Matcha has quickly become a global favourite ingredient with foodies, chefs and health junkies alike. It has been appearing on menus in all the trendiest restaurants overseas, not only because of its unique, vibrant green colour but also because of its health appeal.
Matcha addicts claim it has tons of good effects on your body and can even boost your exercise routine.
READ: Should you drink matcha instead of your daily espresso
Kelloggs, the cereal company, recently opened up a cool, little restaurant in the trendiest of all spots – Times Square, New York. The restaurant offers all day breakfast and guess what’s on the menu – cereal topped with matcha! Cornflakes and matcha, anyone? And then there’s the other end of the scale – with fine dining restaurants, like Lafayette, also in New York putting up elegant desserts like matcha tea mousse with a strawberry-lychee centre and almond streusel base.
This superfood is making headlines because of its versatility and unusual flavour, with the bonus of it being extremely healthy for you. Here on our local shores it is having an impact too – so if you’re looking for somewhere to try some matcha-infused delights we’ve put together a few places that are definitely worth a visit!
Artisanal ice cream maker – Kristen’s Kick Ass Ice cream in Noordhoek have used it to make a delicious earthy ice cream.
Scheckters Raw in Sea Point have an Instagram-worthy offering of organic matcha flapjacks which also comes in a vegan option.
Kyoto Garden Sushi, with its authentic Japanese menu, has a delicious dessert of matcha ice cream with matcha crepes and another option is the melon liquor jello with matcha ice cream.
The Grind Coffee Company in Melrose Arch make a great matcha latte with a barista’s touch.
Happy.me, gourmet mixologists, who have shops nationwide serve a very intriguing red bean and vanilla matcha iced tea.
Mugg and Beans everywhere in SA, also have an exciting sounding Matcha, Mint and Apple Freezo Smoothie.
Yamato, award winning Japanese restaurant, in Illovo offer a refreshing matcha ice cream as part of their dessert menu.
If you are creative and want to try whipping up a home made matcha delight, you will probably want to get your hands on some culinary grade matcha as it comes in at a substantially cheaper price and is perfect for baking and cooking. Start searching online and you will not want for a recipe – they are all over the internet and even local South African food bloggers are on trend:
Our blogger, Dianne Bibby, of Bibby’s Kitchen at 36, recently made a few different recipes with matcha powder, one of which was an absolutely decadent matcha and date fudge which can be baked and in your mouth in just a few minutes.
A photo posted by Dianne Bibby (@bibbyskitchen) on
Jane from Baking Ginger recently blogged about some yummy looking matcha gluten-free waffles, super healthy and easy to make.
Matcha Waffles! Need I say more? ?????? recipe link in bio
A photo posted by Jane (@baking_ginger) on
Sam Linsell, from Drizzle and Dip has also blended up some of her own elegantly green matcha ice cream.
Matcha is obviously a really versatile ingredient – easy enough for you to add to a recipe at home and add a healthy kick to your recipes, and something you can try at one of our local spots if you want to taste it handled by the professionals.
And obviously, you can also just make a good cup of tea with it!