Y鈥檃ll know me. Whenever a food trend starts going viral on TikTok, I jump in and test it so you don鈥檛 have to. This time, while scrolling, I stopped mid-swipe after seeing people dunking handfuls of tea bags into half-gallons of milk. The funky-looking concoction everyone’s obsessed with?听.

Unlike your typical cold-brew, this drink doesn鈥檛 involve coffee at all (or caffeine, depending on the tea you choose). Instead, it turns that box of tea bags in your cabinet into something entirely new. Mixing them with milk creates a caf茅-style latte that feels barista-made without the effort. Prep only takes a few seconds, and the fridge handles the rest.

Most TikTok food trends make me skeptical, but this one felt different. I already love iced tea lattes, such as matcha, so this hack caught my attention. Still, I had questions, because as an outdoor enthusiast, I wondered if this could work as an easy way to fuel up before heading outdoors. I interviewed a few experts to find out.

For Hikes and Camping, Choose Teas That Sharpen Focus and Reduce Inflammation

鈥淚f you want to try this tea trend before a hike or camping trip, consider what you鈥檙e looking for in your cup,鈥� says , a registered dietitian based in Phoenix, Arizona.

Planning to tackle rocky or uneven trails? Geiger recommends brews rich in L-theanine, such as green and yellow tea (a slightly fermented tea), which may sharpen during challenging hikes.

But , a registered dietitian based in New York City, points out that caffeine acts as a diuretic and can make you need to pee more, which isn鈥檛 exactly ideal when you鈥檙e out in the middle of nature.

For caffeine-free options that still offer support on the trail, Geiger recommends herbal teas. For example, both ginger and chamomile tea have been shown to combat inflammation, making them helpful if you find yourself getting sore in the wild. Herbal teas might also 鈥攁nother practical benefit when you鈥檙e on a long trek.

How to Get the Most Out of This Cold Brew Tea Trend, According to Nutritionists

鈥淥ne way to make this trend more nutritious is by focusing on your milk choice,鈥� says Geiger. For anyone looking to increase protein intake鈥攚hich supports muscle repair and recovery after strenuous activity鈥攕oy milk delivers about of protein per cup.

Ingredients: 1. Oatmilk 2. Teabags of choice

Your milk choice can also impact your energy level. According to Geiger, the natural sugars in dairy, almond, oat, or soy milk can give you a fast fuel-up before hitting the trail.

To round things out, Rifkin recommends bringing along a source of carbs when heading out with your cold brew. A banana or overnight oats work well. Paired with the protein and fat from the milk, you鈥檒l create a more balanced source of energy, she explains.

How to Make a Cold-Brew Tea Latte

Servings: 8 ounces

Prep Time: 5 minutes (plus 8 hours chilling)

Total Duration: 8 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 tea bags of your choice
• 8 ounces milk (dairy or plant-based)
• Optional: 1 teaspoon of sweetener of your choice (Consider using or ;听honey works,听too).听

Recipe

1. Pour milk into a jar or insulated cup with a lid.
2. Add tea bags to the milk.
3. If using a sweetener, stir it in gently.
4. Secure with a lid and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
5. Remove tea bags before drinking.

The Verdict: Low Lift, High Reward

I recently traveled to the Algarve region in Portugal and planned to glamp in an area without easy access to caf茅s, meaning no iced latte stops. Since I had a foraging hike scheduled, it was the perfect time to try this cold brew tea hack.

Fortunately, a local market nearby had all the basics: soy milk, tea, and honey. At home, I usually have these staples on hand, so it was reassuring to see that this recipe only requires everyday pantry and fridge staples.

I chose two types of tea: for听its tart, fruity flavor and for its听antioxidant power.

The night before the hike, I prepped both teas. The next day, they were chilled and ready. I鈥檓 a two-beverage person in the mornings and usually reach for an iced matcha and a smoothie, so bringing both teas along fits nicely into my A.M. routine. With a three-hour hike ahead, I planned to hydrate early with these lattes.

