What is matcha? Your guide to making the best matcha latte

Embrace the herbal flavours of green tea with a punchy matcha latte for your morning boost or afternoon treat. If you’re new to this on-trend ingredient, you may be wondering what matcha tastes like and what the benefits of matcha are. We have all the info you need to get started and help you re-create our much-loved matcha drinks from the M&S Café at home – you’ll be on your way to green goodness in no time.

Before you get started, you’ll need a few supplies to make your matcha latte. A bamboo whisk is traditional for mixing and best for achieving a smooth result, but you can also use a small stainless steel whisk. A small sieve is helpful for trapping any clumps of matcha powder. You may also need a milk frother if you’d like foamy milk. And of course, you’ll need your favourite matcha powder – find Perfect Ted matcha in our Foodhalls.

Looking for an alternative to coffee? Drinking matcha is thought to support increased energy levels and can provide other potential benefits.

• Caffeine – Matcha typically contains more caffeine than other green teas (although slightly less than a cup of coffee) because you consume the whole tea leaf, rather than steeping tea leaves and discarding them. Research suggests that the L-theanine content in matcha can provide a slower release of energy compared to caffeine.

• Antioxidants – Matcha can be a source of antioxidants called catechins, a class of plant compounds in tea. Antioxidants can help reduce cell damage and contribute to overall health

• Vitamin C – You can get more vitamin C in your diet with a boost of matcha. It's one of the key micronutrients which can support the normal functioning of the immune system.

• When making your own matcha latte, make sure your water is hot but not boiling, as higher temperatures may burn your matcha.

• Use a bowl or wide mug with a flat bottom so you can easily whisk the matcha to velvety smooth perfection.

• Don't be limited to lattes – the sky’s the limit! Try blending a teaspoon of matcha into a smoothie, like we’ve done in our fruity Defend Super Smoothie, packed with banana, mango and coconut. You can also combine matcha with other super-powered ingredients, like in our YAY! Mushrooms AM Shot, which uses lion’s mane mushrooms. Pick up one of our delicious drinks or snag some top-quality matcha powder in the Foodhall.