Some people call it cold brew matcha, some others call it iced matcha. Regardless of what you call it, matcha and cold water mixed together gets you cold brew matcha tea. This makes for a delicious and refreshing way to enjoy matcha and helps give you a great boost of energy on a hot day.
What exactly is cold brew matcha?
Unlike cold brew coffee, cold brew matcha is easy and quick to prepare. Cold brew matcha is simply made by mixing matcha in cold water. It is one of the best ways to enjoy an iced matcha green tea. Because all you need is to add the matcha powder to a bottle of cold water and then shake it up, you can make your own cold brew matcha in under a minute.
Drinking cold brew matcha tea means that you get to savor matcha in its pure form. When made with the correct matcha blend, you get a refreshing cold matcha tea drink with a hint of natural sweetness. If you’re new to matcha, cold brew matcha tea is an excellent way of growing your appreciation for matcha.
What kind of matcha powder should you use for cold brewing matcha or iced matcha?
You will need to buy good quality matcha because you are only mixing it with water. It should be low on astringency and have a bright taste because the astringency will make your matcha cold brew taste like vegetable juice.
- Avoid anything labelled as “culinary grade matcha”.
- Try to purchase a ceremonial grade matcha. This should cost between $20 and $25 an ounce and the matcha powder should have a bright green color.
- A standard serving will is 1 tsp, or 2 grams of matcha.
Generally, we avoid using matcha finished in the traditional Uji style when making any form of cold brew matcha or iced matcha. This is because the old masters in Uji prefer a heavier, umami flavor and frequently create their matcha blends to fit this profile. This is great when made into thicker matcha beverages, but it really detracts from the refreshing quality you would expect from a cold brew matcha or iced matcha.
What tools do you need to make matcha cold brew or iced matcha
Any vessel or container will work provided that it is:
- Transparent
- Has a wide mouth
- Has a closeable lid
One of the wonderful things about cold brew matcha is that you do not need any special tools or equipment to make it. All you need is a bottle or jar with a secure lid. Our preferred method is to use a wide-mouth glass bottle. If you don’t have one, a Blender Bottle, mason jar or even a recycled glass jar works well too. Glass or transparent plastic is great because it allows you to see that the matcha powder is completely dissolved.
When do we drink cold brew matcha? How much caffeine does the cold matcha tea have?
On warmer days, you will often find us making some form of cold matcha tea in the office after lunch. The amount of matcha powder used in your cold brew matcha will determine the caffeine content. Generally, it supplies us with a much needed caffeine boost for about 4 hours. Just enough to remain productive for the rest of the work day. The L-theanine in matcha also helps us to calm down.
- A cup of cold brew matcha tea or iced matcha made with 1 tsp of matcha powder will contain approximately 70 mg of caffeine.
- The benefits of cold brew matcha is the same as matcha tea made with hot water.
- Cold brew matcha and iced matcha have the same amount of antioxidants, and L-theanine as hot matcha tea.
How to make cold brew matcha
Makes 1 cup
Ingredients
- 1 tsp matcha powder
- 8 oz/235 ml cold water
- Ice cubes
Directions
1. Measure out 1 tsp of matcha and 8 oz/235 ml of cold water. Do note that this is our recommended ratio if you’re using our blends. If you are using other blends of matcha, please feel free to tweak the ratio to your liking.
2. Pour the cold water into the bottle.
3. Add the matcha to the water and close the lid of the bottle.
4. Shake it vigorously for about 30 seconds for a clump free cold brew matcha. If there are still some visible clumps, keep shaking until the clumps are completely dissolved.
5. Pour mixture over a glass filled with ice cubes and enjoy the cold brewed matcha!
