Beyond hot chocolate.

Can you tell that I just spent some healthy days at a spa? On the first day, a friend and ASE subscriber Nancy C. confidently asked for a matcha latte with coconut milk. I know a good idea when I hear one. Matcha is a green tea powder with a caffeine lift and antioxidants. Here is the recipe for Matcha Latte and some other rich, frothy, warm drinks.

Matcha Latte recipe

Ingredients

1 tsp of matcha green tea powder

3 TBS of hot water

1 ¼ cups of milk or nut-milk

(I have tried almond milk, macadamia milk and coconut milk and enjoyed all three)

Up to 2 tsp of sugar or other sweetener from honey to stevia

Directions

1. Spoon the matcha into a mug.
2. Add the 3 TBS of hot water to the matcha to make a paste – stirring or whisking. Avoid lumps.
3. Add hot milk or nut-milk to the mug.
4. Froth the mixture.

Not all Matcha is created equal. The fabulous spa I visited recommends this pure, delicious and (pricey), Taste of Kyoto Reserve Matcha. 2.12 ounces, $45.99.

Ingredients

1 cup of milk or nut milk – almond, coconut, macadamia

1 ½ TBS Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (ideally organic)

1 tsp Ground Turmeric

2 tsp Coconut oil (ideally organic)

Pinch of Black pepper

Pinch of Cayenne Pepper

2 tsp of honey, agave, maple syrup or sugar – to taste

Directions

1. Combine milk, cocoa powder, turmeric and coconut oil. Whisk or froth and heat to a boil. I use a microwave.
2. Stir in black and cayenne pepper to taste.
3. Pour into a mug and add honey to taste.

Caramel or coconut latte

Rooibos Tea Latte flavored with Caramel Macchiato or Coconut Custard Recipe

Ingredients

Coconut Custard Tea or Caramel Macchiato Tea

1/3 of a cup of coconut, milk or another nut milk. I recommend using coconut milk with the coconut custard tea.

Honey, agave or another sweetener to taste, try ½ a TBS

Cinnamon to taste

Directions

1. Brew the tea

- Bring cold water to just under a boil.
- Measure one or two heaping teaspoons of loose tea leaves for each cup of water. To taste.
- Pour hot water over tea leaves.

(Purists warm the cup or the pot with some hot water, pour it out and then make the tea.)

- Steep for 6-10 minutes.
- Remove and strain.

1. Heat and froth the milk.
2. Add 1/3 of a cup of frothed milk to each cup of tea.
3. Stir in your sweetener of choice and shake some cinnamon on top – to taste.

Caramel Macchiato Tea. 3 ounces. $12.61.

Coconut Custard Tea. 3 ounces. $12.61.

Spiced Chai Latte from The Kitchen

I discovered my first chai latte in India decades ago and I have been drinking them ever since.

Spiced Chai Latte Recipe

Ingredients

Loose-leaf Black Tea – English Breakfast, Ceylon or your choice

Sweetener – Brown sugar, maple syrup, honey or alternative

Spices

A few pods of Green cardamom

Cloves – to taste

Fennell seeds – to taste

1 Cinnamon Stick

Black peppercorns – to taste

(Or use the Organic Rishi Masala Chai mix – below- instead of these spices)

Fresh ginger with skin on, sliced into thin rounds

Directions

1. Heat water and milk
2. Before it boils, add fresh ginger rounds
3. Add 2 tsps. of the tea and your choice of spices

Or, use 2+ tsps. of loose masala spiced tea mix per cup of liquid

1. Let tea steep for at least two minutes
2. Pour into a cup through a sieve.
3. Add the sweetener of your choice.

Organic Masala loose-leaf Chai (tea) and spice mix. 3 Ounces. $8.

Martha Stewart shows how to make foam designs on your latte.

Make a foam heart design to top off your latte.

I like my simple, hand-held frother and I have given them as hostess presents. Powered by two AA batteries, it is easy to clean and comes with its own stand. Your choice of 10 colors. $12.99.

Subscriber Lisa C. recommends this Capresso Frother which heats the milk and froths it. It is easy to clean. I use it regularly. The drinks get very warm, but not hot. You may want to heat them up in the microwave. Capresso Frother. $77.65.