Is Matcha Better with Water or Milk?

Touted for its medicinal benefits and the secret to longevity, matcha has taken the world by storm. It’s impossible to go to your local coffee shop without seeing someone sipping on this drink. All over social media, there are various aesthetic clips showing the beautiful green liquid being poured into lattes to make intricate designs. Whether you prefer your matcha with water or with milk, you’ll discover the benefits, traditions, and uses of matcha to make the drink of your dreams.

Benefits of Matcha

Matcha boasts a plethora of benefits that may help sustain a healthy lifestyle. It contains the same nutrients as green tea since it’s just powdered green tea leaves. It’s loaded with antioxidants that neutralize free radicals in the body and can help reduce oxidative stress. Matcha can be a great addition to a diet high in antioxidants which are known to help reduce the risk of many diseases. Antioxidants also aid in supporting healthy skin and slowing down the signs of aging. 

While matcha contains more caffeine than loose-leaf green tea, it doesn’t possess as much caffeine as the average cup of coffee. Therefore, this drink is ideal for those who want a burst of energy and focus without using coffee. Swapping out high-calorie drinks for a glass of matcha may also help with weight management and control. 

Traditional Consumption of Matcha

In Japan, matcha tea is one of the most common beverages. It is traditionally prepared with special tools and consumed with only water. To prepare a glass of matcha traditionally, first use a bamboo scoop or chashaku to add matcha into the sifter called a furui. Next, sift the matcha into a tea bowl called a chawan to remove all the lumps. Then slowly add hot water into the bowl and use a bamboo whisk called a chasen to vigorously whisk the mixture to a smooth and frothy consistency.

Dairy and Dairy Alternatives in Matcha

There is very little evidence to support the claim that consuming dairy alongside matcha will reduce its health effects. However, if you are concerned about dairy interfering with the potential benefits of matcha or if you are lactose intolerant, then plant-based milk is a great substitute. Oat milk, almond milk, and coconut milk are great options for creating matcha lattes and smoothies. 

It’s important to note that matcha with water is a great low-calorie drink for those interested in weight management. When consumed with water, matcha tea is roughly 4 calories per serving. Adding dairy, creamer, or plant milk will boost the caloric intake so it’s something to be mindful of. Opt for skim milk or unsweetened varieties of plant milk to keep calories on the lower end if that’s something you’re concerned about. Adding natural sweeteners such as agave or coconut syrup can help boost the nutritional profile of matcha as well.

Ceremonial vs Culinary Matcha

There are two grades of matcha: ceremonial and culinary. Ceremonial matcha is the highest grade of matcha and thus the most expensive. Its cultivation and preparation are quite intricate making it a premium quality and the best for drinking traditionally. Ceremonial grade is the smoothest as it’s prepared by removing the stems and veins from the tea leaves before it is ground up. This gives the tea a unique grassy and earthy taste. 

Culinary matcha isn’t as refined as ceremonial matcha, but it’s still packed with lots of flavor and has a variety of uses. Culinary grade matcha is made of the whole portion of green tea leaves including the stems and veins. This gives it a coarser texture than ceremonial-grade matcha and a slightly bitter taste. Because of this, culinary-grade matcha is not ideal for water-based matcha tea. It’s best mixed in baked goods such as cookies, cakes, pastries, and confections, as well as matcha lattes and smoothies.

It’s Up To You!

Drinking matcha with water or milk simply comes down to a matter of taste and preference. Traditionally consuming matcha with only water, is ideal for those who prefer the natural taste of matcha. Or those who want the lowest-calorie version of matcha.

For those who want to tone down the grassy notes of matcha, adding dairy or plant milk can provide a creamy finish. Adding milk or milk alternatives can increase the volume of the drink making for a more substantial beverage. Incorporating dairy and plant milk with matcha gives way to creating a variety of different drinks such as lattes and smoothies, whereas drinking with only water doesn’t. Whether you decide to drink your matcha with water, milk, or plant milk alternatives, you can’t go wrong with incorporating this comforting green drink into your diet.