Everything You Wanted to Know About Matcha Green Tea

If your morning brew is in need of a green upgrade, look no further than the beverage industry’s latest trend: matcha green tea powder. The super healthy, super caffeinated drink has been creeping its way into cafés across the country, but consumers can now enjoy the Japanese export within the comforts of their own home.

Curious about matcha and its amazing healthy properties? We’re here to answer any questions you may have about its history, preparation, and nutritional value.

What is matcha? 

Matcha is a powdered green tea. Produced primarily in Japan, the tea bushes’ leaves are deprived of sunlight during the last few weeks of growth, resulting in a vibrant green color that carries increased chlorophyll content.

Where did matcha come from?

Preparation of powdered teas stem from China’s Tang Dynasty (618-907), though matcha was specifically prized by Japan’s Zen monasteries and social elites during the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries.

How is matcha prepared?

Whole tea leaves (after the shaded growth process) are carefully hand-picked and rolled out to dry. Once this is achieved, stems and veins are removed before the remaining leaf is stone-ground into a fine powder. Only half a teaspoon is necessary to brew a cup of matcha. Since matcha powder is stirred directly into water or milk (as opposed to strained through a tea bag), its taste is more potent than traditional teas.

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What are matcha’s health benefits?

Matcha boasts a bevy of proven health benefits. For starters, matcha contains high levels of L-Theanine, an amino acid that balances the tea’s caffeine content. This can help reduce anxiety by inducing calmness without sluggishness. L-Theanine is also healthy for your brain, promoting increased levels of focus and concentration.

Matcha also carries an extremely high antioxidant content. Its polyphenol count (cancer-fighting micronutrients) is said to be 60x that of spinach. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a specific type of polyphenol, has also been proven to help with weight loss by burning stored fat as energy and inhibiting the formation of new fat cells. Green tea consumption of three to five cups a day is considered optimal for harnessing the full health benefits.

How do I make matcha? 

The traditional way to make matcha is to sift the finely ground green tea powder into a stone matcha tea bowl, pour in hot water or milk that’s just under the boiling point (10 ounces of hot liquid for every teaspoon of matcha), and then whisk the mixture until frothy with a small bamboo whisk.

Tealyra Matcha Tea Ceremony Kit, $64.99 on Amazon

Try making ceremonial matcha in the traditional manner when you have more time to meditate.

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That said, you don’t need any special equipment; you can also just stir it with a spoon in your mug. If you use milk, it counts as a green tea latte, and if you don’t do dairy, you can use almond milk or another non-dairy milk of your choice. Either way, add a little sugar if you must, though it’s not traditional.

There are other ways to drink matcha, including in green tea cocktails, as an iced green tea in summer, or as a superfood addition to your morning smoothies. But aside from mixing it into liquid, matcha can also be incorporated into a variety of sweet and savory recipes, from ice cream to bread. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite matcha recipes below, but see our Ultimate Guide to Cooking with Matcha for even more info on how to use mighty matcha in your food.

Raspberry Matcha Muffins

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If you’re not a fan of sipping from mugs, get your morning pick-me-up from this quick and delicious breakfast confection. Or at least save this bright green recipe for Christmas. Get our Raspberry Matcha Muffins recipe.

Matcha Hong Kong Egg Waffles

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You don’t need to be a gourmet chef to make drool-worthy egg waffles in your own kitchen. In fact, all you need is some time, patience, and a little self-confidence (okay, and an egg waffle iron). You can do it! Get our Matcha Hong Kong Egg Waffles recipe.

Matcha Chicken Tenders with Ginger Citrus

Giadzy

Matcha’s versatility extends to crunchy chicken fingers, which makes it nothing less than a superfood to us. This is also a fun way to sneak “greens” into your kids’ diet. Get the Matcha Chicken Tenders with Ginger Citrus recipe.

Matcha Green Tea Popsicles

Feeding Your Beauty

Yes, you’ve just found yourself a new favorite popsicle for summer. Matcha and cream are a match made in hot weather heaven. Get the Matcha Green Tea Popsicles recipe.

