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    Home » Recipe Round-ups

    Published: Dec 11, 2022 by Zen · This post may contain affiliate links.

    21 Easy Sweet & Savoury Matcha Recipes

    Sharing food makes everyone happy! :)

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    Matcha, a type of green tea with an earthy flavor, is not only good for you but delicious too! It is a popular ingredient used in Starbuck drinks and Japanese desserts, giving them a vibrant green color. Here are some easy sweet & savoury matcha recipes that save you from going to the coffee shop!

    A stack of matcha flavoured pancakes
    Jump to:
    • What is Matcha?
    • Health Benefits
    • 👩🏻 Expert Tips
    • 📋 FAQ
    • Other Japanese-inspired Recipes
    • Drinks
    • 🍪 Cookies
    • 🍰 Other Bakes
    • 🍦 Sweet Treats
    • 🍱 Savory Food
    • 💬 Comments

    What is Matcha?

    Matcha is a type of Japanese green tea powder.

    Japanese teas have been gaining popularity in the United States over the last few years although Matcha has been part of the Japanese diet for much longer. (You might have seen it at your local Starbucks coffee shops in the form of an iced latte? I have a good matcha latte Starbucks copycat easy recipe here!)

    There are a few differences in how you consume traditional matcha tea vs green tea though, which I'll elaborate on below.

    Note: there are 2 grades of matcha, the more expensive, higher quality ceremonial grade matcha and the more affordable culinary grade matcha.

    VS Green Tea

    2 stacked mochi muffins, the top with a bite taken out of it.
    The rich green color of this muffin is from using matcha powder.
    Someone holding a mochi muffin with a bite taken out of it.
    The paler color of a muffin that is just regular green-tea flavoured.

    Matcha is basically young green tea leaves, from Camellia Sinensis tea plants.

    They are grown under shade for 20-30 days to increase the chlorophyll content, before the matcha leaves are ground into a fine powder. (This also boosts the amino acids content, such as the L-theanine level, which is believed to have beneficial effects on human health.)

    With regular green tea, you steep the whole green tea leaves (or tea bags) in hot water, drink the resulting tea then toss the tea leaves away. When you drink matcha, you ingest the entire tea leaf- the powder doesn't actually dissolve in water but is actually suspended in it.

    To be honest, I drink traditional Japanese green tea at home, not matcha, as green tea is easier to make!

    You have to sift the matcha powder to get rid of clumping, then whisk the matcha and hot water together in a circular motion to form a foamy tea that you drink. Instead, I prefer to drink green tea & add matcha powder to my bakes for convenience.

    Health Benefits

    Everyone who's read a magazine or newspaper in the last decade must have heard about the health benefits of green tea, thanks to its anti-oxidant (specifically a type of catechin called EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate) content.

    Drinking green tea (sans the added sugar and milk!) can improve your health in a whole range of ways, ranging from:

    • better cardiovascular health/ protection against heart disease
    • lower inflammation levels
    • reduced risk of developing chronic diseases
    • lower risk of dying from early deaths, for people with diabetes
    • Promotes brain function
    • May help with high blood pressure thanks to its catechins
    • Cancer prevention: The epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) in Matcha may have antitumour effects. For example, drinking a lot of green tea has been linked to bladder cancer prevention.
    • Can help with weight loss and managing body weight

    By the way, the above is not from a dodgy source, but taken directly from the Harvard Medical School Health Publishing's website!

    Note: green tea is a magnet for lead, so there have been concerns about the amount of lead in green tea and matcha. However, ConsumerLab has tasted the premium matcha brands in the US and found that the lead content in them is not an issue. Whenever possible, I try to buy organic matcha powder.

    Note: Other Asian teas that are good for you include turmeric ginger cinnamon tea, osmanthus tea, ginger red dates longan tea and barley tea (boricha/ mugicha)

    👩🏻 Expert Tips

    Comparing fresh and stale matcha powders, which are different shades of green.
    1. How to differentiate good and bad matcha: Fresh, good quality Japanese matcha has a bright green color. (Matcha green tea powder oxidises quickly, and turns a duller color, as shown above.)
    2. Do I really need a Japanese matcha whisk? You can use a regular whisk instead of splurging on the bamboo whisk when you make matcha drinks. We're not conducting a traditional Japanese tea ceremony after all! It will be a little harder to "dissolve" the powder, but it'll work. Or you can use the Mason Jar Matcha hack that I explain in my Oat milk matcha latte post!
    3. What water temperature do I use? Adding cold water to the matcha powder makes it harder to dissolve but reduces the bitterness. (Don't use boiling water!)

