Nice to matcha

Night and day! After the teething monster took away my baby for a day, the sweet girl is back to herself… smiling, laughing and singing the “merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily” part to my horrible “Row the boat” rendition. (When she says, “merrily!” it sounds a lot like “marry me”)

We had an awesome Monday together. Lots of books, snacks, singing, salsa dance parties and baby class:

Photo 69

(shaking the maracas during “separation time”- the parents sit on the wall while the babies play with the instructors and each other for a few minutes)

I also drank a lot of caffeine to make up for the previous day. A new favorite concoction:

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Matcha green tea lattes!

I’ve been looking for other ways to use my green tea powder since the recent cookie fail, and it works beautifully in almond milk lattes.

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I just heat the almond milk for 2 minutes,

Stir in 1t of green tea powder, a pack of Stevia and a little vanilla,

try to “froth” the milk even though I don’t have a milk frother. You have to stop the kitchen gadget obsession somewhere, right? (If you’re ever bored, please read the reviews for this product. It will rock your world)

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(Singing the “whip it” song is optional)

And then I try to be fancy and use a stencil for my cinnamon, even though I  know it won’t really work. In case you were curious, here is my “art”:

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Abstract. Haha.

I think I’ll easily make it through the green tea container if I keep making these 🙂

Cheers!

xoxo

Gina

What’s your coffee/tea drink of choice? If we’re out and about, I’ll get an almond milk mocha. At home, it’s Donut Shop coffee with So Delicious Coconut Milk creamer and Stevia.

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58 Comments

  1. Mary Anne on February 26, 2013 at 11:06 am

    Hi…you got me hooked on candy cane green tea from TJ’s….now very interested in this…where did you get the green tea powder?

    • Fitnessista on February 26, 2013 at 11:19 am

      at the health food store. it’s very strong and a little bitter on its own, but very easy to flavor, and convenient!

  2. Lisa on February 26, 2013 at 11:16 am

    I loveee matcha tea! It’s one of my favorites. Especially when I’m feeling fatigued and just unwell overall. I totally forgot about it though, definitely going on my next grocery list. I definitely think it needs to be spruced up a bit with a little sweetener and milk, otherwise it’s quite strong tasting.

  3. Krystal on February 26, 2013 at 11:19 am

    Sold! I’m going to try this stuff!

  4. Emily on February 26, 2013 at 11:19 am

    I love almond milk lattes, although a lot of the places around here only serve soy 🙁 So Delicious Coconut Milk creamer in hazelnut is my go to at home! I once buy 6 containers when they were on sale at Whole Foods and that was it….the guy checking me out was like, “Wow you must really like coffee huh?” lol

  5. Sarah @ Yogi in Action on February 26, 2013 at 11:22 am

    I don’t really like matcha powder, but everyone else around me seems to love it. Maybe it’s time I give it another try?

    Glad to hear your sweet little girl is back to being sweet.

  6. Katie Fox on February 26, 2013 at 11:25 am

    Are the health benefits of Matcha different than regular bagged green tea? Any reason to use Matcha over green tea? Thank you!

    • Fitnessista on February 26, 2013 at 1:46 pm

      i think the difference is that you’re consuming the entire leaf, powdered, instead of just the water the leaves were soaking (seeped? steeped? haha) in

  7. Veronica on February 26, 2013 at 11:28 am

    Frothing trick without a frother…get two cups and pour back and forth, back and forth. A little extra time, but if you like froth, you’ll get a little this way. I read this is how they do it in India for Chai. If that doesn’t work, I bought a frother at Ikea once. It was like $3 and works great!

    • Fitnessista on February 26, 2013 at 1:44 pm

      no way! awesome, thank you!

