January 14, 2017

Matcha Vanilla Latte

Name: Matcha Vanilla Latte
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 3 Dates; 1 tbsp Almond Butter ((raw organic)); 1 tsp Vanilla ((alcohol-free)); 1 tsp Matcha Powder; 1 cup Filtered Water

Without making serious lifestyle changes, quitting coffee can seem like an insurmountable task at first. Without a satisfying substitute, it can seem impossible to keep up a hectic schedule without the instant reward of coffee.

I had tried to quit caffeine while working a full-time office job and managed to keep the morning craving at bay by adding some Wheatgrass to my morning smoothie. But by the afternoon, I was fighting to stay awake and caved to a comforting latte.

The best way for me to quit caffeine altogether was to opt out of a full-time work schedule and allow myself to have the proper rest (and naps) when my body craved it. I also hugely increased the nutrient density of my food by eating more plant-based whole fruits and vegetables.

This approach can seem impossible for someone who isn’t in a position to make that type of lifestyle change. In these cases, Matcha is a much better alternative to coffee for a number of reasons.

Matcha is crazy high in antioxidants, beta-carotene, and amino acid L-Theanine, which helps stabilize the energy felt from the caffeine, making you feel much more calm and less moody. I used to crash hard when the effects of my coffee had subsided, but with Matcha my overall mood is much more stable.

On top of quitting coffee itself, a benefit of switching to a Matcha latte is to quit refined sugars and dairy additives you might use in your coffee. In the recipe below, you can make a delicious Matcha vanilla latte in half the time of making any coffee beverage, and without any fancy tools!

Matcha can have a quite bitter taste. To balance out the bitterness, I like to add soft pitted dates and vanilla to the mix. If you don’t have either, you can replace with either half a banana or 2 tablespoons of maple syrup.

My brand of choice for Match is Organic traditions, though I have not been able to find it in a regular grocery store. You can order it directly from Amazon Canada or Amazon USA, or most likely find it at your local health food store.