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Metabolism-Boosting Vegan Matcha Latte Recipe

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Sabrina Ann Zielinski ("Mama Z")

Sabrina Zielinski (Mama Z) is a bestselling author and 30-year DIY Home & Bodycare Expert specializing in aromatherapy and herbalism. She and her husband, Dr. Z, have been married since 2006 and raise seven children while helping families trade toxic overwhelm for simple, faith-filled natural living. Ready to make your home cleaner, safer, and more natural without overcomplicating your life? Find us on Substack for Mama Z’s family-tested non-toxic swaps, DIY recipes, and practical tips delivered straight to your inbox. Join the Natural Living Family on Substack

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QUICK SUMMARY

This vegan matcha green tea latte is a creamy, dairy-free, naturally sweetened drink that gives you clean energy without the sugary crash of coffee-shop beverages, sodas, or energy drinks.

Matcha is powdered green tea made from the whole leaf, which means you get a concentrated source of catechin antioxidants like EGCG, plus L-theanine for that calm, focused energy matcha lovers enjoy. Research connects matcha and green tea compounds with antioxidant activity, attention support, metabolic health, fat oxidation, oral health, and more. (1, 2)

Mama Z’s metabolism-boosting version adds cinnamon bark and peppermint essential oils for a delicious “fat-burning” twist, with immune-boosting, pumpkin spice, spearminty, hot, and iced variations you can enjoy year-round.

What is Matcha?

Drinking a daily cup of tea will surely starve the apothecary.

~ Chinese Proverb

Matcha means “ground tea,” which is appropriate given its processing. When you consume most teas, you’re consuming just a tiny portion of the leaves. Whether you steep your tea in a bag or loose-leaf, you still end up discarding most of the leaf and a lot of health benefits. So the flavor of matcha green tea is much stronger than your standard steeped cup of green tea leaves.

This also means you’re getting more amazing health benefits! Matcha is loaded with health-promoting compounds like catechin antioxidants, L-theanine, chlorophyll, and plant nutrients. Matcha is especially rich in EGCG, the green tea catechin that researchers connect with antioxidant activity, metabolic support, and protection against oxidative stress. (1)

The antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate, more commonly known as EGCG, helps support metabolism and fat oxidation, especially when matcha is part of a lifestyle that includes exercise, nourishing foods, quality sleep, prayerful stress relief, and daily stewardship of the body. A classic comparison study found that matcha contained much higher EGCG levels than several other green teas tested. (2)

The L-theanine present in matcha green tea powder helps calm the nervous system, so you still get the energy boost but with less of the jitters or shakiness that people commonly associate with drinking lots of caffeine. In human research, matcha and L-theanine have been connected with attention, work performance under stress, and cognitive support. (3, 5)

Ceremonial vs. Culinary Grade Matcha

Ceremonial Grade Matcha is typically made from younger, more delicate tea leaves and is prized for its smooth flavor, bright green color, and naturally higher L-theanine profile. It is best for drinking as tea or in simple lattes where you want the flavor to shine.
Culinary Grade Matcha uses more mature leaves, which may have a stronger, more robust flavor. It is usually the better choice for baking, smoothies, sauces, and recipes with stronger ingredients.

Specific studies comparing ceremonial versus culinary grade matcha are limited, so don’t buy based on marketing words alone. Look for organic matcha from a reputable company that screens for pesticides, heavy metals, toxic mold, and radioactive isotopes. If you’re using matcha daily, quality matters.

4 Reasons to Try Matcha Green Tea

Thanks to its many benefits, matcha has been a buzzword in the healthy living community. Matcha is ground into a fine, dissolvable powder, so you’re essentially drinking the entire leaf and getting all of the health benefits. It also adds a gorgeous hue to baked goods, drinks, ice creams, and more! When you pair matcha with essential oils, your body will thank you.

People have found that they can lose weight with matcha green tea by drinking just one cup a day, especially when they add a drop or two of hunger-curbing and blood sugar-supporting essential oils like peppermint and cinnamon. Here’s the thing: matcha is not magic on its own. It works best as part of a bigger biblical health lifestyle that includes real food, movement, hydration, sleep, stress relief, and reducing toxic burden.

Here are key reasons to try matcha and make a vegan morning latte:

1. Boosts Your Amino Acid/Antioxidant Intake

We all need more antioxidants in our diet, and this tea is a delicious way to incorporate them into your life! Matcha comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. Compared to standard green tea, matcha is shade-grown before harvest, a process that helps develop its signature green color, amino acid profile, and rich flavor.

Amino acids found in matcha, including L-theanine, support that steady “calm alertness” people love. Matcha also brings catechins, the antioxidant compounds that help fight oxidative stress and support healthy inflammatory balance. (1, 5)

2. Weight Management and Digestive Health Support

Matcha comes from the same plant used to make green tea extract, which has been studied for metabolism and fat oxidation. Research on green tea catechins and caffeine suggests they can slightly increase energy expenditure and fat oxidation, and a 2024 systematic review found that green tea paired with exercise training may improve body composition and lipid markers in overweight and obese adults. (6, 7)

Put simply, matcha may support your weight management goals, but it should be paired with wise daily habits. That’s why we love it as a clean-energy swap for sugar-laden coffee drinks and chemical-filled energy drinks.