  8. Natalie @ FreshLifeFindings on February 26, 2013 at 11:28 am

    Haha i love your abstract art! I have a frother at home but only because it was a wedding gift (way too expensive for my taste) but I love it. And I wish Starbucks carried almond milk, so much more flavorful than soy. I love the So Delicious Coconut Milk- Vanilla Creamer at home, makes my morning 🙂

    • Fitnessista on February 26, 2013 at 1:44 pm

      EVERY time i go to starbucks, i say, “do you have almond milk?” even though i know they don’t. they need to jump on that.

  9. Kerry @ Totes My Oats on February 26, 2013 at 11:29 am

    Looove green tea lattes! Livi looks like such a big girl in the pic!

    • Fitnessista on February 26, 2013 at 1:44 pm

      time can go ahead and freeze now.

  10. Ali @ Peaches and Football on February 26, 2013 at 11:29 am

    Very fancy coffee art 🙂

    When I’m out, I actually really like McDonalds vanilla iced coffee. It’s my favorite. No place around here uses almond milk so that’s more of an option when I’m at home – although usually I put almond milk in my protein drinks and will use some organic french vanilla or hazelnut creamer for my usual morning joe.

    Can’t imagine a life without coffee… it’s such a beautiful thing…

  11. Lisa @ Lisa the Vegetarian on February 26, 2013 at 11:36 am

    This sounds like a pretty cool concoction! As for me, I tend to only really drink hot chocolates when it comes to hot drinks, and even that’s a rarity. I prefer cold and refreshing, even in the winter months!

  12. Kath on February 26, 2013 at 11:41 am

    I NEED a hutzler 571 banana slicer, NOW!

  13. Dynamics on February 26, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    I have a banana slicer. Came with my dehydrator to make uniform pieces. All it does is “smoosh” the banana and make a mess. The time it takes to get the banana off and clean it (which you must do immediately after smooshing) is longer than if you just quickly eyeball and try to get uniform pieces using a knife. LOL

    If you decide to buy one…make sure to buy bananas that have the same curve as the slicer!

    Thanks Gina, gave me a good laugh.

    Have you dehydrated bananas for Livi yet? Or tried frozen bananas slices?

    • Fitnessista on February 26, 2013 at 1:43 pm

      no, but that’s a great idea- she would love them!

  14. Danielle on February 26, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    That looks amazing! I love a afternoon caffeine pick me up always! Livi is too cute in her class too! Such a big girl 🙂

  15. Tara on February 26, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    Yes! Have you tried the Green Tea fraps from Starbucks? It’s all I get!

    • Fitnessista on February 26, 2013 at 1:43 pm

      no but everyone keeps saying they’re amazing!

  16. Rachel B @ Busy Mama Fitness on February 26, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    Yum! I love matcha green tea lattes but I never thought of making one myself! Thank you so much for the idea! I’ve had all this matcha sitting on my counter forever and now I know what to do with it!!! I AM SO EXCITED!!!!

  17. Karen on February 26, 2013 at 12:30 pm

    That drink looks so good! I usually do Green Tea (Yogi) in the morning or a little hot water with ACV & honey if I am feeling any sickness coming on. If I am out, I will go with Starbucks Chia Tea Latte, non fat.

  18. Amanda @ .running with spoons. on February 26, 2013 at 12:32 pm

    Stop the kitchen gadget obsession after you get a frother… it’s truly life-changing 😛 I love getting cappuccinos whenever I’m out, and I usually stick to black teas at home. Cinnamon Spice from Harney & Sons is my absolute favorite, and you can pretty much never go wrong with anything from David’s Tea.

  19. Maggie on February 26, 2013 at 12:55 pm

    This sounds delicious! I’ve spent many a pretty penny getting skim matcha lattes from the coffee shop across the street from my office lately. I would MUCH rather prefer them with almond milk (which they unfortunately don’t carry at the cafe). I’ll have to search out the green tea powder, try your recipe out and start bringing my own lattes to work. Almond milk customization and some money-saving? Yes please!

