Matcha powder is a unique product that offers a wide array of benefits to you. It is a special tea that is primarily grown and prepared and which offers various health benefits.
To be fair, getting a substitute for matcha powder isn’t easy. It provides several benefits, and most people who substitute it tend to have something they’re looking for.
What is the best substitute for matcha powder? The best substitute for matcha powder is green tea because it offers just about the same health benefits. They might differ in efficacy and taste, but no other matcha powder substitute provides the same health benefits.
An Overview of Matcha Powder
Matcha powder is a fantastic product that incorporates different applications and comes with various health benefits. It originated from Japan, and it comes from the matcha plant. The plants grow under a shade and are carefully picked in the spring. From there, they are ground to preserve their nutrients.
Matcha powder is especially famous because of its many health benefits. You also get a sweet, mild flavor that makes it lovely to consume. All in all, matcha powder is an impressive food option that is enjoyable and which offers significant health benefits. It’s almost like you couldn’t go wrong with this one.
Why Replace Matcha Powder?
- Cost implications: High-quality matcha powder is relatively expensive. When you compare it to some of its substitutes, you might find that the price you pay isn’t so worth it.
- Non-availability: It’s challenging to get matcha powder anywhere. So, you might want to get some substitutes instead if you’re looking to enjoy some of its specific benefits.
- Quality differences: Matcha powder is an undoubtedly unique product to consume. However, most of its benefits will only come out when you consume the high-quality stuff. This isn’t easy to find, especially with most people selling low-end versions of it.
Options for Matcha Powder Substitutes
Best Overall Substitute for Matcha Powder: Green Tea
Green tea is an especially ideal substitute for matcha powder because they both come from the same plant — the primary difference between them lies in the texture. Matcha powder has been specially prepared and ground to form a powder – on the flip side, green tea doesn’t have that fine grinding texture. So, there are bound to be a few differences.
At the same time, it’s impossible to gloss over their similarities. Both matcha powder and green tea are used to create beverages that share some similar flavor notes. Also, green tea is more readily available than matcha powder, and it is usually less pricey. So, you get benefits all around.
When using green tea, you should keep in mind that green tea has less caffeine content than matcha powder. So, you might want to take more green tea quantities if you’re looking for something to keep you up and give you that boost needed to begin your day. Most experts will recommend drinking twice as much green tea to get the same caffeine-induced effects as matcha powder.
Green tea also has a bitterer flavor than matcha powder. So, if you’re looking to use a substitute in baking applications, green tea might not be the ideal choice for you.
Best Substitute for Caffeine Content: Yerba Mate
As explained earlier, one of the many reasons why matcha powder has become so popular is that it provides that nice “wake-up zip” that you will need every morning to get you started. Matcha powder is especially good because it gives you a healthy caffeine dose without causing any of those regular caffeine shakes you get when you drink coffee.
Well, if you’re looking for an even healthier and non-jittery source of caffeine, yerba mate is what you need. Originating primarily in South America, yerba mate is usually known as a coffee replacement because it has such a high caffeine content. Yerba mate has about 25 percent more caffeine content than matcha powder, and like green tea, it is also less expensive. So, you get to pay much less for greater value.
Beyond its high caffeine content, yerba mate also offers a lot of nutrients. It is rich in Vitamins B1, B2, and C, and it gives you miners also like potassium, zinc, and iron. So, it is a nutritious beverage on all fronts. Yerba mate even provides saponins, which can reduce blood glucose and lipids while combating some cancer symptoms.
With a smooth and herbaceous taste, yerba mate is a joy to consume. It is relatively sweet, and it has a nutty and thick roasted structure that you are bound to love.
Best Superfood Alternative: Honeybush
Another top reason why many people drink matcha powder is that it has been touted as a “superfood.” Like blueberries, matcha powder comes with a lot of antioxidants. In fact, matcha powder offers more antioxidants than green tea since it is made from young leaves that have been shaded.
Still, several substitutes provide possibly more antioxidants. One such option is honeybush, which offers about 95 percent more total antioxidants than matcha powder. Honeybush comes with a rich and bright color, and its taste is relatively sweet.
Since it is caffeine-free, you can consume honeybush for long into the day – another benefit that it has over several other tea variants.
Honeybush blends pretty well, so you can enjoy optimal versatility in operation.
Best Alternative if You Have Time: Homemade Matcha Powder
You could always make your matcha powder if you’ve got the time. Since matcha powder comes from the same plant that you get green tea from, you could get green tea leaves and put them in a spice or coffee grinder. When you’re through, sift the fine particles out and try to get as smooth a consistency as you can.
This option won’t get you the same thing exactly, but it is an excellent place to start. The flavor and taste will be similar to what you get from natural matcha powder, and you can constantly hone your skills over time to take out any impurities.