Temperatures have been rising lately, putting me in the mood for some refreshing ice cream! What’s great about making this treat at home is: you do not need an ice cream maker! The only appliance necessary is a hand mixer, alternatively a standing mixer or your hands + a whisk! As if that is not pleasant to the ear already, my ice cream recipe only requires 3-4 ingredients 😮!! You can certainly incorporate children-friendly flavors, but I am selfishly thinking about satisfying my own taste buds this time, making one of my favorite flavors MATCHA GREEN TEA!
I used to pay big bucks for cartons of green tea ice cream from the Asian supermarket (have you heard of Maeda?). While I understand the amount of work that goes into processing quality grade matcha, homemade matcha ice cream using ceremonial grade matcha (finest quality) doesn’t need to break the bank!!
What is Matcha?
Matcha is green tea leaves (from the Camellia sinensis plant) finely grounded into powder form. Unlike green tea, however, leaves used to make matcha are grown under shaded conditions for the majority of the growth period. The use of less sunlight helps increase chlorophyll and amino acid content. For this reason, matcha contains more caffeine and antioxidants than green tea. Its flavor profile has also made it an extremely popular ingredient in many recipes, including matcha latte, matcha souffle pancakes, matcha ice cream, matcha mochi, matcha cakes and matcha donuts! Speaking of which, try my recipe for iced matcha latte here!
Matcha Health Benefits
What makes matcha even more appealing is it provides many health benefits, most of which I am in dire need of as an exhausted, busy mother with extra fine lines, wrinkles and gray hair!
- Matcha contains catechins (antioxidants!!), which help clear your body from harmful free radicals and cell damage. Some catechins have also been linked to cancer prevention.
- Matcha helps promote a healthy liver
- Matcha contains L-theanine, which enhances alertness and may help with anxiety, stress and sleep.
Keep in mind that matcha does have a higher caffeine content than green tea and intaking too much matcha may have its side effects!
Matcha Grades
Matcha comes in multiple grades, each with different tastes, uses and shade of green!
- Ceremonial grade is the highest grade of matcha available. It has a smoother texture and vibrant green hue, signifying its superior quality. This grade is used for tea ceremonies (for the serious tea drinkers!) and is traditionally served on its own, without any added ingredients. However, this is my favorite grade of matcha and it is what I typically use in my recipes!
- Compared to ceremonial grade matcha, latte grade matcha is characterized by a less vibrant green and a slightly more bitter taste. It is the second highest quality and is commonly used in lattes (hence the name) with milk/cream and sugar.
- Culinary grade matcha is the lowest grade available and typically combined with other ingredients when used in cooking and baking. It is the best option when you want to add just a touch of matcha flavor into a recipe!
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Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream (3 Ingredients, No Churn) Recipe
Equipment
- Standing mixer or hand mixer
Ingredients
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- 12 oz sweetened condensed milk, or to taste
- 2½ tbsp matcha green tea powder
- ⅛ tsp sea salt, optional
Instructions
- Pour condensed milk into a bowl.
- Lay a mesh sieve onto the bowl. In batches, sift the matcha green tea powder onto the condensed milk and stir until homogenous. Set the mixture aside.
- Place heavy whipping cream and salt (if using) into a mixing bowl and whip until stiff peaks form. You may use a standing mixer or hand mixer.
- Gently fold the matcha condensed milk mixture into the whipped cream until blended.
- Transfer the ice cream mixture into a loaf pan or container of choice, cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 6 hours (or longer/overnight for harder ice cream). Enjoy!
Video
Notes
INGREDIENTS USED/RECOMMENDED:
- Sweetened Condensed Milk – https://amzn.to/3b70CiP
- Matcha Powder – https://bubblegoods.com/products/2oz-… (use coupon code “RACKOFLAM” for $15 off $75 order)
- Kirkland Sea Salt – https://amzn.to/2XqjzFY
EQUIPMENT/TOOLS USED:
- Redmond Hand Mixer – https://redmondhome.com/products/5-sp… (Use coupon code “MAGGIE20” FOR 20% OFF your order)
- Mesh Sieves – https://amzn.to/3bobmu9
- Ice Cream Scoop – https://amzn.to/3vSKDgk
- Loaf Pan – https://amzn.to/33oO7uN
- Measuring Cups – https://amzn.to/3uw0DnX
- Measuring Spoons – https://amzn.to/2RxwYfE