Two hours in, I still didn鈥檛 feel thirsty, which is rare for me on long hikes. More impressive than the hydration, though, was how good the lattes tasted. They had a subtle flavor; the hibiscus offered light floral and honeyed notes, while the Earl Grey brought out earthy and warm spice flavors. Trying something different from my usual iced matcha or decaf latte turned out to be a delicious shift from my typical routine.

I have a few remote trips coming up this fall, and I鈥檒l definitely bring this cold brew tea hack with me. It鈥檚 a simple, satisfying way to enjoy an iced latte without needing a caf茅 nearby, and it delivers a few nourishing perks along the way.

Want more听国产吃瓜黑料听health stories?听. Ready to push yourself? Enter MapMyRun鈥檚听听running challenge.

The post The Cold-Brewed Tea Latte Hack That鈥檚 Taking Over TikTok appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

I used to be a coffee gal. Every morning, rain or shine, I started the day with a large mug of dark roast, no cream or sugar. My coffee ritual was less about drinking it and more about chugging it as quickly as I could without burning my tongue鈥攁 skill I鈥檓 honestly quite proud of mastering. Then I鈥檇 repeat the process two or three more times throughout the day. At the worst point of my caffeine obsession, it was tough to get through the day without my required 285 mg of caffeine. And even then, I felt like crashing by 5 P.M.

One weekend, my dear old Dad came to town and brought his powdered matcha. He鈥檚 been a matcha fanatic for years, and doesn鈥檛 go anywhere without it. When he started drinking it way back when, I was floored. This was a guy who used to drink copious amounts of Mountain Dew when I was growing up. I guess he switched to a different can of green caffeine.听

While he was visiting, I snuck a cup. It was bitter, but not like coffee. Honestly, it sort of tasted like dirt and grass. But I decided then and there that I was going to try鈥攆or one month鈥攖o swap coffee with matcha tea. If my Dad could do it, I could.听

What Is Matcha?

Matcha is a type of tea leaf that grows from the same plant as other green tea varieties鈥擟amellia sinensis鈥攂ut matcha leaves spend a chunk of their lifespan in the shade. Around four weeks before harvesting, matcha plants are covered with tarps to prevent further photosynthesis. This creates a buildup of chlorophyll in the leaves and increases amino acids, resulting in a subtly sweeter and more nutrient-dense tea.

Most high-quality matcha grows in Japan.

鈥淛apan has a long-standing history of producing matcha,鈥� says tea master . 鈥淭hough green tea originated in China, Japan created the harvesting and manufacturing process of matcha powder as we know it today. They are true experts in their field.鈥�

Ye adds that she鈥檚 sampled many different matcha teas from Japan, China, and South Korea, but she believes that Uji, Kyoto has the best tasting matcha.听听

Like Coffee, Quality Matcha Is Worth the Price

While there was an abundance of matcha on the market to choose from (and you鈥檒l see I tried a few others at the end of the article), I opted to start with , described as a rich, full-force tea. I picked this brand not only because of the endless praise from tea drinkers online, but because the flagship store in Kyoto, Japan, has been in business for 300 years. For 1.41 oz., I paid $31. I flinched at the price, but, nevertheless, bit the bullet for quality.

鈥淎 good, high-quality matcha will always be a rich, green green color and consists of purely the first harvested leaves of the season,鈥� Ye says. 鈥淭hese are plucked first in May, depending on the harvest time, from the very top leaves. These leaves are reserved for ceremonial grade matcha 鈥� matcha that has traditionally been used in tea ceremonies.鈥�

Chieko Yamamoto, president and CEO of , says, 鈥淢atcha tea leaves are only harvested three or four times a year,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd then after that, the trees rest. The matcha produced by the first harvest is of the highest quality.鈥�

She also adds that high-quality matcha doesn鈥檛 taste bitter and should have a smooth flavor with rich umami.听

鈥淟ower grade of matcha has more catechins, so it often has a bitter taste,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t depends on how each person prefers their matcha, though. If they want to mix it with other ingredients, the bitterness sometimes gives a kick to the total flavor balance.鈥�

Week 1: A Caffeine Roller Coaster

To make sure I knew what I was getting into when making the switch from coffee to matcha, I had on speed dial. And thank goodness I did. The number one thing Ravella warned me about was the side effects of drastically lowering my daily caffeine consumption. On average, one cup of matcha contains 70mg of caffeine, compared to coffee鈥檚 95 to 100 mg.