    📋 FAQ

    Matcha vs coffee?

    Matcha has about half the amount of caffeine that a cup of coffee coffee has, so is a good way to get an energy boost without the coffee jitters.

    Matcha vs black tea?

    Matcha is not fermented and comes in the form of a powder. Black tea is fully-fermented, and is commonly used as loose leaf teas or tea bags, although there is also a less commonly available tea dust version.

    Other Japanese-inspired Recipes

    • Traditional Japanese konjac jelly with fruits (vegan dessert) (GF)
    • Chinese Black Sesame Paste (and Powder)
    • Yuzu konnyaku jelly recipe (15 minutes)
    • Black Sesame Latte

    Drinks

    Matcha Syrup

    Matcha green tea simple syrup with matcha powder around it.
    Easy matcha simple syrup recipe (green tea syrup)
    An easy green tea simple syrup made from 3 ingredients. perfect for drizzling on pancakes, shaved ice, cocktails and matcha lattes.
    Click here for the green tea syrup recipe
    Matcha green tea simple syrup with matcha powder around it.

    Matcha Soda

    You can add some club soda to the matcha syrup to make a super quick & easy matcha soda.

    Matcha Latte 抹茶ラテ

    A cup of hot matcha green tea latte.
    Keeping matcha syrup on hand makes it easy to whip up matcha lattes!
    Matcha Latte (Starbucks Copycat)
    Matcha is made for milk and sugar- although it's healthier to drink matcha tea plain, the creaminess of the milk and the sweetness balance the earthy matcha flavor beautifully, whilst maintaining its complexity!
    Click here for the green tea latte recipe.
    A cup of hot matcha green tea latte.

    Vegan Matcha Latte

    Vegan Matcha Latte
    If you wanna try a matcha latte but are vegan, try this recipe which uses oat milk. It also shows you how to easily make matcha lattes in a minute using a Mason Jar, no tedious whisking required!
    Click here for the vegan green tea oat milk latte.
    Overhead shot of a green oat milk matcha latte on Oatly paper packaging.

    Note: you can also use other non-dairy milks such as oat milk, soy milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, almond milk etc (Remember to use maple syrup instead of bone char sugar or honey!)

    You'll actually get a healthier mug of green tea latte this way, as research has shown that adding cow's milk to tea reduces its health benefits. (Specifically, it reduces its vascular protection.)

    Matcha Masala Chai Latte

    A glass of cold Matcha Chai Latte with Masala Chai spices next to it.

    Make a big batch of this Masala Chai Concentrate and it'll make whisking up this green tea chai latte, as well as other chai lattes, possible in seconds!

    Starbucks Matcha Chai Latte
    This easy copycat recipe makes a delicious spiced Starbucks Matcha Chai Latte recipe using only 4 ingredients and 5 minutes! It's delicious both hot on a cold day or iced in summer and allows you to easily recreate your coffee house experience at home!
    Click here for matcha green tea chai
    A glass of cold Matcha Chai Latte with Masala Chai spices next to it.

    Dunkin Donuts Latte

    Close-up of a cup of Dunkin Donuts' copycat blueberry matcha latte.
    Blueberry Matcha Latte (Dunkin Inspired)
    Blueberry Matcha Latte is a luxuriously sweet and creamy drink that is super easy to make. You only need 15 minutes, 4 easy-to-find ingredients and 4 steps to recreate this Dunkin Donuts drink, which is great iced in the summer or warm in winter!
    Click here for the green tea blueberry latte.
    Close-up of a cup of Dunkin Donuts' copycat blueberry matcha latte.

    Starbucks Pineapple Latte with Green Tea

    Starbucks Pineapple Matcha Drink
    This Starbucks copycat pineapple matcha drink recipe is the perfect tropical tea for summer. It's a fruity and creamy healthy drink!
    Click here for this refreshing summer drink!
    Overhead shot of a glass of pineapple, matcha, ginger and coconut drink.

    For more Asian drink recipes, such as Japanese Royal Milk Tea, click here.

