What Can I Do With Jasmine Matcha? Ingredient Questions

Q: I was recently given some Japanese matcha green tea powder by a friend who knows I love jasmine green tea — emphasis on the jasmine which I find takes the edge off of the green tea harshness. I'm a little intimidated by this straight-up powder and need ideas for how to use it! I have read on this site about the Green Tea Milkshake but wondering what other ideas readers have. Can I use it in cooking? Thanks!

Sent by Marla

Editor: Marla, here's how to whisk a bowl of matcha, to get you started. But you could also use it in green tea ice cream and pudding.

Readers, what else would you suggest?

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(Image: Red Leaf Tea)

Comments (17)

I made matcha shortbread cookies this year for a cookie-swap - they were quite a hit!

I totally agree with the cookie suggestion. Teaism here in DC serves those kind of shortbread cookies and they're delish. Also, I'm sure you could incorporate it into many other types of subtly flavored baked goods...perhaps angel food cake or pound cake?

Green tea latte - boil some milk and then whisk in the matcha powder (and maybe some sugar too). I've never cooked with it, but I imagine it would be great in anything creamy. The matcha shortbread cookies mentioned above sound amazing!

WHERE did you get jasmin matcha!!!!!!!! OH MY I NEED SOME!

I just read this article in the new Sunset yesterday. There's matcha whoopie pies, and also a section telling you a little bit about it in general.

I made a matcha cake. It was awesome!
Here's the recipe: http://munchinwithmunchkin.com/2012/01/21/matcha-vanilla-bean-cake-with-coconut-buttercream-icing/

I second the green tea latte. I go back and forth between an iced and hot version most days. I heat a tablespoon or two of water and mix in about 1-2 tsp of matcha and add in the milk. Pour over ice and drink up! If I want a hot version, I still do the same procedure but heat the milk separately before combining. The matcha seems to blend better that way for some reason. I like making my own rather than going to Starbucks since theirs can be too sweet. I had a hot chocolate maker that frothed the milk nicely (and mixed everything at once) but it died so I use a hand held frother now sometimes if I want froth.

As for cooking with it, I've made an ice cream with the matcha before that was excellent (I think it was a plain vanilla base with just a tablespoon of matcha added in). It's also a great addition to macarons. I haven't made the shortbread cookies but those are on my must make list in the future.

I love matcha! Here are my suggestions...

Matcha Rolls: http://www.humblebeanblog.com/2009/10/matcha-rolls/
Matcha Pancakes: http://www.humblebeanblog.com/2009/05/matcha-pancakes/
Matcha Latte: http://www.humblebeanblog.com/2009/07/matcha-latte/
Matcha Mochi Cupcakes: http://www.humblebeanblog.com/2009/12/matcha-mochi-cupcakes/

Enjoy!

I bought matcha specifically to make these cupcakes. I wish I'd seen the jasmine kind--jasmine is my favorite tea!

I've also seen several recipes for green tea biscotti; google to find one you think looks good.

I know nobody asked about this, but green tea isn't supposed to be harsh. It's delicate. The reason it seems harsh is probably because you steeped it at a full boil. That's way too hot for green tea. Around 170 is a good temperature. You might also be steeping it for too long. You generally don't want to steep green tea longer than 3 minutes.
If it's still bitter, maybe use a lower temp or steep for less time.

Ice Cream!! I just made green tea coconut ice cream. It is so delicious!

You could try custards. Panna Cotta or Crème Brûlée.

I currently live in Japan, and have always thought Matcha is amazing, but it never crossed my mind to use it as a SAVORY spice before coming here. In a lot of restaurants, a small pile of matcha-infused salt accompanies tempuras and other fried foods.

My personal favorite is to mix matcha, paprika and sea salt to spice fried or roasted Japanese sweet potatoes.

These are great ideas, thanks - I esp. like making the salt with it. And to clarify, the matcha powder isn't jasmine; that was my "concern" as I usually only drink jasmine green tea.

I like my Matcha cold with milk and sugar. Makes a great alternative to iced coffee.