Matcha Molten Lava Cakes

Kirbie Cravings

These may look like a dessert out of a Dr. Seuss book, but we promise they’re quite delicious. You may even forget that molten lava cakes taste best with chocolate. Get the Matcha Molten Lava Cakes recipe.

Matcha Banana Bread

Fearless Dining

It may not be green eggs and ham, but we’re sure this matcha banana bread was served as a sweet side to Sam’s famous breakfast. Get the Matcha Banana Bread recipe.

Where can I buy matcha?

Look for high-quality matcha in grocery stores like Whole Foods, at local specialty tea shops, or online.

Jade Leaf Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder, $23.70 on Amazon

This organic matcha tea is ceremonial grade, which means it's ideal for brewing into a bright green cup of goodness.

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Matchaccino Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder, 14.99 on Amazon

If you're using matcha in cooking or baking, or blending it into smoothies, you can get by with non-ceremonial grade green tea powder.

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15 Savory Pies for a Well-Rounded Dinner

Think pie and your mental image probably skews sweet, but there’s a whole world of savory pies that are just as crave-worthy as any dessert. Based on Google’s Pi Day data, much of America agrees (since they’re searching for lots of chicken pot pie and shepherd’s pie). But in case you’re in need of some specific inspiration, here are some of our very favorite savory pies to serve for dinner any day of the year. They’re just particularly perfect for March 14.

1. Savory Pastrami and Cheese Pie

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A rye flour crust with caraway seeds is an ingenious way to contain a hearty filling of pastrami, potatoes, onions, cheese, brussels sprouts, and grainy mustard. Think of it as a pastrami sandwich—complete with sides—in pie form. And if you’re a fan, mix in some well-drained sauerkraut for a Reuben-esuqe upgrade. Get our Savory Pastrami and Cheese Pie recipe.

2. Savory Picadillo Meat Pies

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The savory, sweet, and salty combo of ground beef, olives, and raisins known as picadillo is often served with rice, but tuck it into pockets of flaky, buttery, crisp yet tender pastry and it’s perfection—not to mention perfectly portable, one of the great benefits of all hand pies. Add extra hot sauce to the filling if you like spice. Get our Savory Picadillo Meat Pies recipe.

3. Beef Shepherd’s Pie

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This may stretch the definition of pie—it usually has no crust of any kind, save mashed potatoes—but since “pie” is in the name, we’ll allow it. Shepherd’s pie (or cottage pie) is a comfort food classic for good reason. But if you want to tweak it, try a turkey version, or one topped with kohlrabi. Get our Beef Shepherd’s Pie recipe.

4. Fish Pie

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Much like shepherd’s pie, fish pie is an English and Irish staple that usually doesn’t dally with pastry, but has a cap of mashed potatoes instead. Our version uses smoked salmon and fresh white fish, plus plenty of parsley and chives. Get our Fish Pie recipe.

5. Chicken Pot Pie

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Perhaps the most beloved savory pie, chicken pot pie comes in countless variations, but this is an easy version that’ll feed a crowd, and fast. Just shred or chop leftover chicken (or a store-bought rotisserie chicken) and mix it with a quick cream sauce and vegetables, then pour it into a casserole dish and top with thawed puff pastry. Get our Chicken Pot Pie recipe.

6. Chicken Mushroom Pot Pies

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These individual pot pies call for a homemade pie dough, but there’s no reason you can’t use the same puff pastry shortcut for them too. Leeks and cremini mushrooms join the usual carrots and peas in the cream sauce coating the juicy chicken. Toss together a simple salad and you’ll want for nothing. Well, maybe a glass of wine to go with. Get our Chicken Mushroom Pot Pies recipe.

7. Spinach Pie

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Making this spanakopita pie is like wrapping a present; you layer the tissue-thin phyllo sheets in your pie dish, add the cheesy spinach filling (enriched with eggs and sauteed onion), then fold the overhanging layers of pastry over the top where they rumple and ruffle. Bake until golden brown, and then give yourself the gift of a satisfying vegetarian dinner. Get our Spinach Pie recipe.

