Pausing in the afternoon for a matcha + chocolate break has become a beautiful ritual and momentary pause from the hustle and bustle of the day. For me, it’s not only about the treat, although YUMMM—but most importantly, a moment of peace for my mind, body, and soul.

About 5 years ago, I (painfully) weaned myself off caffeine and truly it was the best single decision I ever made for my health. By focusing on the root cause of exhaustion and intentionally healing my adrenals, I now have so much more energy and focus.

Caffeine is liquid stress on the body and only a ‘bandaid solution’ to temporarily give you a little bit of energy but long term can greatly stress the adrenals, thyroid, blood sugar, and hormone function. Long term, caffeine dependence will only weaken the body more.

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Why is matcha a ‘different’ form of caffeine?

Matcha drinks are becoming more popular nowadays because of their health benefits and delicious taste. Matcha is a slow-burning source of caffeine, rich in antioxidants, refreshing to sip, and gives you focused mental clarity and a physical boost of energy. Matcha still contains caffeine (about 50% less than a cup of regular coffee) but does not spike blood sugar and cortisol the same way that coffee does, and does not leave you dependent on a ‘caffeine fix’! Matcha homemade drinks are great options to slowly get rid of caffeine dependence.

Due to the presence of L-theanine, an amino acid, matcha is a slow-burning source of caffeine—released in the body at a slower pace allowing for longer peak effects and mental clarity rather than the jittery spike and dependency of caffeinated coffee.

Matcha can be a beautiful addition to your daily rituals and a pure energy source when you need it. If you are in the midst of adrenal healing, use caution with how often you are consuming.

Benefits of matcha

There are many benefits to matcha tea, but it is important to use a high-quality matcha powder.

For starters, matcha is a powerful antioxidant with 3 times the antioxidants of green tea. With matcha, you are consuming the whole plant, versus just steeping the green tea leaves in a regular cup of tea, so there are so many more nutrients!

Matcha is less acidic than coffee, it has a balanced pH, so it is also more gentle on your digestion.

Robust antioxidants boost your immune system, skin health, and overall wellness at the same time!

As an extra benefit – there are many different ways to enjoy the full flavor of matcha drinks. Use it to make your own latte with any type of milk such as oat milk, cashew milk, or soy milk for a vegan latte, or use regular dairy milk instead if preferred. Depending on the season, you can make cold drinks or hot lattes. We recommend adding maple syrup or vanilla syrup to create a really delicious matcha latte.

Explore our Healthy Beverages for Energy Guide >

Benefits of adding Manuka Honey

This medicinal grade, rare and thoughtfully aged raw Mānuka Honey is full of antibacterial properties and active enzymes straight from Mother Nature—this is not your normal baking honey!

Mānuka Honey is a beautiful, holistic addition to your matcha and daily wellness routines as you will truly notice the benefits!

Mānuka has been proven to have efficacy against antibiotic-resistant microbes, promoting its healing powers against pathogens internally and externally. When sick, it improves sore throats, helps soothe coughs and improves common cold symptoms. Mānuka also helps people with acute sinus problems and allergies.

Mānuka Honey is wonderful for supporting the natural digestive microbiome. Because low stomach acid can come from an overgrowth of bacteria, Mānuka is a great way to rid your body of those pathogens and keep digestion flowing properly. This is because it contains oligosaccharides, which have a prebiotic effect on the gut and promote the proliferation of good flora. 

The taste is SO rich, pure, and beautiful! Due to the high active enzymes and minerals, I have noticed this is much more gentle on my blood sugar than other kinds of honey.

Personalizing Your Matcha: Tips + Tricks

Matcha truly can be customized to fit your preference and tastes, and you can adjust how much matcha you add depending on your desired caffeine levels! Personally, I love iced homemade lattes with a splash of vanilla! A little vanilla extract makes the drink taste sweet without any added sugar, but you can also add simple syrup if you want more flavor.

To blend in the traditional way and make sure there are no clumps of matcha, use a traditional matcha whisk like this bamboo whisk—this really creates a beautiful and smooth blend. If you are pressed for time or traveling, use a hand frother for a quicker approach.

The kind of milk you choose affects a lot the taste of your drink. Top with your favorite milk or cream to finish personalizing your matcha!

My favorite milks to add…

• Milkadamia unsweetened vanilla
• Three Trees pistachio or vanilla almond milk
• Lava unsweetened pili nut milk
• grass-fed whole milk
• splash of grass-fed heavy cream
• coconut milk for that lovely coconut flavor

Iced Vanilla Matcha Latte

Ingredients

• 1/2-1 tsp Ceremonial Matcha*
• 1 cup milk of choice
• 1/2 cup filtered water
• 1 tsp Mānuka honey
• splash of pure vanilla extract
• 3 handfuls of ice

*Adjust based on how much caffeine you want.

Directions

• Add matcha, water and honey to a glass cup.
• Use a hand frother or whisk to dissolve the matcha.
• Add in the remaining ingredients, stir and top with ice. Sip with a glass straw if desired.