Do you think I blog too much about matcha? No, really. Really? Ok you know what, maybe I do, but this is my blawg, and sometimes I get a little obsessive compulsive from time to time, but that usually passes when the next OMG-delicious-cool thing comes along.

Except I don’t think that’s gonna happen to matcha. Because the more I have it, the more I want it. And scarily, the more I learn about it, the more I realise it’s good for me.

You hear that, Universe? Matcha ice cream is Good. For. Me.

K-O. Catty wins.

Anyway, all my chatter about matcha on the interwebz made dent somewhere and a curiously named company called teapigs decided to send some of their matcha my way. Who am I to say no?

What they didn’t tell me was that they were going to send me a tin of matcha with a side of edu-ma-cation. Because clearly, that’s what I needed (seriously, I do. I don’t know anything about the food I consume).

So a quick lesson on matcha 101: why it’s so damn good for you.

Just 1/4 teaspoon (1g) of matcha = 15 cups of regular green tea
– 70 times the antioxidants of orange juice
– 90 times the beta carotene of spinach
– vitamins A, B and C

Drinking matcha can…
– boost metabolism between 30-40% (wooh! Weight loss!)
– raise energy
– elevate mood
– lower cholesterol
– be anti-ageing
– help prevent heart disease

courtesy of www.teapigs.co.uk

Anyway, mild A.D.D. here, I’m bored with the class already but you get the point: matcha is gooooood.

So good in fact that I’m sure having it in ice cream (with a little condensed milk) or as rice krispies (with one or two or 40 marshmallows) is still a good thing, right? Damn right. I think.

I think it’s ok. I mean at worst good cancels bad and I’m not any worse off except I’ve had a delicious mouthful of something, and that is definitely good.

God I love how my brain works sometimes.

So. If you’re interested in trying some matcha, check out teapig’s “matcha super power green tea” page, it’s got some great information on the stuff, it’s got news, it even teaches you how to drink it.

And for my very very special readers today, use the code “matcha man” at checkout to get 20% off your first matcha purchase. Teapigs deliver globally so what are you waiting for?

But for those of you who like to touch what you buy (I totally get you, I’m like that), you can also get matcha at your local Chinese or Japanese grocery store. Beware though, matcha, in all its brilliance, is not cheap. So if you find something that looks like a bargain, it’s probably diluted stuff. Baaaaad.

But yeh, wherever you get it from, enjoy your matcha, and tell me your matcha stories!

matcha rice krispies
3 tablespoons butter
300 grams marshmallows
3 teaspoons matcha powder
4 cups rice krispies
  1. In a large saucepan, stir butter over medium heat until melted.
  2. Add marshmallows and continue stirring until all melted.
  3. Remove from heat. Add matcha and mix thoroughly – note that I used 3 teaspoons this time but as I prefer my matcha flavour stronger, I’m going to use more next time. Add to taste, really.
  4. When the matcha is combined with the marshmallow, pour the rice krispies in and continue mixing until all combined.
  5. Scoop into a flat pan and press lightly to create 1 inch thick slab.
  6. Let cool. Once cool, cut into squares.
Makes… quite a lot! The number would depend on the size of your squares.

37 Thoughts on “matcha 101: why it’s so damn good for you. And oh, some rice krispies. And a discount code.

  1. BRILLIANT recipe. just what I need for pick-me-up when it’s sodding grey outside without any sign of sunshine. Glad you blog so much matcha as I think matcha all the time and try to decorate my bedroom in matcha green. It’s an addiction – proper addiction! 😀

  2. one thing i love about your blog catty is that you post the EASIEST recipes LOL.. i can actually make all the stuff you make!!! 🙂 keeep it up!

  3. diva: Guess what, there’s another matcha recipe just around the corner (well, if it works this weekend!). Stay tuned!

    kristie: LOL you know why?? Cos I CAN’T ACTUALLY COOK/BAKE but don’t tell anyone!! 😉

  4. Good for you, you Lucky Girl! I love green tea as well. Don’t think it did anything to reduce my weight though. LOL! Maybe I have stubborn fats! Yes, that’s definitely what I have.

  5. my husband has been drinking matcha for a long time and swears by it. I agree with you – the proper powder is expensive but very strong, he only mixes a tiny bit with water every day.. small tin but lasts a long long time. great post, thanks!

  6. Cooking Ninja: LOL yeh I think matcha’s pretty super but I dont know about stubborn fats! LOL….

    penny: you know what? My bf does the same – he heard about matcha’s “super” properties and have been drinking it with water once a day. Personally, I prefer having it with something sweeeeeet, which I’m sure kills its super qualities 😀

  7. I have a very sad matcha story to share! I’ve never tasted it. NEVER! 🙁 Can you believe it. I guess I shouldn’t say this loud! Ok, what a great opportunity to change it with the 20% off! Thank you 🙂

  8. Sarka: oh that is kind of a sad story! Well, I hope you get some matcha soon and get some of that goodness into you! 🙂

  9. I am making matcha rice Krispies tonight, can’t wait.
    Guarantee they won’t look this good. Thanks for featuring teapigs catty. Louise xxx

  10. Anything that transforms Rice Krispies Treats into a health food is genius in my book! Your matcha obsession is matched only by my recent coconut craziness – I physically have to restrain myself from adding some form of coconut in every dish.

