There are lots of studies establishing that green tea is very high in antioxidants, and therefore a very healthful choice. If green tea isn't your thing, perhaps matcha is. It can be brewed into a short concentrated drink, but because it a powder, it can be incorporated into smoothies, cooking and baking of both sweet and savory dishes, making it a versatile way to capture those antioxidants. Because matcha is the whole green tea leaf in a pulverized form, you receive even more antioxidants, and also some fibre. Matcha is also high in amino acids (specifically L-theanine), chlorophyll and vitamins A, C and E. Here's a recipe to hide the matcha in so your whole family gets the benefits!
Green Tea (Matcha) Muffins
Ingredients:
2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar or zylitol (birch/corn sugar - it's healthy for you!)
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp powdered Japanese green tea (matcha), or try the Kenyan White Rhino Matcha
1/2 cup milk (even nonfat works okay)
1 stick of butter, softened
2 eggs
Oven 350ºF
Sift together the flour, baking soda, and green tea powder and set aside. In a large bowl, beat the butter until light. Add the sugar and beat some more until light and fluffy. Add the dry mixture and the milk. Stir with a spatula or wooden spoon until the dry ingredients are just incorporated (don’t over mix). The batter will be somewhat lumpy. Divide the batter among the muffin tins (I used those foil liners. If you don’t have any liners, grease the tins), about 2/3 full. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool on a wire rack.
