Are you a fan of matcha? Or have you not had the opportunity to try it? Matcha is a powder made from ground up and processed green tea leaves, and is historically popular all throughout East Asia – including in Japan. Matcha powder is different from your typical green tea that comes in a bag or in tea leaves, as it has more caffeine, has a different texture, and a different consistency. Matcha has been used in Japanese tea ceremonies, as well as Japanese baked goods. However, matcha is also very popular in the United States. If you would like to try matcha for yourself, there are many places probably not that far from you where you can purchase matcha or a matcha drink and see what all the fuss is about!
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Starbucks
At most Starbucks locations, you can buy drinks containing matcha. It is important to note that Starbucks makes its own matcha powder, and this powder contains sugar while normally matcha powder does not. Starbucks serves matcha tea lattes, both hot and iced. These lattes consist of the Starbucks matcha powder steamed with your choice of milk. This drink is a classic, and is probably the best way to try matcha for the first time. Starbucks also serves matcha lemonade drinks, which is a refreshing drink consisting of matcha powder shaken up with ice and fresh lemonade. Additionally, Starbucks has the Pineapple Matcha Drink, which contains matcha powder, coconut milk, and pineapple syrup all shaken together with ice. If you’re looking for something on the sweeter side, Starbucks also offers Matcha Créme Frappuccinos, which are a blend of matcha powder, milk, classic syrup, and frappuccino creme syrup, all blended together with ice and topped with whipped cream.
Dunkin’ Donuts
The very popular breakfast fast-food restaurant Dunkin’ Donuts also carries products containing matcha. Dunkin’ Donuts matcha actually is made in Japan in the Nishio region of the Aichi prefecture, where matcha has been grown for over 800 years. Dunkin’ Donuts sells matcha in frozen, iced, and hot lattes. Additionally, they have recently come out with the blueberry matcha latte which actually incorporates blueberry into the matcha drink to make it sweeter. Dunkin’ Donuts also sells the Matcha Topped Donut, which is a glazed donut topped with matcha powder. Dunkin’ Donuts is a tasty and affordable place to try matcha drinks and donuts!
Lipton Teas
If you’re looking to try matcha for the first time from the comfort of your own home, the brand Lipton sells packaged matcha that allows you to make a matcha drink yourself! Lipton sells the Matcha Green Tea flavor and the Matcha Latte flavored products. Lipton’s Matcha Green Tea product comes in tea bags that you then brew for a few minutes in your hot water or milk until the flavor disperses. Lipton’s Matcha Tea Latte comes in a powdered mix, in which you mix in teh matcha powder into your hot liquid yourself rather than brew it in bags. The latter is more similar to how Matcha is traditionally made. The great thing about Lipton matcha is that it not only is available in almost every grocery store, but it also allows you to make your matcha drink just the way you want it!
Writer: Kayley Hill
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