8. Tomato Pie

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A classic Southern dish best for showcasing ripe summer tomatoes, you can still make a tasty tomato pie out of season. All that cheese sure helps. Get our Tomato Pie recipe.

9. Cheeseburger Pie

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Speaking of cheese, if you’re in the mood for burgers but not necessarily all the work that goes into building them, try a cheeseburger pie. The ground beef filling is topped with a batter of flour, eggs, milk, and cheese for a crust that practically makes itself. Get our Cheeseburger Pie recipe.

10. Italian Easter Pie

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If you’re up for a bit more work, pizza Chiena, or pizza rustica, is a traditional Italian Easter pie with a double crust enclosing a rich filling of cured meats, eggs, and cheese. Seriously, it’s like an antipasto platter inside. Get our Italian Easter Pie recipe.

11. Braised Beef and Ale Pie

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It’s almost a shame to break open the flaky, golden crust of this British pub-inspired pie. But how else would you get to the melting-tender short ribs braised in nutty ale, along with carrots and onions and other good things, underneath? Get our Braised Beef and Ale Pie recipe.

12. Mini Tamale Pies

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Whether you’re looking for a snack to go along with Netflix and beer on Friday night or something to serve at a March Madness party (or any party, really), these mini tamale pies with cumin-spiced beef filling and tender masa crusts are perfect little bites. Get our Mini Tamale Pies recipe.

13. Broccoli, Mushroom, and Gouda Quiche

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A quiche might be more of a tart, but it’s often made with a frozen pie crust, in which case, it totally counts. This version is packed with veggies (broccoli, mushrooms, and onions, to be exact), but still has a hefty dose of cheese. Get our Broccoli, Mushroom, and Gouda Quiche recipe.

14. Butternut Squash Goat Cheese Hand Pies

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We can’t quit hand pies, so we present this vegetarian version with sweet butternut squash and tangy goat cheese. Pack them on a picnic, take them to work, or serve them with a salad for dinner. Get our Butternut Squash Goat Cheese Hand Pies recipe.

15. Sous Vide Egg and Bacon Pizza

Image used with permission from the “Baking with Steel” cookbook

No discussion of savory pies is complete without at least a mention of pizza…which may definitely not count as an actual pie, but it’s called “pizza pie” often enough that it doesn’t matter. We’re hard-pressed to pick a favorite (there are so many regional styles of pizza to choose from, and then gluten-free options, and grilled versions), but this Baking Steel pizza recipe with oozy eggs and crisp-edged bacon is great because you can eat it for lunch, dinner, or breakfast. Get the Sous Vide Egg and Bacon Pizza recipe.

Related Video: How to Make an Easy Pie Crust

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The 8 Snacks You’ll Need For Netflix’s New Season of ‘Queer Eye’ (Yes, They All Taste Better With Salty Tears)

She’s back! The new season of Netflix’s “Queer Eye” premieres March 15th, meaning you better start prepping couch-friendly, delicious snacks that taste better with your tears and will last you several hours. Preaching the bible of ‘Yas Kween’ and self-love, the Fab Five, all experts in, well, life, has a particular knack for making fans cry multiple times throughout an episode, breaking down cultural barriers and making people realize, “You’re right Tan, I do matter and I DO deserve this French Tuck.”

Below, we’ve got your emotionally supportive snack list covered—controversial Antoni recipe moment included. Just remember, “You’re strong, you’re a Kelly Clarkson song, you got this.”

1. Unaltered Guacamole

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You literally cannot mention the “Queer Eye” reboot and food without mentioning the recipe otherwise known as Greek Yogurt and Guac-gate 2018. (ICYMI: Cooking expert Antoni Porowski advised putting delicious Greek yogurt into guac to snazz it up and the world lost their freaking minds, inspiring too many clap back articles about Antoni’s cooking skills to count.) He uses avocado and a bunch of fresh cilantro in nearly every recipe no matter whose kitchen he’s in, so this classic guac recipe will quench your cravings as you sob your way through each person having their own self-discovery moment post-makeover. Get our Classic Guacamole recipe.

