I've been wanting to experiment with baking matcha muffins / loaf for a while now and finally gave it a whirl this morning. Fridays are my favorite time for baking so that I can post a recipe in time for YOUR weekend mornings. Last week I did peanut butter pancakes.
Today's fluffy, moist, freshly baked treat: gluten-free Matcha Morning Muffins - accented with ginger spice, banana, green California pistachios, vanilla and orange citrus juice - or non-dairy milk - whichever you'd prefer. I tried these muffins both fat free and with a splash of safflower oil - both ways were taste-test approved by my husband (who ironically hates all things tea - but loves all things muffins).
Plus get my Matcha 101 facts and info - a quickie smoothie recipe (or try my Secret Ingredient Matcha Shake recipe) - and how I ended up with three bottles of matcha...
I love matcha in smoothies & now in muffins!..
$50 30g jar of organic matcha, American Tea Room
muffins... (no oil added, gf, vegan)
or loaf (I added some safflower oil to the loaf)..
Matcha Morning Muffins or Loaf
makes 12 muffins or 1 loaf or 1 mini loaf + 6 muffins, vegan, gluten-free
1 ⅓ cups gluten-free sweet sorghum white flour (Bob's Red Mill)
1 tablespoon organic matcha green tea powder (*)
2-3 teaspoon baking powder
3 tablespoon organic sugar (Florida Crystals)
2 bananas, mashed
1 cup orange juice (*see notes for non-dairy milk sub)
2 teaspoon flax seeds
2 teaspoon ginger powder
1 teaspoon salt
1-2 tablespoon safflower oil (optional)
2 tablespoon pistachios (optional)
¼ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Notes:
* If you want to sub in soy milk for orange juice (gives a smoother, vanilla-ish flavor) you will want to add in a few extra tablespoons of sugar to account for the natural sweetness of citrus.
* I used 1 ½ tablespoon matcha powder, but only do that if you like a stronger tea flavor.
* Also note - I did not use the super spensive matcha for muffins .. I only use that in beverage form 🙂
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine all dry ingredients.
2. Stir flax seeds into liquid - allow to sit a few minutes.
3. Mash bananas. Fold all wet ingredients into dry and stir until smooth.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes - or until edges look firmed. Loaf will take longer depending on size.
5. Cool a few minutes to allow muffins to set. Serve warm.
Nutrients per muffin (12 muffins per batch):
Calories: 107kcal, Fat: 1.4g, Carbs: 22g, Protein: 2.6g Fiber: 2.3g, Vita C: 20% RDA
matcha muffins or loaf..
Matcha 101
What is Matcha? Matcha is a green powder made from ground whole leaf green tea. So instead of soaking the leaves and drinking an infusion of tea - you are in a sense "eating" or consuming the entire leaf of green tea. In turn, you are getting more antioxidant benefits and the "high" from green tea caffeine is released in a more even distribution - as opposed to a quick caffeine jolt and soon followed crash of energy. Matcha is also known for creating a sense of focus, calm - aka ZEN mood.
My Recent Matcha Obsession. In the past two weeks I've bought three different jars of matcha. Let me explain...
my three matcha jars...
I didn't buy them out of need - a bottle of matcha takes a good while to consume - but I was more so 'sold' on them. The first tiny jar was from Whole Foods - maeda-en brand. This was the tiniest and cheapest jar I could find - since I was trying matcha for the first time and didn't know if I would even like it.
Turns out, I love it! I went through most of that first jar very quickly. Then as I researched matcha I found that the benefits were plentiful and I'll admit to having sticker shock from some of the prices I found. An average price for 30g or organic matcha seems to be around $20-$30.
At Whole Foods, I found my second jar of matcha - made by The Republic of Tea - which was 43 grams at around $26. But then I realized that I was not buying organic matcha and that didn't sit well with me since green tea is such a delicate plant. So I sought out to find some high quality organic matcha - and I found myself at the American Tea Room in Beverly Hills with a salesman who is even more of a matcha-lover than me and drinks it everyday - sometimes twice a day. But I was pleased to meet him since he gave me some very interesting info...
From my chat with the salesman at American Tea Room, I learned that high quality matcha "is a art form - much like a fine bottle of champagne." Of course he was trying to sell me a $50, 30g jar of matcha at the time. Hmm..
No really, I actually do have oodles of respect for this 800 year old tradition of matcha. In fact I even caved and bought the $50 jar because it smelled so darn fabulous - and sitting next to the $170 jar of 30g matcha - it seemed like a deal.