    🍪 Cookies

    Whirly Cookies

    A plate of white and green swirled cookies, made using green tea.
    Matcha swirled cookies
    These pretty cookies remind me of my spiral mantous! You could swap out the matcha powder for cocoa powder to get chocolate swirl cookies
    Click here for the pretty cookie.
    A plate of white and green swirled cookies, made using green tea.

    Korean Cookies

    Green Tea & Omija Dasik Korean cookies
    Too pretty to eat, almost!

    These cookies go really well with Korean plum tea or boricha/ barley tea!

    Note: for more no bake desserts, click here!

    Korean green tea and omija dasik no-bake cookies
    I've been to Korea 8 times- fell in love with it after visiting for a friend's wedding in 2010 which led me to start an online shop selling Korean beauty products in Singapore!- and had these cookies several times. However, I never knew that they didn't need to be baked. How cool is that!
    Click here for the Korean cookies.
    Green Tea & Omija Dasik Korean cookies

    Asian Shortbread

    Rows of homemade black sesame and matcha shortbread cookies
    Matcha and black sesame shortbread
    I spent my 4 University years in Scotland (the picturesque little town of St Andrews to be exact) so shortbread has a firm place in my heart (and stomach).
    Check out the shortbread recipe.
    Rows of homemade black sesame and matcha shortbread cookies

    For more cookie recipes, 2 of which are matcha flavoured, check out these Galentines Day Asian cookies.

    🍰 Other Bakes

    Matcha Mochi Bites

    Green tea mochi muffins in a baking tray.

    If you're on a plant-based diet, you can make vegan mochi muffins!

    Easy Matcha Mochi Muffin recipe
    An easy matcha mochi muffin recipe that is naturally gluten-free. It's a perfect no mixer mini cake recipe for those who have celiac disease or who don't overly sweet desserts!
    Click here for the Green Tea Mochi Cupcake recipe.
    A tray of Japanese green tea mochi muffins fresh out of the oven.

    Cupcakes

    4 matcha cupcakes with green frosting.

    If you're not a fan of the gooeyness of glutinous rice flour and mochi, try these regular cupcakes!

    Matcha cupcakes
    Matcha latte, but in the form of a cupcake.
    Click here for the cupcake recipe
    4 matcha cupcakes with green frosting.

    Mini Bundts

    Mini matcha & almond bundt cakes
    Mini almond and matcha bundt cakes
    Pretty matcha mini bundt cakes that will make you the Hostess (or Host) with the Mostess!
    Click here for the bundt recipe.
    Mini matcha & almond bundt cakes

    Buttercream Cake

    Vegan matcha cake with buttercream
    A vegan matcha cake with a 5-star review, so no one misses out!
    Click here for the cake recipe.
    Vegan matcha cake with buttercream

    🍦 Sweet Treats

    Truffles

    Matcha Energy Balls
    Matcha Energy Balls
    If you love to snack, here's an easy matcha recipe for you! Matcha does make a great coating for truffles- I use them for my vegan chocolate truffles (which I sell in Singapore), yum!
    Click here for the energy balls recipe.
    Matcha Energy Balls

    Chinese Mochi

    Muah chee, or Chinese mochi
    Muah chee is traditionally coated in peanuts or black sesame, but you can also coat it in matcha powder for a Japanese twist. Alternatively, use green tea instead of water to make the chewy dough!
    Click here for the traditional muah chee recipe.
    Someone holding a piece of peanut coated traditional muah chee.

    Breakfast Pancakes

    A stack of matcha flavoured pancakes
    Matcha pancakes
    Adding matcha powder to your pancakes (or to your home made cake/ bread) is a great way of incorporating some matcha in your diet!
    Click here for pancakes.
    A stack of matcha flavoured pancakes

    Ice Cream

    This matcha ice cream would make a great dessert after a sushi party. (For more side dishes to serve with sushi, click here.)

    P.S. If you want to throw a sushi party but can't get the rice, click here for some great sushi rice substitutes that my Japanese friends and I used when living in a wee fishing village in Scotland.

