Matcha Energy Bites

You may have heard about the health benefits of green tea, namely its antioxidant content. But what about matcha? Matcha is a fine powder of green tea leaves. Because the whole tea leaf is actually being consumed, matcha's concentration of powerful antioxidants called catechins is actually greater than that of brewed green tea. As for the role of these plant compounds in human health, research has investigated areas such as reduced cancer risk, glycemic control, and weight management. To date, however, the most compelling evidence of green tea's benefits is linked to cardiovascular health with studies showing a decrease in blood pressure as well as risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Besides tea and lattes, matcha has been used as an ingredient in desserts as well as savory preparations. Its beautiful color and earthy flavor make it a vibrant ingredient to experiment with. Our first stop - Matcha Energy Bites...

Recipe

(yield: 16 bites)

1/4 cup almond butter

1/4 cup oats

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1/2 banana

1 teaspoon matcha powder 1/4 cup pistachios

Topping:

1/4 cup pistachios, finely chopped

1 teaspoon matcha powder

Combine almond butter, oats, coconut flakes, banana, matcha powder, and pistachios in a food processor until thoroughly mixed. Roll heaping teaspoonfuls of mixture into 16 balls.

In a separate bowl combine ingredients for topping. Roll prepared balls in topping to coat on all sides. Drizzle with honey (optional).