2. Cucumber, Hummus and Lemon Tea Sandwiches

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These five men are constantly serving the tea, sipping the tea and spilling the tea, hunni. The guys are all about living your truth and knowing that the truth (and some good product) will set you free, so these light and healthy tea sandwiches are a must. Plus, you can use the leftover cucumbers to de-puff your eyes while you dream of having JVN’s skin and self-confidence. #selfcare Get our Cucumber, Hummus and Lemon Tea Sandwiches recipe.

3. Gruyere Artichoke Dip

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Delicious hot, cheesy dips should be legally required in order to watch anything that’s going to make you emotionally unstable for 45 minutes. The “Queer Eye” men are all about taking something simple and elevating it a bit, like this artichoke dip recipe that uses Gruyere instead of a more classic cheddar. They do this time and time again, whether it’s via Bobby’s clean lines only interior design magic or Tan’s fancy sneaker suggestions. Get our Cheesy Artichoke Dip recipe.

4. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

Amazon

It’s no secret all of the “Queer Eye” guys are so sexy they’re basically on fire. But do we all remember when culture guy Karamo nicknamed the hottest firefighter on the planet ‘Superman’ in the final episode of season 1? What better way to pay homage the Fab Five and breakout fireman character Micah than with a heaping bag of the hottest snack around. Just make sure to lick your fingers BEFORE wiping those tears. Also, add some slices of avocado for good measure.See It

5. Peach Gummy Rings

Amazon

The first two seasons of “Queer Eye” take place in Georgia, which means we must lace in a peach somewhere here. I have a feeling you’re not going to make a peach cobbler to binge watch a show (here’s a Peach Cobbler recipe just in case) and it’s scientifically proven to be impossible to enjoy a weepy binge-watching session without some kind of gummy candy. So Trolli’s peach gummy rings it is. With each chew, you can remember how the Fab Five represented the LGBTQ community with pride as they fell headfirst into somewhat socially conservative Georgia, often battling demons of their own.See It

6. French Tuck French Fries

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French tuck is probably the most used phrase of this entire franchise, which is why we need French something. This recipe is giving me ‘I’m my own Seamless’ vibes and I’m loving it. “Queer Eye” is nothing if not learning to allow moderate indulgence for the better of yourself and, dare we say it, humanity. Not that these fries are going to better you, but you can certainly appreciate yourself AND your soft whimpering while watching what already appears to be an epic season. Get our French Fries recipe.

7. Copious Amounts of Chocolate

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It’s a cliche for a reason. Just like peacocks are unofficial emotional support animals, chocolate is an unofficial emotional support food. Plus, chocolate is the perfect crying-friendly food, second only to caramel — salted caramel, ever heard of it? If there’s one snack that will get you through episode after episode of gut-wrenching makeovers, it’s your old friend Hershey’s. Not convinced? Here, look at this smokin’ pic of Antoni eating a Toblerone.

8. A Regular Margarita

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One of the sweetest episodes of the entire “Queer Eye” reboot so far was the first episode of Season 1, “You Can’t Fix Ugly.” The Fab Five took the inventor of the ‘Redneck Margarita’ (Mountain Dew and tequila…*shivers*) and turned him into a class act gentleman. Teaching straight and gay, women and men to embrace their inner beautiful fabulousness and live their truth is what these guys do best and also what makes us cry…Every. Single. Time. We’ll take this marg with our own salty tears, please. Get our Perfect Margarita recipe.

Check out our other favorite Netflix food shows too! And if you like to listen up, see our list of the best food podcasts.

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What is the Difference Between a Pie and a Tart?

What is it about pie that makes feel all warm and gooey inside? Maybe it’s how warm and gooey pie is…inside. While scientists continue to debate the matter, along with which pie is best, we take a quick peek at pie’s slightly more elegant cousin, the tart. But what exactly is the difference between a pie and a tart?

While both are (usually) desserts with two main components, a baked crust, and a filling, there are a few marked differences between the two and some careful things to consider when making either, choosing ingredients and deciding when and where to serve them.