    The best part about matcha is that it doesn’t hide in a recipe – you can’t mistake that green hue!

  11. Substitute “bacon” for “matcha” – http://bit.ly/bJtNOw

  12. louise: no problem! the rice krispies were fun to make (easy) – try the matcha ice cream recipe too!

    Tangled Noodle: OMG i {heart} coconut! We can definitely be friends 😀 Oh and you know what? The colour is also the worst part because everyone thinks I’ve added colouring when it’s all natural matcha!

    tehbus: LOL… what the heck! 🙂

  13. Too much matcha? No such thing! I use it whenever I can – even use it in place of green food colouring! 😛

    Love the look of these rice krispy treats, would be great to eat one (or two or three) for a breakfast on the go.

  14. Ah no wonder you were looking for something to do with your matcha. Hope your matcha butter cookies turn out great too.

  15. ooooh, a code, a code! 😉

    Loving those krispy treats. Or I would, if I’d got my hands on them… 😉

    Looking forward to seeing the results of your matcha cookie-making sesh

  16. Su-yin: LOL for breakfast?! I love the way you think, girl! These things are covered in marshmallow goo – so much sugar you’d be flying off the walls all day 🙂

    Wild Boar: Fingers crossed! If not, I blame the recipe-giver-person-dude, ok?

    aforkful: A code a code 😀 I love codes! Stay tuned for the cookies 😉

  17. I actually have two sorts of Match, which I got at G.Detou in Paris. One is for cooking and the other is for drinking. I always find it a bit bitter, but I usually over do it in my mixes…..I do ♥ the colour though and plan on using it with a light hand soon!

  18. Kitchen Butterfly: Oh I didn’t know there were different types for drinking and cooking! We (my bf and I) use the same powder – he drinks, I cook, and I do think it’s all a little bitter but I do love the bitterness 🙂

  19. sassygirl711 on February 12, 2010 at 12:48 pm said:

    just ordered matcha this morning from the teapigs website. I adore green tea, drink it every day…and can’t wait to try the product and your rice crispies!
    thanks for the heads up!
    deb

  20. sassygirl71: OOOooh cool, hope you like it 🙂 lemme know how you go!

  21. these are awesome. i just wish matcha wasn’t so $$

  22. cute rice krispies! 🙂

  23. justcooknyc: yeaaah see that’s the thing. It’s $$ but if you go cheap, the quality drops significantly.

    Jenny: thanks 😀

  24. Maaaaatcha, it sounds very Mexican, no? I’ve just bought a pot with your code. I saw them at the MasterChef Live show last year but my arms were too full of other goodies to manage any more. I’m going to give those krispies a bash and I’ve got a white chocolate/Matcha recipe brewing in my head.

  25. Peep Squeek: Oh I hope you enjoy the matcha! maaaaatcha, if you say it wearing a sombrero with a thin black moustache then yes, maybe it sounds Mexican 🙂 White chocolate and matcha sounds divine! and if you get a chance, you should also try my matcha ice cream recipe 😉

  26. I had no idea matcha was that healthy! Loving the rice krispies and the gorgeous little bows xxx

  27. Mowie: Yes!! It’s healthy!!! I’m so going home and making a gallon of matcha ice cream 😉 Hehe thanks, my cute bows can’t compare to yours though, and your flowers 🙂 xx

  28. for this recipe is there anything you can use instead of marshmallows as i am vegetarian?

  29. Hi Juliet, I’ve just asked a bunch of people what to use and a couple of suggestions might be good:

    1) you may be able to buy “vegetarian” marshmallows from health shops – these do not contain animal gelatin.

    2) you may be able to bind the rice krispies with melted white chocolate or frosting – matcha is fairly bitter so it should curb the sweetness.

    Hope this helps!

  30. These sound amazing! Thanks for the matcha link too! I’ve never been able to find it anywhere!

  31. Pingback: Happy Easter and Another Review Of Matcha Creations! | Matcha Chocolat

  32. Haha, I LOVE your writing style! Keep up the matcha blogs, this is amazing!

  33. marymatcha on March 8, 2013 at 7:05 am said:

    Ok. Just discovered matcha and i’m hoping it will fix all of our ailments. 🙂 I just made my first batch in a smoothie mixed with banana mango ice and almond milk. I made it too strong though. Any suggestions as to what recipe I can add this smoothie mixture to so it doesn’t go bad? It’s way too strong to drink and sure don’t want to waste my matcha!!!!!

    • Hi Mary! I’m really glad you discovered matcha, I still love using it almost every time I bake! Re the smoothie mixture you have.. do you think it will set as cheesecakes if you add some cream cheese/mascarpone cheese/gelatin? That will help dilute the matcha and so you can still use it up before it goes off. Otherwise I would try just adding more almond milk to dilute the smoothie itself. Let me know what you end up doing! Good luck!

  34. ur green tea cake looks delicious . i also woredning why the green tea chiffon i made b4 ( green tea powder bought from Isetan~~imported from Japan abt 40g = RM20+-)not turn out as green as i expected. maybe the one we saw they might used the green tea paste.

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