  20. Tracy on February 26, 2013 at 1:01 pm

    I love Candy Cane Lane green tea OR decaf coffee with cocoa powder, peppermint extract and almond milk!

  21. Ashley @ Life and Fitness on February 26, 2013 at 1:10 pm

    I’ve been loving orange spice tea lately. If I am out I love Starbuck’s skinny vanilla latte, however my wallet does not love this habit haha.

  22. Cassie Vaughn on February 26, 2013 at 1:16 pm

    Due to a dairy allergy, I don’t often get an on the go drink. I do often have a jug of water near by. If I am desperate for a jolt, I get coffee with honey and almond milk. 🙂

  23. Angie on February 26, 2013 at 1:17 pm

    I LOVE Green tea frappucinos with SF hazelnut syrup from Starbucks. I used to get it every weekend.
    Now its a rare treat. Thankfully i get it this weekend as a treat for passing my pt test 😀 yeay me!

  24. Irene on February 26, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    Thank you so much for the amazon link! I swear, it made my day and made my co-worker practically pee herself:)

    • Fitnessista on February 26, 2013 at 1:42 pm

      i especially love the one about saving her marriage! i died laughing

  25. Kaila @healthyhelperblog! on February 26, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    Where did you get your green tea powder? I’ve never seen it any where!

    • Fitnessista on February 26, 2013 at 1:42 pm

      sprouts- it’s kind of like a whole foods trader joe’s hybrid

      • Shaina Anderson on February 26, 2013 at 11:49 pm

        Aka the best grocery store. Ever.

  26. Jay on February 26, 2013 at 2:18 pm

    Looks yummy! Out and about I like a non-fat, no foam latte or a chai tea latte no foam, no water. I sound like one of “those people”! At home, I like a plain coffee (Starbucks Christmas Espresso Roast) with non fat milk and a splash of whatever flavored creamer my husband has on hand. . .

  27. Moriah on February 26, 2013 at 3:09 pm

    Mmmm almond milk mocha?! Im thinking of going to school out there this fall, I would love to know where you get those from 🙂

  28. Naomi on February 26, 2013 at 4:31 pm

    Out and about I love cold press coffee with chocolate or else a vanilla spice latte from Target–however my wallet does not love this haha. At home I am still trying to perfect my Keurig concoctions. It always seems to come out a little too strong tasting for my liking.

  29. Sophia on February 26, 2013 at 4:56 pm

    Sorry your first baking experiment with matcha powder was such a let down but you should not give up on baking with matcha just yet (although I completely agree with you that a matchs latte can be a tasty way to use up that healthy powder) – there are so many great recipes using matcha!

    I think the easiest is to tweak recipes that use cocoa powder and replace the cocoa with the matcha powder in the same quantity – works wonders in e.g. Chocolate Marble Loaf – not sure about the chemistry but using matcha produces beautifully moist cakes. Matcha is great for Madeleines as well. Maybe have a look on foodgawker or tastespotting – there are bound to be lots of healthy recipes or recipes that can easily be tweaked to make them healthier.

  30. Emily on February 26, 2013 at 5:10 pm

    Gina, how could you! Green tea lattes were my last excuse to run up a Starbucks bill the size of a small country’s national debt, and now the husband can finally argue that all of their drinks can be made at home for cheaper. He thanks you from the bottom of his heart, and I shall sit in the corner and pout.
    🙂

  31. Emily@2:DESIGN:CENTS on February 26, 2013 at 5:44 pm

    That looks good! I love green tea, I should try this!

  32. Danielle on February 26, 2013 at 6:27 pm

    Our Whole Foods is all the way in Tampa…I wonder if the grocery store sells the So Delicious creamer?? I’d love to get off the half and half.

  33. Babs on February 26, 2013 at 7:02 pm

    I love mochas and rosehip tea.

  34. Ashley W on February 26, 2013 at 7:07 pm

    Hey, I tried emailing you about the Champion giveaway but I’m not sure it is going through?