What Is a Pie?

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A pie is a sweet (and sometimes savory) dish consisting of a pie crust and filling. A pie can have a top crust as well or just a bottom crust, as with key lime pie. The crusts are generally made from a pie dough of all-purpose flour, sugar, water, salt and fat, like lard, shortening or butter. The ingredients used in making pie crust result in a crispy, flaky crust to accompany the filling, and pies are almost always served in the same pie dish they were baked in, generally one with slanted sides.

Staub Ceramic 9-inch Pie Dish

A classic pie dish with handles for easy maneuvering.

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From there one can fill a pie crust with just about anything, but some of the more popular varieties include apple pie (served with whipped or ice cream); pecan pie; berry pies, like strawberry and blueberry; and custard filled pies like Key lime pie and chocolate cream pie. Popular savory pies include mincemeat pie, and chicken pot pie among others.

What Is a Tart?

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Tarts are quite similar to pies in that they too consist of a crust and filling. Tarts tend to only have a bottom crust which is generally thinner with straight sides, and tart pans generally have a removable bottom so the tart can be served freestanding on a plate or platter making for a more elegant presentation. 

One of the major difference between the two is the consistency of the crust. While pie crusts are very flaky and light, tart crusts or pastry crusts, tend to be firm and crumbly and not at all flaky. A standard tart crust contains flour, sugar, salt, and a beaten egg, all incorporated together in a food processor and then chilled before use. Because the consistency of a tart crust is slightly more difficult to achieve, pastry chefs are known to “blind bake” the tart crust, meaning bake the crust without filling, to ensure that it is near it’s desired firmness and then adding the fruit or custard after.

Popular tarts include fresh fruit tarts in which the crust is topped with fresh fruit which is not baked, as well as baked fruit tarts like apple, berry and almond tarts. Custard tarts are also popular and can contain any sort of flavored custard filling like lemon curd, chocolate, coconut, and others.

If you’re looking to cook up some fresh pie or tart for National Pi Day (3.14) or any other day, here are a few recipes to get started.

Easy Pie Dough

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Known as a 3-2-1 dough recipe this is made up of 3 parts flour, 2 parts fat like shortening or lard, and 1 part water. Remove the sugar if using for a savory recipe. Get our Easy Pie Dough recipe.

Dutch Apple Pie

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Instead of a top pie crust, this classic pie gets a walnut streusel topping for added crunch. Feel free to add walnuts and raisins to the filling as well. Get our Dutch Apple Pie recipe.

Brown Butterscotch Pie

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This unusual pie strikes a balance from the toasty nutty browned butter and sweet and salty caramel. Served with homemade whipped cream. Get our Brown Butterscotch Pie recipe.

Chicken and Mushroom Pot Pie

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Don’t sleep on savory pies to get you through a long cold winter, or for a filling Pi Day dinner. Use your favorite pie crust recipe just make sure to hold the sugar. Get out Chicken and Mushroom Pot Pie recipe.

Easy Raspberry Tart

Be sure to have some parchment paper on hand when rolling out the dough. Lime juice and raspberry make a winning combination, especially when served with vanilla ice cream. Get our Easy Raspberry Tart recipe.

Rich Chocolate Tart

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A chocolate tart is a surefire crowd pleaser for a dinner party or picnic. The rich chocolate ganache filling requires no baking and this pie can easily be prepared a day ahead of serving,. Get our Rich Chocolate Tart recipe.

Related Video: How to Make Handheld Pies for a Party

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How to Store and Freeze Banana Bread

Too many overripe bananas got you down? Bake some tasty banana bread and freeze it for later! Then, thaw and reheat it like it's fresh from the oven whenever a banana bread craving strikes.

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Corned Beef Hash

Have leftover corned beef from St. Patrick's Day? Make this Corned Beef Hash! Chop up your corned beef and potatoes, fry with onions, and serve as a side or for breakfast with eggs!

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Pi Day: Everything You Need to Know About This Deliciously Nerdy Holiday