Chapter #19: Love You A Matcha Latte
Every product I use in my morning matcha routine
Feeling My Shelf is a bi-weekly newsletter about books, life, and well, life with books. Grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and get comfy. First up, some recent reads.
The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
More of a mystery, less of a thriller, following a woman who discovers that her (missing) husband isn’t who said he was. In the last chapter of this newsletter, I talked about how I wanted to go back and read this book before I watched the rest of the show currently airing on Apple TV+. (I’ve seen the first two episodes.) Now that I’ve finished, I’m excited to dive in and see how things play out on screen. The book’s ending made me sad, but I could see things *happening* if there were to be a second season of the series…
Happy Place by Emily Henry
Emily Henry's fourth adult romance novel follows a separated couple who pretend to still be together while on a weeklong vacation with their friends. The second-chance trope is quickly rising on my favorites list, even if it makes for a slow burn. While the romance between the two main characters is a large part of the story, I really enjoyed the scenes with their friends. The perfect summer read with lots of fun banter.
Homebodies by Tembe Denton-Hurst
A debut about a young Black writer who experiences a quarter-life crisis of sorts after she’s fired from her job. Afterwards she writes a letter detailing the racism she experienced at the job and posts it online, but it’s met with overwhelming silence, at first. I had very high expectations based on the premise, and unfortunately they were not entirely met. I will say: The writing was excellent, and the characters were messy and entertaining. I laughed and related to a lot. But I wanted more about the letter and less on the main character’s experiences upon fleeing back home. I would still recommend it, though!
Many moons ago, I was that person who would die before making a caffeinated beverage at home. Somehow I thought that overpriced lattes equaled better-tasting lattes. That all changed in March 2020.
Stuck inside and trying to save any money I could, I found myself making at-home lattes left and right — something I’m still doing years later. After experimenting with different matcha brands, non-dairy milks, and tools, I’ve finally identified my go-to products. Happiness for my fellow matcha lovers (or the matcha curious) right this way.
Okay, but first: what’s matcha?
A finely-ground Japanese green tea powder traditionally used in tea ceremonies. Today matcha is commonly found in everything from lattes to baked goods. It’s rich in antioxidants, and though it does contain caffeine, you get a boost of energy without the weird crash later on.
What does matcha taste like?
Earthy, slightly bitter with notes of sweetness.
What to look for in a matcha powder (because not all matcha is created equal)
Origin: Uji matcha powder is regarded as the highest grade of matcha in Japan.
Color: The greener the color, the better the quality.
Feel: It should feel fine and smooth when rubbed between your fingers.
Smell: A strong, vivid aroma = good.
My Favorite Matcha Things
The basics:
Ceramic Matcha Bowl And Whisk Set: Although it’s easier to throw a scoop of matcha, milk, and a splash of syrup into a blender, I find the traditional method to be therapeutic.
Golde Matcha: Ten gold(e) stars to this pure matcha powder made with green tea leaves from Uji, Japan. It tastes smooth and mixes well with a variety of milks.
Beautiful By Drew Barrymore Electric Kettle: Before this, yes, your girl was heating water in the microwave. Shame on me, I know. The touchscreen interface is easy to use, and it boils water super quickly. Plus, it’s under $50!
Torani Vanilla Syrup: I wish I could say I drank my matcha lattes straight up with nothing other than milk. But I can’t. Two small pumps (courtesy of this lovely sold-separately pump!) of this syrup will be added. Okay, maybe two large pumps.
Chobani Oat Milk: The superior oat milk! Not too oat-y and very creamy; it’s been the best addition to my morning matcha routine. Even if you’re more of a coffee lover, this is the milk to use.
Cinnamon and these nifty latte stencils. (I’ve also found some good ones on Etsy.) They’re easy but hard as hell to use. So far, I’ve made a lumpy heart, creepy smile, and a semi-good-looking group of stars.
Dried lavender flowers. Pizzazz!
Classic Can Tumbler Glasses: My favorite glasses! Well-crafted, inexpensive, and the soda-can shape fits perfectly in my hand. They also pair perfectly with my other faves…
Reusable Glass Straws: I love straws, but I also love not being stared at by environmental activists the environment, so reusable straws it is. Included: that handy, dandy cleaning tool.
How to make matcha at home
Heat ¼ cup of water -- hot, but not boiling. Boiling will burn and ruin the taste. I know from experience.
1-2 tsp of matcha powder into bowl
Pour hot (again not boiling) water over, and zig zag whisk back and forth until there’s no clumps and the matcha is frothy.
Stir in any sweeteners! Optional but I love vanilla and a dash of cinnamon.
You can drink it the traditional way, just like that, or for a latte add your milk.
Zora Books Her Happy Ever After by Taj McCoy about about an indie bookstore owner who finds herself in a love triangle. Romance! Drama!
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