Bonus: The essential oils we use in this recipe are also our top choices for supporting weight loss efforts. To learn more about using essential oils for weight loss and to read the Women’s World Magazine interview with Dr. Z about this topic, go here.

3. Natural Energy & Mental Clarity Boost

Matcha is as intelligent as it is pretty! This is an excellent option for your pantry if you’re sensitive to caffeine. It has less caffeine than many cups of coffee, but it contains an amino acid called L-theanine that helps smooth the caffeine experience so you can feel focused without feeling wired.

If you’re a regular coffee drinker, you might be familiar with the crash that keeps you coming back for cup after cup. Matcha offers a cleaner, steadier pick-me-up for many people. In one human study, matcha with caffeine improved attention and work performance during psychological stress compared with caffeine alone, and a 2024 clinical study in older adults with mild cognitive decline found that regular matcha consumption improved emotional perception and sleep quality. (3, 4)

From time to time, everyone needs a way to elevate energy. It’s essential to turn to clean drinks instead of harmful energy drinks and sugar-laden sodas.

4. Antibacterial Palate Cleanser

The health benefits of matcha powder include oral-health support. Green tea catechins have been studied for periodontal health, including helping limit the growth of certain bacteria associated with periodontal concerns. EGCG has also been shown in lab research to inhibit virulence factors of Streptococcus mutans, one of the bacteria connected with dental plaque and cavities. (8, 9)

If you’re trying to support healthy gums and a cleaner mouth, matcha is a tasty proactive step you can take! If you make my “Fat-Burning” variation, you’ll have an extra dose of freshness because of the essential oils.

To read more about the benefits of matcha, check out this post.

Natural Ingredients for Vegan Matcha Green Tea Lattes

When you hear the word “latte,” you might think of fancy machines or at least some latte art. The truth is, you don’t need any of those things to make a fantastic matcha green tea latte or iced matcha latte. This drink is mixed using a blender!

Besides a blender, you need matcha green tea powder, an unsweetened almond or coconut milk beverage or creamer, vanilla or coconut-flavored liquid stevia, and a couple of yummy essential oils.

Here’s what each one does for you.

Matcha Green Tea Powder:

We went over a few matcha tea benefits already, but here’s one more: If you’re an athlete, matcha will appeal to you because its catechins and caffeine can fit beautifully into a performance-minded lifestyle that includes movement, hydration, mineral support, and clean fuel. Green tea compounds have been studied for fat metabolism at rest and during exercise, though the overall research is strongest when green tea is paired with training. (6, 7)

Calmness, alertness, antioxidants galore. Matcha’s list of benefits goes on and on! If you’d like to learn more, check out this post.

Be mindful when buying your matcha powder. It’s important to get a high-quality brand of matcha green tea. We gravitate towards these brands on Amazon because we’ve found it to be the highest quality matcha tea on the market. 100% organic, ceremonial grade matcha is vital. Check product labels and look for brands that screen for pesticides, heavy metals, toxic mold, and radioactive isotopes.

IMPORTANT! Check the region and country of origin. You want tea grown a safe distance away from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan.

Organic Unsweetened Almond or Coconut Milk Beverage: This keeps our drink free from dairy and creams it up beautifully with delicious dairy substitutes. This type of beverage is usually labeled “creamer” at the grocery store. I prefer a blend that uses half coconut milk and half almond milk.

Whatever brand you choose, make sure you’ve grabbed the unsweetened variety. Surprisingly, almond milk can have hidden sugars!

Purified or Distilled Water: I recommend using purified or distilled water in our drink recipes. Depending on your water source, tap water can bring in contaminants that set you back in your health journey rather than help you move ahead. A quality water filter can be a wonderful investment for families pursuing the abundant life.

Liquid Stevia: Liquid stevia blends great in beverages. It’s a great way to sweeten a drink without adding sugar. When I’m not using the stevia from my garden, I love adding liquid stevia to this drink. I’ve found you have a lot more control over liquid stevia versus powdered.

I like KAL Sure Stevia because there are so many different flavors. Plus, there are fewer additives with this brand of stevia than some others out there. In this recipe, vanilla and coconut-flavored stevia are both excellent.

Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil: Cinnamon bark essential oil is rich in powerful plant compounds and complements the flavor of matcha so well! Cinnamon bark oil is from, you guessed it, the bark of a Cinnamomum tree. Research on cinnamon oil and its constituents points to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and hypoglycemic activity, which is why this oil is one of our favorite choices for metabolic and gut-health support. (10, 11)

Peppermint Essential Oil: Peppermint oil isn’t just for the holidays. You can use this oil all year round to help promote digestive health. Human research on peppermint oil has found appetite-related effects, and peppermint is also a great pick-me-up when you want a fresh, energizing flavor. (12, 13)

Organic Ceylon Cinnamon: Why Ceylon cinnamon? Ceylon cinnamon is rarer than your everyday cinnamon. Its flavor isn’t as spicy as regular cinnamon, giving drinks a bit of sweetness. Cinnamon is one of our favorite spices for blood sugar support, and when your blood sugar levels are stable, your whole body can function better.