Plus, the salesman confessed to me that he had tried both the $50 and $170 30g jars and they were about equal in flavor quality. The price difference came from how the matcha was made - the more expensive jar being painstakingly crafted in very small batches by Buddhist Monks - all according to the ancient traditions.
Are you following me?
Or did I lose you at the $170 jar of matcha?
My husband gave me a serious dose of evil eye when I grinned a wide smile, snatched a $50 jar and set it by the register for purchase. I've been blaming a lot of my super food purchases lately on my "smoothie book ingredient needs" but this one seemed a little far fetched for that - so I just followed my mother's advice "when in doubt - smile!"
I don't always splurge like that. And trust me, it was the fact that the American Tea Room was offering 15% off all purchases for father's day weekend that pushed me over the edge to buy it. If not for that, I wouldn't have caved so easily on my impulse purchase. But I must say that the American Tea Room matcha is pretty fantastic. Amazing, really. And as small as 30g seems - it should last me a good month.
So why my recent matcha obsession? Well here are a few tidbits of info..
Matcha Info (source: American Tea Room factsheet)
* Matcha is the oldest variety of shade grown Japanese green tea ground into fine powder - matcha has been a part of Zen Buddhist culture for over 800 years.
* By consuming green tea in the for of matcha - as opposed to drinking it - you are consuming 10 to 15 times more nutrients.
* Matcha is granite ground and is best when organic (for obvious pro-organic reasons like pesticides and earth-friendly status.) Granite ground teas contain the highest concentration of antioxidants compared to even fruits and vegetables.
* one gram of matcha has an ORAC (oxygen radical absorption capacity) of 1384. In comparison, one gram of spinach: 27, cranberries: 95, gojiberries: 253, dark chocolate: 227, blackberries: 54...
* Matcha green tea is the healthiest natural beverage known to mankind thus far .
..whoa, hold your horses ATR, that last statement is a little extreme - but I won't rule it out as a possibility. I'd call it a toss up between coconut water, pure spring or mineral water and then also maybe this amazing matcha stuff.
If you are still skeptical (like i was) just try it and see how it makes you feel. I've become addicted to my matcha high and enjoy it both dissolved in warmish (almost boiling) spring water - and also in smoothies.
Basic matcha smoothie: (many more in my 365 smoothie book!)
1 ½ bananas, frozen
¾ cup soy milk (vanilla flavor or add a squeeze of agave syrup)
1 teaspoon matcha
¼ cup ice (optional)
(I like 1 teaspoon chia seeds added too)
Matcha Nutrients Note: I asked the ATR man if matcha is effective in smoothies and baked gods. He seemed to think that 'tea' form is best and the most widely studied - but smoothies could also be good. We both agreed that baking probably destroys some of the nutrients - but I honestly don't know for sure. Any matcha experts have some insight on this??
Aperson Inscarborough says
i would like to try this recipe but wonder if the flax seeds have to be ground up before adding the water....isnt that usually how its done for an egg substitute? thanks
Nicole says
Hi! Do you think I could sub sweet rice flour in this recipe? I'm on a special diet and can only do white rice and/or corn flour. Thanks!
Stephanie says
I made these today! I used oat flour and forgot the flax seed, so ended up with super moist slices, but delicious for sure! Thank You 🙂
Marlies Hager says
if i were to use whole wheat flour (don't have sorghum, or gluten allergies, thank goodness), would the amount stay the same?
Thanks!
Kathy Patalsky says
I used a tad more matcha than my recipe, but the flavor was strong so I reduced it in the printed recipe...
siewlingchaw says
i made this muffins with 1 1/2 Tbsp matcha powder. but somehow my muffins didn't turn out to be as green as your muffins. was wondering whether did you state the correct amount of matcha powder used in your recipe here ? :/
Amanda says
I know it wouldn't be as sweet but do you think I can sub date paste for the sugar?
Kathy Patalsky says
Probably!
Gwen says
very interesting. I've never tried matcha. I am curious as to wether or not the nutrients require heating to be activated.
Taren Walters says
Hello, I just happened upon your blog (and I"m glad I did) just a few questions. My husband and I are doing a juice detox could we mix matcha in the juice? Also, we make smoothies, but due to soy allergies could we do coconut milk instead?
Audreygonzy says
I LOVE Matcha anything and this recipe has finally convinced my to start searching for a can! Is it possible to sub anything for the flax seeds though?
Kathy Patalsky says
You could use chia seeds as a sub.
Gwen says
chia seeds will absorb much of the moisture making it more of a pudding. You could also try hemp.
Jess Loring says
Also, though less applicable here, matcha and other green tea is only beneficial when NOT combined with milk. Milk (specifically casien) binds the catechins, so you wouldn't get the benefit from it. Another reason to keep this fabulous smoothie idea all vegan!
