Us coffee lovers are living in an age of unprecedented experimentation and creativity where paradigms are challenged and new amazing recipes are seemingly revealed every day.
We’ve seen the rise of several trends lately, including the concept of the morning latte stuffed with superfoods like ginger root or ashwagandha. But one magic ingredient is still lurking beneath the fringes as an underdog: the humble mushroom.
You might not have considered adding so-called functional mushrooms to your diet before – and you’re not alone. Despite their enormous potential, mushrooms still haven’t caught on in the way that we’ve been seeing many other superfoods do during the past couple of years.
That’s a real shame, which is why we’ve dedicated this article to one of our all-time favorite Mushroom Matcha Latte recipes!
Besides being easy to make, this latte serves as a great alternative to your morning coffee. Read on below for the complete step-by-step guide.
What is a Mushroom Latte?
At its core, the recipe for a mushroom latte is deceptively simple. All you really need is a yummy base (matcha in our case, though you could use almost anything from teas to coffee or even smoothies), some fresh milk, water, and a nice functional mushroom blend. However, combining these ingredients in the proper manner is what can make or break the mushroom latte entirely. You’d want the consistency to come out smooth, not clumpy, with a frothy, milky texture at first sip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIbwTFn-POQ All of this takes practice, of course, but we hope that our comprehensive recipe down below can give you the right pointers to make some fine mushroom latte right away!What Does it Taste Like?
Getting the taste of your mushroom matcha latte right can also prove to be a challenge. Most types of mushrooms do not have a strong taste when prepared correctly and are capable of blending in seamlessly with almost any kind of recipe. This is a great advantage, allowing you to experiment not just with individual mushrooms, but with blends and combinations that allow for a lot of creativity and compounding health benefits. Done right, a mushroom matcha latte will taste just as you’d expect: sweet, creamy, and light. In the end, the feel of the final drink will largely depend on your choice of matcha base, as different flavors of matcha often come with very diverse taste profiles. For making the best mushroom matcha latte, we recommend a matcha tea that is moderately strong at best. This way, you won’t have to compensate too much by adding more milk or sweeteners to the recipe to balance out the competing flavors.Is a Mushroom Matcha Latte For You?
While packed with health benefits and incredibly yummy when made right, not everyone will immediately click with a mushroom matcha latte, and that’s okay! For instance, despite the versatility in flavor and texture, matcha green tea as a base is not going to work well for those that prefer lighter teas with very low caffeine concentrations. Matcha pumps you up – and while that’s surely a good thing for many, others will be somewhat overwhelmed by the sudden boost in energy, and especially by the slight crash that happens afterward. It’s not as strong as an espresso, but for those particularly sensitive to caffeine, it might come close. On the other hand, if you plan to use a mushroom matcha latte as a morning pick-me-up or as a gentle tool to help you stay awake at night, it’s much more likely to leave you satisfied. However, calorie counters need to be aware that mushroom matcha latte is not the most diet-friendly mushroom drink option out there. This is primarily due to the need to use milk and sweeteners for taste. While enjoyable, those kinds of ingredients sure add some heft to the package, which means that mushroom matcha latte has a much higher impact on your daily energy intake than some other options like mushroom smoothies or even a simple mushroom coffee.Mushroom Latte Benefits
Now for the main star of the show, let’s take a look at the truly amazing health benefits that are believed to go hand-in-hand with a homemade mushroom matcha latte. It’s an open secret at this point, but functional mushrooms are lauded as amazing miracle workers when it comes to boosting our health in a holistic way, and if they haven’t caught your attention by now, suffice it to say they should. Different mushroom species will display different effects, of course. There is the mighty cordyceps, which has been used as an athletic supplement since ancient times and is thought to supercharge the metabolism and help to increase physical stamina and strength. Then there is the lion’s mane, for instance – called the “brain mushroom”, it is believed to vastly improve our mental acuity and memory function in a manner that some are calling life-changing. And then there are real powerhouses like the reishi mushroom, whose immunomodulating and antioxidant abilities have been used by those seeking to improve their overall health and well-being all at once. From fending off infections to nourishing your gut microbiome, from fine-tuning your inner clock to helping you feel more energized, functional mushrooms can really do it all!Our Complete Mushroom Matcha Latte Recipe
Now, let’s get right into the meat of the matter and take a look at everything that you need to make an excellent mushroom matcha latte right away!Equipment Needed
- Kettle
- Mugs or cups
- Microwave or stovetop (optional)
- Blender
Ingredients
- 1-2 tbsp matcha powder
- 3 ½ cups milk
- 3 teaspoons mushroom powder
- 2-4 dates, pitted
- Brown sugar, honey, or maple syrup to taste
- Optional: 1 teaspoon grated ginger, 2 teaspoons maca powder