鈥淚t鈥檚 best to decrease your coffee intake slowly. Trying switching to half-decaf and then full decaf first,鈥� Ravella says. 鈥淲ithdrawal symptoms can begin even after a half-day and include issues like headaches, fatigue, muscle pain, and irritability.鈥�

So from June 1-3, I drank half-decaf, and then full decaf coffee. I found myself wanting to go to bed at 4 P.M. and being extremely grumpy. But by the time I started drinking solely matcha, I was almost too excited to have caffeine back in my life to notice any of the side effects.听

My first cup of matcha was somewhat of a bust. Desperate for energy and wanting to make the drink as quickly as possible, I didn鈥檛 follow the directions on the back of the tiny canister, which was very specific that matcha is to be whisked in a small concentrated amount, then hot water is poured on top, and whisked again. Instead, I plopped a teaspoon into a mug of hot water and stirred with a spoon. This resulted in me drinking clumps of bitter powder for the next fifteen minutes, staining my teeth and having an overall terrible experience.听

How to make matcha the right way by whisking it properly with a matcha whisk

Week 2: The Ritual of Making Matcha

I really wanted to get the most out of this month-long experiment and enjoy the ritual of matcha as much as my Dad. I did some research and realized matcha took a little bit of time to make and there were no shortcuts. I was so used to leaping out of bed and grabbing a cup of joe from our coffee pot鈥攑rogrammed to brew right before waking up so that it was hot and ready鈥攖hat I didn鈥檛 consider matcha would have a different process.

Week two, I started off on the right foot by following the correct procedures:

1. 1. Sifting. You must, must, must sift your matcha into a mug or bowl before doing anything. Matcha, as I found out the hard way, clumps easily, so this will allow for more even distribution in hot water.听
   2. Whisking. I purchased a simple, cheap whisk on Amazon for this next bit. Pour the sifted matcha into a small amount of hot water 鈥� not the full 6 oz. yet. To whisk matcha, to so from side to side rather than in a circular motion. I discovered, with a little victory dance in the middle of my kitchen, that when done properly, whisking will produce a soft layer of foam on top.
   3. Top it off. Pour the rest of your hot water over the concentrated matcha and whisk again.听

Overall, the process took a painstaking six or seven minutes, which only heightened the 鈥榦n-edge鈥� feeling I had from my lack of caffeine. However, as much as I hated to admit it, the second week I didn鈥檛 experience any extreme fatigue. Sure, my patience and temper was a little thin, but there were no crashes. founder explained.

鈥淐offee provides a quick energy boost, while matcha improves your energy levels more slowly,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t has L-theanine, a green tea amino acid that can . So it helps you feel more alert and relaxed with less chance of those caffeine jitters.鈥�

Now that I knew how to make it properly, I found I really enjoyed matcha鈥檚 earthy flavors. It wasn鈥檛 exactly bitter, as many people described, but almost sweet underneath layers of concentrated green tea flavor. It felt more hearty compared to green tea bags I鈥檇 steeped before, with tons more flavor.

Week 3: Caffeine Withdrawal No More

This week, I started enjoying the matcha-making process. It forced me to slow down in the morning and do something with my hands first thing. I clicked on my favorite news podcast, and took extra time to sift, whisk, and stir my mugful. Suddenly it wasn鈥檛 about swallowing my morning drink in one gulp, because why would I do that when I took so much time to make it?听

By now, I wasn鈥檛 experiencing any ill side effects of caffeine withdrawal. In fact, I didn鈥檛 miss coffee at all. The biggest physical difference I felt was how even my energy levels were throughout the day, compared to the highs and lows I felt with my daily dark roast. There were also benefits I couldn鈥檛 feel, but Ravella explained I鈥檇 appreciate in the long run.