I also make green tea soy ice cream (vegan scoops recipe) in my ice cream maker and it tastes just like I remember...
Kathy Patalsky says
Yes agreed. That is why I love vegan matcha smoothies! So glad casein free.
Sent from my iPad
Dayna Dickens says
I fell in love with matcha at a little teashop in Banff, Alberta a couple of years ago, but when i went to stock my own pantry with it felt the huge pain of sticker shock and started to obsessively ration it out to myself. Then last year, as i was wandering through chinatown in Calgary, i came across a tea shop that sold 1 lb bags of powdered green tea for about $12.00. I cant understand the whole label, but the ingredients are listed as 100% powdered green tea and it is made in taiwan.
Of course i bought it right away, and tried it out in both a smoothie and a hot beverage, and both were wonderful, and almost identical to real japanese matcha.
I have since tried experimenting with it in muffins, cookies, cakes and frostings and am continually impressed (and excited that i found a powdered green tea that i can afford tomplay around with).
Leisha says
I am a Matcha addict too 🙂 I add 2 teaspoons to my smoothies each morning... I make my own "Matcha Latte" ...and I cook with it! I definately will be trying your matcha muffins. Because of my heart disease I can't do added oils and I am vegan... so it was a perfect recipie. I love your blog!!! 🙂 ~Leisha
Kathy Patalsky says
Thanks!!! 🙂
Heather Poire says
Thank you for sharing this information, like most I know that Matcha is super good for you, but I had no idea of ALL its benefits and History, this was so informative!
...when in doubt smile - great advice!
Stoltz Kat says
I made these last night, and they turned out pretty well. They were pretty bitter, though. Could it be because the matcha I used was at least a couple years old? Everyone else who ate them enjoyed them, but the bitterness bothered me.
Kathy Patalsky says
Hm, yes I think fresh matcha is important. I can only imagine that the flavor pales over time.
Kara says
Oooh these look fab!! Can't wait to try 🙂 and so interesting about the matcha powder! Thanks!
Cavernvision says
A good friend of mine,who used to own my favorite tea shop in NYC,got me hooked on matcha tea years ago. I've come across muffins,cookies and such,with matcha in it,but my tea is like gold in this house,so I've been so afraid to "waste" it cooking. Your recipe calls for about 3 TBS less than the other recipes I've come across,so I think this is the one I will be trying out. I'm so grateful to find a matcha recipe with such a lower amount of precious matcha powder. Now,I just need to get out and buy a "cheaper" batch (is it ever really that cheap,though?). Thanks for another amazing-looking recipe!!!
Elizabeth-rasmussen says
You asked for some comments on preparing matcha vs drinking it - here goes.
Not all nutrients will be absorbed in your GI tract, and eating/drinking/baking said nutrients will affect how they are absorbed. By heating and baking, you can change the molecular structure of nutrients (boiling an egg makes in firm - same idea here), so by baking the matcha the antioxidative effect might be lowered, as you create a food matrix that can hinder the uptake of the nutrients (the bread part of the muffin). As most studies of matcha have been done on the hot beverage, heating may be essential for the effect of the antioxidants - hence one should heat the matcha, but not put it into a food matrix that will hinder the uptake. The smootie form could be a good way of drinking it, but at the same time you do not heat the matcha (you could try to heat it, cool it and add it). But as with many other things, the other nutrients will affect the uptake - eg, vitamin C facilitates the uptake of iron.
But a general note on antioxidants: the effects have so far only been scientifically proven for green tea. All these drinks and fruits praised to have the effect are slightly B.S. - as one of the leading experts in the field said: "Just because it is an antioxident in the fruit, doest mean it will be it in the human body". Antioxidants can also become pro-oxidants, so its not an exact science.
Stephanie says
omg, this looks soo good!! I have quite a few matcha recipes pinned, and am dying to try them! It's just that as you mention in the post, matchas are quite expensive 🙁 Do you think just regular green tea from tea-bags would work?
GlutenFreeHappyTummy says
wow i didn't realize all those health benefits! i'll definitely have to try these! they sound delicious!
Fiona @ Well-Fed Redhead says
I <3 Green Tea! Isn't green tea ice cream usually made with matcha? I wonder if freezing it affects the nutrients? Probably less so than baking. I want to make these muffins, they look so good! Now only if I had $50 to spend on matcha...
Kathy Patalsky says
I bet it is! I always like that green tea ice cream before going vegan - never knew it was matcha but u r prob right. Hm... now THAT is what my smoothie taste like! Was trying to figure out where I tasted the flavor/creamy/coolness before. thnx!