matcha – Tea Journey

Katherine Bellman

Momo Tea Matcha Green Tea Mug Cake

Who doesn’t want a snack? When I found my first mug cake recipe I was blown away, but add in matcha and it makes it a Matcha Mug Cake. Since, who doesn’t like matcha? In university, I would use the same ingredients in a rice cooker for a whole cake. Just. For. Me. #guiltypleasures This version is quick and portion sized to be just the right amount for a “healthy” snack that will also go well with a mug of matcha (why not right?).

The matcha I used for this recipe is Momo Tea’s Momo Usucha, but their Matsu or Take would also do well. The latter two are both great introductory teas to try matcha. I personally like to use a higher grade of matcha for more taste, a vivid green and to make it that little bit extra special. Use whichever works for you and feel free to adjust the sweetness or even omit if you would like.

Matcha Green Tea Mug Cake Recipe

Ingredients

3 tbsp All-purpose Flour (or alternative)

1tsp Momo Tea’s Momo Usucha Matcha

2 ½ – 3 tbsp sugar (or alternative)

¼ tsp baking powder

2 tbsp Milk (or alternative)

1 egg

2 tbsp oil

½ tsp Vanilla Extract

Directions

Sift and mix all dry ingredients together to prevent lumps.
Add wet ingredients and mix till combined
Grease a mug and pour mix into it
Microwave on high for 90 sec or till cooked.

Just a quick note on when you are cooking, keep an eye on it. It can “levitate” out of the mug if it’s not watched. This is because it is basically being steamed by the microwave and because you greased the mug.

Lastly, if you want to add anything extra it’s all up to you. This recipe goes well with fruit, dark chocolate or even white chocolate. The choice is yours.

Have you tried a mug cake recipe before? Share your experience with us in the comments below.

Momo Matcha Tea was purchased on my own, without sponsorship from the brand.

Katherine Bellman

Morning Kickstart: Matcha Magic

Do you get up and are all ready for your day, but when it hits 10am ( or 1pm) you want to curl up for a nap? So do I, after this happened so many times at work I needed a way to keep going. My favorite mid morning (or mid day) pick me up is Matcha with protein.
When I do make this drink I try to use a culinary grade, that way I have all my ceremonial grades for straight drinking (yumm). It is very easy to make , so easy you can “mix it” while you are going out the door. This duo is great even in the morning when you pair it with some fruit separately or throw it all in a blender for a complete meal.

Matcha Magic

All you need is:

2-3 tbs of Matcha
4 tbs of Your Choice of Protein Powder (optional)
1 1/2 cups of Milk (or Substitute)
Ice
Large travel bottle with a large mouth

1. Fill your bottle half way with ice (if you like less then go for it!) and top off with 1 cup of milk (or substitute.

2. Mix together matcha and protein powder into the bottle. Close and shake till it looks well mixed.**

3. Add in remaining milk, shake and enjoy!

**If you have problems with the matcha mixing then try this little trick before adding it to the bottle:

1. Put matcha and protein powder in a small mug and add in a bit of the milk.
2. Mix with fork (or old matcha whisk)
3. Add to bottle, add remaining milk, shake. Enjoy

Katherine Bellman

Keeping things fresh: How to store your Matcha

After spending good money on a match it is nice to know it will stay fresh till you are ready to use it. The easiest way to keep it tasting as it should be very simple and it’s easy to do.

The trick is to store sealed matcha in the freezer. Although the freezer can be the worst location if the proper preparation is not taken. We do not want our matcha to taste like the various foods in there do we?

To prevent this, the first thing you will need is a tightly sealed container. This will protect your tea from absorbing smells in the freezer. Thereafter it’s a simple matter of finding a place for it in your freezer. I tend to store mine on the door of a fridge freezer for easy access.

If you need the tea, make sure you take it out at least 15-20 minutes before so it can adjust back to room temperature. Put the kettle on, it’s tea time!

Follow me for more @bellmanart /katherine.bellmanart

Don’t forget to follow this blog. Join the Tea Team!