    Matcha ice cream
    When people think of matcha, they usually think of Japan. This recipe is by a born and raised Japanese (now living Down Under) so it can't get more authentic than this!
    Click here for the ice cream recipe
    Matcha ice cream

    Tang Yuan

    A plate of peanut coated tang yuan with sesame filling next to a bowl of tang yuan in soup.
    Do you prefer your glutinous rice dumplings dry or in ginger soup? I like mine dry with LOTS of roasted ground peanuts!
    Tang Yuan (With Filling and Plain)
    Tang yuan, or Chinese glutinous rice balls, are a 2 to 3-ingredient chewy snack that can be served in soup (sweet or savoury) or fried. Served at Chinese family gatherings, especially the Winter Solstice, they also come plain or with filling inside so, as you can see, this is a very versatile and easy dish! 
    Click here for the tang yuan recipe.
    A bowl of colourful tang yuan and a plate of dry glutinous rice dumplings.

    🍱 Savory Food

    Bread

    1 matcha green tea bun before being steamed.
    Easy Matcha Buns (1-rise Mantou)
    An easy matcha bun (Chinese mantou bao) recipe which only requires 1 proof (1 rise), along with a mantou FAQ section on how to use a metal steamer (instead of the traditional bamboo steamer) and why your naturally vegan matcha buns aren't smooth.
    Click here for the green mantou buns
    1 matcha green tea bun before being steamed.

    Note: You can also create 2 doughs, 1 with matcha tea powder and 1 without, to form a lovely spiral mantou, as shown below, that is perfect for entertaining.

    A few steamed spiral mantou buns on a serving board.
    You can easily vary up the colours by using other flavours such as chocolate (brown), pumpkin (orange), butterfly blue pea which is rather tasteless (blue) etc

    In case you're wondering, it's not just sweet foods that go well with matcha- here are some salty match recipes for you to experiment with.

    Pesto

    Matcha pesto
    Jacqueline is married to an Italian and lives in Italy, so this should be a great recipe! 🙂
    Click here for the pesto.
    A bowl of matcha pesto topped with nuts

    Finishing Salt

    Matcha Seasoned salt being poured
    Matcha seasoned salt
    I've eaten Japanese food my whole life but never heard of Matcha seasoned salt so this recipe was fascinating for me! To be fair, I could have eaten it and not known what it was!
    Click here for the seasoned salt.
    Matcha Seasoned salt being poured

    What are some of your favorite matcha recipes? I'd love to hear about any not included on this list!

    I have other recipes you may like here! :)

    • 23 Asian Recipes with Tofu for 2023
    • Best Vermicelli Substitutes
    • 20 Asian Shrimp Recipes (Chinese New Year)
    • 12 Chinese New Year Abalone Recipes

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Natalie says

      November 11, 2021 at 5:30 pm

      Matcha is wonderful! I use it a lot. I will give some of your recipes a try. That pancakes looks amazing!

      Reply
      • Zen says

        November 20, 2021 at 1:49 pm

        Thanks Natalie, glad you like them! If you try any of the recipes and post photos on IG or social media, please do tag me (@greedygirlgourmet) as I'd love to see the photos! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Gina Abernathy says

      November 11, 2021 at 2:09 am

      Such a great collection of recipes.

      Reply
    3. Cindy Mom the Lunch Lady says

      November 11, 2021 at 1:14 am

      I am so excited to try some of these recipes. The pancakes will be making an appearance for breakfast this weekend!

      Reply
    4. Julie says

      November 10, 2021 at 5:39 pm

      Gah! This is so inspiring!! I ADORE MATCHA! It's so fun to play with and you really nailed in with all of these recipes!!!

      Reply
      • Zen says

        November 20, 2021 at 1:52 pm

        Hey Julie, thanks for stopping by, I love matcha too! Made a vegan matcha cake for a friend the other day 🙂 What's your fave way to cook with matcha?

        Reply
    5. Jacqueline Debono says

      November 09, 2021 at 7:39 am

      Such a great collection of matcha recipes. I want to try them all! Thanks for including my matcha pesto!

      Reply
      • Zen says

        November 10, 2021 at 1:40 pm

        Awww thanks so much for stopping by Jacqueline, and for sharing your lovely recipe, I will tag you when I post a photo of my attempt on IG! 🙂

        Reply

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    Greedygirlgourmet eating 2 sandwiches in Scotland

    Hi I'm Zhen also known as GGG! I couldn't boil water till I was 18 but after living abroad (in St. Andrews then London) for 11 years and having to cook for myself, I now love cooking for friends and family. Learning to cook late, I make sure my recipes go into enough detail for those new to Asian cuisine or who love a test kitchen approach to cooking!

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