by bamboo mats several weeks prior to plucking. This forces the plant to produce more chlorophyll and results in a supple, rich green leaf. The youngest, tender shoots are then hand plucked, steamed and dried. All stems and veins are removed before the leaves are stone ground into a fine powder which resembles talc.
Fortunately there are no demands on us today to drink the tea only in a ceremonial manner. Matcha can be enjoyed many ways such as cold brewed, hot using water or made into a latte type beverage with regular milk or any of the alternatives. In an earlier post, I experiemented with Matcha Green Tea ice cream and it was fab.
However, there are some rules for enjoying the tea when preparing hot. Sift the powder through a strainer to prevent any lumps when water is added. Water should be used when around 180 degrees. If boiled, then it should sit for 2-3 minutes. This allows for immediate consumption when the tea is at peak flavor.
In order to brew in a ceremonial manner you will require a bowl, bamboo scoop and whisk.
Warm your bowl and cup.
Prepare whisk by soaking tip in boiled water for about 10 seconds.
Pour out water and dry bowl. Add 2 scoops of Matcha powder.
Add 2oz water.
Submerge any loose bits floating on surface.
Whisk briskly back and forth until surface becomes frothy.
Consume immediately.
Whisked Matcha
Enjoy this wonderful addition to our tea menu.
Cheers,
the TeaLady
July is National Ice Cream Month so with the help of Chef Maryna of Local Catering we used some of our new Matcha Green Tea to make Green Tea Ice Cream. We are still working on packaging for bulk sales, so our Matcha is only available in drinks at our shops. But there are many culinary options Maryna and I will be exploring with Matcha Green Tea and ice cream seemed like a good place to start.
Once you discover the wonderful world of home-made ice cream your life as you once knew it will change forever. Since starting Local Catering, an extension of Local Coffee + Tea, Chef Maryna’s culinary world has continued to expand. I have introduced her to our menu of teas, and the magic of camellia sinensis. Maryna grew up in South Africa, so she has leaned towards our selection of Rooibos. She is exploring ways integrate tea into her dishes and ice cream sounded like a great place to start.
Here is the recipe we followed for Matcha Green Tea ice cream.
Ingredients:
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
2/3 cup sugar
¼ tsp salt
2 Tbs Matcha tea powder
6 Egg yolks
Directions:
1. Separate the egg yolk from whites in a large bowl. Add sugar and Matcha, then whisk until incorporated.
2. Heat cream and milk in a saucepan until it comes to a boil.
3. Remove milk from heat then slowly add 1 cup of hot milk mixture to the sugar-egg mix, whisking vigorously to prevent eggs from curdling.
4. Add mix back into the saucepan with the rest of the milk and whisk to combine.
5. On low heat (do not boil or it will cook the eggs and you will end up with Macha scrambled eggs!) continue stirring until the temperature reach 170 degrees.
6. Pour mixture into a clean bowl and let it cool on an ice bath in the refrigerator until completely cold (about 30 minutes).
7. Follow your ice cream machine directions and spin ice cream for about 20 minutes.
Pour into a container and freeze until set (about an hour). Scoop and…..yum!
So what makes Matcha so special? The vibrant, emerald green color of the powder is attributed to some very careful cultivation. The Gyokuro Japanese tea plant variety is shaded by bamboo mats several weeks prior to plucking forcing the tea bush to produce more chlorophyll creating a supple, rich green leaf. The youngest, tender shoots are then hand plucked, steamed and dried. All stems and veins are removed before the leaves are stone ground into a fine powder.
There is no tea that is as celebrated or as famous as Matcha. The tea first appeared in Japanese tea manuals sometime during the 12th century, making it one of the country’s most ancient varieties and used in the Japanese tea ceremony for centuries. It was believed tea was a gift of the heavens and held great restorative and spiritual power on earth. The development of the tea ceremony or Chanoyu began as a way for people to show reverence to this power and was practiced by the Buddhist monks who drank the tea for meditative properties during long religious ceremonies. See blog post on Chanoyu - Japanese Tea Ceremony.
Drinking this greenest of green teas, or enjoying Matcha Green Tea ice cream, you are consuming the whole leaf and will drink 100% of the polyphenol nutrients contained in tea leaves. This gives Matcha the label of healthiest natural beverage in the world today. Along with the nutrients you will receive a good dose of energy for wakefulness combined with lots of amino acids for relaxation. A truly great combination of ingredients which we can all benefit from today.
Visit our Siesta Key shop or the cafe at Marie Selby Botanical Gardens for a Matcha Latte, also excellent with soy milk and a bit of honey. Or celebrate the summer by making some Matcha Green Tea ice cream at home.