鈥淟ike all green teas, matcha is loaded with catechins (which are polyphenols) like epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which may reduce inflammation in the body,鈥� she says. 鈥淢atcha can help to prevent cancers, including prostate cancer, and heart disease. It can reduce headaches and digestive symptoms, help to promote weight loss, and improve brain function.鈥�

Week 4 (the Final Week): Never Going Back to Coffee

Toward the end of the month, I realized that my was just as proficient as distributing matcha into hot water as my whisk was, and it took half the time. While I still occasionally took out trusty old whisky, I used the frother when time was tight.听

The last week of my experiment, I was not only comfortable with the swap, I was excited about matcha! I started to test out different varieties, first visiting the in Nashville to buy a matcha that the store clerk recommended called Shirakawa Uji Hikari Matcha. I then went online and ordered Ceremonial Blend Matcha, a blend a friend recommended. For good measure, I bought the matcha everyone talks about on TikTok, .听

Each one tasted slightly differently, which, Ye explains, is due to the matcha plant鈥檚 growing region.

鈥淲e compare matcha to wine tasting,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e understand with wines, they have different taste profiles depending on the region. This is very much so with matcha. Different methods of farming and processing affect the flavors as well as the altitude.鈥�

Below are my thoughts on each matcha variety.

The Best Matcha Teas

Price: $35.95 for 40g

Ingredients: Kyoto Prefecture matcha blend

Notes: Kyoto grows high-quality matcha because of the misty climate, rich soil, and balance of rain and sun.听

My thoughts: This matcha,was a perfect introduction to what matcha is supposed to taste like. It had a full, robust flavor that was almost 鈥� almost 鈥� sweet. It was one of the strongest flavored matchas in the bunch.

Price: $38.00 for 40g

Ingredients: Uji-hikari matcha听

Notes: Shirakawa, a zone located in Uji, Japan, is famous for its gyokuro production (a variety of shaded green tea), but has become an up-and-coming matcha producer for the last few years. Tea leaves are handpicked from unpruned tea plants.

My thoughts: This was a more mellow matcha, though I still enjoyed the subtle notes of citrus. The fruity undertones pleasantly surprised me and seemed to linger on my tongue longer than the other varieties.听

Price: Was $17.99, but on sale for $15.99 for 2 oz.

Ingredients: Powdered green tea leaf blend

Notes: This blend is mostly ceremonial grade (high quality), but mixes in culinary matcha (lower quality and often used for baking) so that it鈥檚 a less concentrated beginner matcha. It was suggested I add frothed milk with this blend.

My thoughts: After buying expensive matchas, I thought I鈥檇 try a less expensive variety with Ujido. I frothed some warm oat milk, poured it on top, and added a drizzle of agave to create a matcha latte. This was delicious, but I lost that earthy umami flavor I loved with matcha.听听

Price: $22 for 1.0 oz

Ingredients: Organic Japanese tencha leaves

Notes: Social media influencer and fashion enthusiast Emma Chamberlain developed her company, Chamberlain Coffee in 2020, making this the newest matcha on my list. It鈥檚 also certified organic by.

My thoughts: While I wasn鈥檛 expecting a lot after trying matcha made from practically ancient tea businesses, I enjoyed Chamberlain Matcha鈥檚 smooth flavor. The only problem I had was the lack of information about where and how the matcha was grown. The other varieties I tested could trace its roots to a specific region in Japan, whereas there鈥檚 not a lot of background with Chamberlain Matcha.听

Should You Switch from Coffee to Matcha?

Lots of people might be wondering if making the switch from coffee to matcha is for them, and the answer is鈥� Maybe. Caffeine intake is personal and can be different for everyone. Some people have digestive issues after drinking matcha, as the catechins can temporarily upset the lining in our stomach. It鈥檚 also worth noting that, if you鈥檙e not used to drinking caffeine, matcha will make you just as jittery and anxious as a regular cup of coffee.

As for me? I haven鈥檛 had a cup of coffee since June 1, and I don鈥檛 plan on going back anytime soon. I鈥檓 not a coffee hater, but since ditching my three cups a day, I feel matcha better.听

The post I Replaced Coffee with Matcha for a Month, and Now I May Never Go Back appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.