  35. Erin @ Girl Gone Veggie on February 26, 2013 at 8:06 pm

    I’m so glad Livi is back to her happy self. Teething does not sound fun.

  36. Kris on February 26, 2013 at 8:44 pm

    Do you own a blender or immersion blender? If so, your world is going to be rocked!…

    Warm your milk in the microwave for about 40 seconds, or just long enough for it to barely start bubbling. Take it out, pour into your blender, and blend on high for 40 seconds. Now you have wonderfully, frothy milk to concoct the perfect latte!

    *a better foam forms if you use skim milk, as opposed to any milk with fat; also, this tastes great with regular ol’ coffee

    Unfortunately, I can’t take credit for this life-changing realization. Tricks like this can be found in The Frugal Foodie: Waste-Not Recipes for the Wise Cook by Starr & Shirk. This tiny little book is worth checking out! It was one of the most abstract, useful wedding gifts my husband and I received!

    Now my only problem is that I can’t find any reasonably priced matcha powder. So for now, it’s regular coffee lattes for me!

    • Fitnessista on February 26, 2013 at 10:36 pm

      amaaaaazing- i’ll try it tomorrow! and yes, the powder is way expensive but already paid for itself with how many at-home lattes i’ve been enjoying

  37. JBecca on February 26, 2013 at 10:54 pm

    Hahaha! The reviews for that banana slicer are hilarious!

    I can’t wait until I’m no longer pregnant to try a homemade matcha latte! The green tea lattes at Starbucks are my favorite!

  38. cassi on February 27, 2013 at 9:23 am

    If you want a frother without having to get a big fancy frother here is a mini one. http://www.amazon.com/Aerolatte-Milk-Frother-Travel-Satin/dp/B000MXDMUK
    i have a smiliar one I got at Teavana a few years ago. Just tried looking for it but I dont see it online, but it pretty much looks same as above.

  39. Anna {Herbivore Triathlete} on February 27, 2013 at 1:02 pm

    Wegmans makes a matcha smoothie that I get every time I go (even though it’s $5!!) It could easily be made at home, the ingredients are only matcha, almond milk and banana.

  40. Rachel on February 27, 2013 at 1:51 pm

    OMG I’m sitting in a completely silent library, but when I read the banana slicer reviews I could not help but bust out laughing — the banana slicer saved my marriage, and we even use it in our lovemaking! = best. review. ever. How did you even find that? haha

    Looks like a great day!

  41. Amanda on February 27, 2013 at 9:50 pm

    I make these all the time! But I also add a little splash of peppermint extract! I live in Canada and in the cold winter months there is nothing better to warm you up then a nice warm Peppermint+Vanilla Matcha Green Tea Latte! 🙂 And even more refreshing is to pour it over ice on a hot day in the summer! 🙂 Delish!!

    Love your site! I visit daily! 🙂

  42. Danielle D. on February 28, 2013 at 6:15 am

    I live in Japan and just came across these green tea instant lattes in the local grocery store called Maxim Stick Menu literally a day after you posted this! The packaging is all in Japanese so I just assumed that’s what it was haha…Just tried it and it’s great!!

  43. Lizzie on February 28, 2013 at 4:13 pm

    HAHA!! Reviews on that banana slicer are amazing. Just brightened my day.

    I just got back yesterday from a vacation trip to Tucson – I LOVE YOUR CITY!!! It is amazing. I want to move there!

    • Fitnessista on February 28, 2013 at 10:38 pm

      yaaaaahhhh i’m glad you liked it here! did you take any classes?!

  44. Tracey on March 2, 2016 at 10:06 am

    Hi Gina! Do you happen to have a Matcha Powder that you love? I want to start incorporating more of it into my smoothies, etc. and there are so many brands out there (I am also trying to not go crazy $$). I love all your recipes and value your opinion so thought I would ask before I just go pick one up at Sprouts.
    Thanks! Tracey

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