Matcha tea for Christmas!

Matcha Tea! This year at Christmas, paint your sweets with green! Ideas and recipes for homemade Christmas sweets!

Japanese powdered green tea has a history of more than 800 years as the focal point of Japanese tea ceremony by Zen Buddhist monks\'. This ceremony in Japan is called "chanoyu¨ "and means" hot water for tea ". Preparing, serving and consuming tea is a sophisticated process with elaborate, choreographed movements that suit with every detail. Through each intricate and symbolic move, the idea that tea should be prepared and consumed in such a way as to encourage meditation should emerge. It is believed that tea was introduced to Japan by monks and traders who traveled to China in the 9th century. Soon it became their favorite beverage that gave them strength and endurance during their great prayers. In Japan began the cultivation of tea by Buddhist monks the end of the 12th c. They processed the dried tea leaves and ground them in a granite mill from which this particular tea was powdered.

Matcha tea from Japanese culture, not only of Buddhist monks but also of much of simple society, "travels" in the West as a new trend - a high level of antioxidants after scientific research and is often cited as a food for the mind and mood. It contains large amounts of polyphenols, free amino acids such as L - theanine and caffeine. It has been found that this amino acid has a relaxing effect and slows the release of caffeine from the tea. Since not only leaf extract, but whole leaf tea is consumed, a bowl of Japanese powdered tea equals 10 cups of green tea.

As an ingredient it can accompany everything giving its color and flavor to ice creams, desserts, and many cakes.

Our TeaTime team recommends a recipe for a cake with the deep green of Christmas!

Materials

For the sponge cake

• 2 2/3 cup water
• 1 1/3 cup of cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup and 3 tbsp. butter (160 gr.)
• 2 cups of sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 2/3 cup of flour for all uses
• 2 tbsp. soda
• 2 tbsp. salt
• 3 eggs

For the filling

• 80 gr. butter
• 4 cup of powdered sugar
• 2 tbsp. matcha tea
• 2 - 3 tbsp. milk or more (3.5% fat)

Implementation

For the sponge cake

Preheat oven to 170 ° C and butter two medium-sized round baking sheets. In a small saucepan, add the water, cocoa, butter, sugar and mix over low heat until the butter has melted. Then, remove from the heat and let it cool. In a large bowl, sift the flour, and add the soda and salt. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs and add to the cold mixture with the cocoa. In a gentle motion, add the flour to the cocoa until combined. Divide the mixture into two baking trays, and bake for 30 minutes. Let these cool down.

For the filling

In the mixer bowl beat the butter until smooth. Mix the powdered sugar with matcha tea and sift the mix and add in the mixer bowl. Add 2 - 3 tablespoons of milk to get the right texture. Put the first "layer" on a cake stand and "spread" the filling with a large spoon. I repeat the procedure with the second "layer". It is advisable to prepare the sponge cake from the previous day. To cover the whole cake with the filling, you will need the double dose.

Good luck!