Memphis Matcha Guide
Many of you probably know a matcha latte as that green drink all those hipster coffee shops are now selling for 5+ dollars. While this may be the current view of this "mainstream health trend," matcha can actually have some really awesome health benefits that may inspire you to swap your next espresso for one of these green drinks.
But, first thing's first: what actually is matcha?
Matcha powder is made from finely grinding the leaves of a Camillia sinesus plant. So basically, it is a powder made from fancy green tea leaves. Its beginnings trace all the way back to 12th century Japan and its popularity began to expand to areas outside of Japan within the last couple of years. Most cafes nowadays prepare this powder with either whole or almond milk and typically add some sugar or other sweeteners. (However, you can almost always order these babies unsweetened.)
Okay, so why choose this tea over a cappuccino?
Matcha gives you a more sustained supply of caffeine. Unlike a cup of coffee, matcha both relaxes you because of its L-theanine content and keeps you alert because of its caffeine content. This means that you are less likely to get the jitters or crash after a cup of this tea latte than that cappuccino.The L-theanine present in matcha has also been proven to help your mood. If that isn't enough, this tea also contains tons of antioxidants and has been known to boost your metabolism. Although some matchas may be made a little more sugary than others, most of them have these same, impressive health benefits.
So where in Memphis can I find some matcha?
For all of the reasons above, matcha is making its way to the menu of a lot more Memphis coffee shops. Below is your guide to both the healthy and tasty matcha lattes in the city.
Cafe Eclectic Matcha
City Silo Table + Pantry
City Silo definitely carries the healthiest matcha I've found in the city. Along with the matcha powder, this latte contains maca, cashew cream, maple syrup, vanilla, and almond milk. Although the maca has a pretty strong taste in this one, it definitely leaves you feeling really awesome after. If ordering it hot, be sure to ask for a "for here mug" for an even more photogenic matcha experience. For those health gurus out there, you can always order this without maple. And for those with a sweet tooth, make sure to ask for a little extra maple as this latte is not really sweet without it. The "My Favorite Matchan" smoothie is also a good option for those wanting the benefits of matcha powder but not wanting a whole latte of it.
Muddy's Grind House
Muddy's definitely has one of my favorite matchas in Memphis. While it is on the sweeter side, it's light and still makes you feel great. Also, they never fail to do some really cool latte art on these. The vibe inside this place is very chill and they also have quite a few vegan options for those who are vegan. This latte is perfect as an afternoon treat paired with one of the vegan peanut butter chocolate bars (the tastiest things in the world!)
Cafe Eclectic
Although this place just recently hopped on the matcha boat, theirs is already up there as one of the best in Memphis. It is usually made with whole milk in order to make it creamy and frothy but they also have options of either almond, soy, or hemp milk. Although it typically comes with cayenne on top, I'd recommend it with no cayenne because it can often be overly spicy with it. In my opinion, this latte has the perfect level of sweetness and is great either hot or iced. Be sure to enjoy with some of their house made granola!
I hope this post was able to give you guys a better insight into what matcha is and an easier access to it within the Memphis area. Although these local lattes are often on the more expensive side, both Sprouts and Whole Foods have an array of matcha brands for those wanting more matcha for their buck.