Safety Note about Essential Oils

Oils and water don’t mix, so use wisdom when ingesting them! This recipe blends the oils with stevia, dairy-free milk, and the rest of the latte instead of dropping essential oils into plain water. Enjoy this recipe, but remember, you should never just drop an EO in water and take a gulp. Use only pure essential oils appropriate for culinary/internal use, keep the serving small, and use extra caution with children, pregnancy, nursing, medications, liver disease, or sensitive digestion. Essential oils mixed into water without a dispersing agent can irritate tissues. (15)

Metabolism-Boosting Vegan Matcha Latte Recipe

My family likes to drink many hot drinks, so I keep an electric glass kettle full of hot water on our counter. Having hot water at the ready makes crafting vegan matcha lattes so easy! This recipe serves two, so you can share it with a friend.

Vega Matcha Green Tea Latte Drinks: Iced & Hot Variations

Fat-Burning Matcha Green Tea Latte and Variations (Vegan)

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Author Mama Z

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Servings

Ingredients

1 tablespoon organic matcha green tea powder
2 cups organic unsweetened almond OR coconut milk beverage, heated OR unsweetened vanilla-flavored almond OR coconut milk “creamer”
2 cups boiling purified OR distilled water
4 droppersful organic vanilla OR coconut-flavored liquid stevia
2 drops cinnamon bark essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil
½ teaspoon organic ground Ceylon cinnamon, PLUS more (optional) for garnish

Supplies

Blender

Instructions

Pour the matcha green tea powder, almond milk, boiling water, stevia, essential oils, and cinnamon into a blender. Blend for 30 seconds until frothy. Pour into two 16-ounce glasses. Sprinkle more cinnamon on top, if desired. Serve immediately

Notes

Try the following blends to give your matcha an EO-powered boost!

2 drops caraway and 2 drops fennel essential oil (great for digestion and inflammation!)
2 drops turmeric, 1 drop black pepper, 1 drop clove bud, and 1 drop ginger essential oil. This is an adaptation of golden milk and it’s great for digestion and inflammation.
2 drops orange and 2 drops lemon essential oil (good for boosting mood and rich in antioxidants)

Variations

Immune-Boosting Essential Oil Blend:

I love drinking this variation as part of our cold and flu prevention protocol! For this recipe, add two drops of our Immune-Boosting Essential Oil Blend to the latte. Here’s the recipe:

Place 10 drops each of cinnamon bark, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, orange, and rosemary essential oils in a 5ml bottle. Gently shake to combine.

Pumpkin-Spiced Variation:

Pumpkin spice isn’t just for fall! Add 1 drop each of cinnamon leaf, clove, and ginger essential oils to the Fat-Burning Matcha Latte. Skip the drive-thru and enjoy this drink all year.

Spearminty Iced Matcha Latte:

To make this liver-boosting variation, substitute the essential oils for 3 drops spearmint essential oil. The methodology remains the same.

If you tend to overeat when you’re stressed, here’s a tip: Drink a mug of something warm and sweet. Sometimes, your body needs that hand-to-mouth action to feel satisfied. This matcha latte has a soothing effect on the mind, so it does double duty!

Step One: Blend Your Ingredients

First, pour the matcha tea powder, almond milk beverage, boiling water, stevia, and cinnamon into a blender.

Step Two: Add Oils, Pour, and Garnish

Add the essential oils and blend for 30 seconds or until frothy. Then, pour your drink into two 16-ounce glasses. Sprinkle more cinnamon on top if you want an extra pretty drink. Serve immediately.

If you’re in the mood for change, we’ve got a couple of latte variations that you have to try! Experiment in your kitchen and let us know what yummy combinations you’ve created.

Immune-Boosting Matcha Latte Variation

I love drinking this variation as part of our cold and flu prevention protocol! For this recipe, add two drops of our Immune-Boosting Essential Oil Blend to the latte. Here’s the recipe:

Immune-Boosting Essential Oil Blend:
Place 10 drops each of cinnamon bark, clove, eucalyptus, lemon, orange, and rosemary essential oils in a 5ml bottle. Gently shake to combine.

Pumpkin-Spiced Matcha Latte Variation

Pumpkin spice isn’t just for fall! To make this variation, you need to add 1 drop each of cinnamon leaf, clove, and ginger essential oils to the Metabolism Boosting Matcha Latte. Skip the drive-thru and enjoy this drink all year.

We love the warming, uplifting flavor of pumpkin spice matcha latte, and it’s one of Dr. Z’s favorite beverage treats. No matter which version of the Matcha Latte you make, you’ll love the fat-burning and energy-boosting benefits of the drink.

Spearminty Matcha Latte Variation

Spearmint essential oil is rich in carvone, and animal research on S-carvone found that it inhibited high-fat-diet-induced weight gain, insulin resistance, and fat accumulation in the liver. To make a liver-supporting variation, simply substitute the essential oils for 3 drops of spearmint essential oil. (14)