Katherine Bellman

Matcha: Taste is Everything 4

We are now on week four and the conclusion to our taste experiment. The Fourth in series of matcha tastings to see if taste, location and price equal up to a good quality tea. Kohei from Tales of Japanese Tea wrote matcha is not about price or origin , which made me want to do this little experiment. The previous three posts can be found here, here and here. It’s Christmas so let’s have some tea (by the way the Doctor Who Christmas Special is on~)!

This weeks tea is very unique. Maiko Tea was introduced to me during my Tea Sommelier classes earlier this year. Shortly after I was talking to Dr.Ralph Faerber who taught me many new things about matcha and Japanese Teas.
This matcha I bought is called “Kyo Mukashi”. The package depicts a Maiko on the box and tin with a double lid. Maiko Tea is located in Uji, Kyoto, Japan. The cost was about $13.72 CDN, very decent cost for much a tea.

It had a creamy thick foam sweet, Very smooth lingering taste. I did find a slight sweet lemon taste behind it all, quite a pleasant surprise. Very vivid green and a tea that held together very well.

This tea was very different as it had a low cost, great taste and was from Uji. After these four experiments, I feel that you can find something that has a great taste for a low cost. You just need to try different ones to find it. Over all I feel that this tea is my favourite out of the four we tried together, but I still will be looking for new ones to try. After all there are so many different teas in the world and so little time to experience them all.

Which matcha is your “go to” matcha and why?

Katherine Bellman

Japanese Tea Books

I have always loved a good book as I sip my tea. The books I would love to introduce you all to are all Japanese Tea themed in nature. Japanese tea and literature has always given me the feeling of a meditation, calmness and serenity. I hope these books give you the same peace as it does for me.

____________________________________________

The Book of Tea by Kakuzo Okakura- Written in 1906, I found Okakura enlightening and gave a unique perspective of the time. He was brought up in Japan then was given a thorough Western education as opposed to the traditions of his own culture. He then connects with the traditions and allows us to see and understand the traditions and his opinion of the changes in Japan at the time. Western education had become a priority households and traditions were left behind, this reminds me of the many cultures around us. I am a big history fan, especially with tea and Japan, this book was very moving when he connects the development of tea to the development of art. Two of my favourite things in life together. Tea Life , Tea Mind is written by the former Iemoto of Urasenke. Iemoto is like a father or head teacher of the tea school. He inspired me through his words in this book. He urges us to not only learn about tea but to live it through our daily life. By recalling memories from his life and tales from the life of Sen Rikyu’s Grandson, Sen Soutan. With these stories he breaks them down from their Zen parable like wording to make the reader feel on the same level as him. This book inspired me to focus on the four virtues of Sen Rikyu. Wa (Harmony), Ka(Respect), Sei (Purty) and Jaku (Tranquility). I plan to get each character written down my back as I understand them through tea. The Simplest way of Japanese Tea Ceremony- Japanese Tea Ceremony can seem overwhelming but it does not need to be. This book comes with a DVD video to help you see the steps to making matcha in a very simple way. It takes the bare bones and allows anyone to prepare matcha in no time. I added this one to my collection as it is written in both Japanese and English for all text, it helps me recognize which kanji are for tea and learn Japanese from a unique angle. The One Taste of Truth caught my eye while looking through the Philosophy section at Chapters. One could say that it should have been in the religion section as it deconstructs Dao and Zen proverbs throughout history. As both followings are very philosophical and dense, I will admit it is hard for me to follow the most of the stories with in the book. Although I hope that returning to it again after gaining some wisdom through life will allow me to read it with a new perspective in the future.

Most books can be purchased through Chapters or Amazon, with exception of The Simplest Way of Japanese Tea Ceremony. This one I obtained from Karen Hartwick of Stratford Tea Leaves.

All books are my own and were purchased to further my education of Tea and the traditions behind it.

________________________________________________________________________________

Follow me for more @bellmanart /katherine.bellmanart

Don’t forget to follow this blog. Join the Tea Team!