Discover the Benefits of Matcha

If you’re already a matcha lover, you’ll appreciate these cooling recipes that are easy to prepare at home. If you’re not yet familiar with the wonders of matcha, start right here. Saraya shares the potent benefits of making it your daily go-to beverage, perhaps even as a substitute for your morning caffeine fix. If you prefer having your refreshing matcha prepared for you, check out these 5 trendy cafes.

Written by: Saraya van Dreumel (founder of *Awaken Matcha

The heat is slowly melting us, wherever you are. It’s not just in the cities or in Italy; most of Europe has been hit with intense heat waves in recent weeks.

Other than good air conditioning, avoiding the sun during peak hours, and plunging into water whenever our schedules allow, is there anything else we can do?

Here’s one ritual that never fails me: making something cold, delicious, and energizing—with minimal prep and maximum impact.

A simple iced matcha is one of the most refreshing drinks you can sip. It comes with more than just good taste.

Why Matcha is the Perfect Summer Drink

Matcha is naturally rich in antioxidants, especially catechins like EGCG. These help protect cells from oxidative stress caused by heat and sun exposure (source: Journal of Chromatography A, 2003).

It’s also a source of L-theanine, a unique amino acid that promotes calm focus. This amino acid helps with the slow release of caffeine found in matcha. It provides uplifting, yet non-jittery energy for up to 4 to 6 hours. Unlike cold brew or sugary energy drinks, drinking matcha doesn’t lead to that post-caffeine crash. It is much healthier than artificial options like energy drinks.

When you prepare it cold, you reduce the bitterness and enhance its smooth, vegetal sweetness. This makes it the perfect summer refreshment.

Why does it reduce the bitterness, you may ask? The temperature of the water changes the extraction of certain components within the matcha.

At temperatures up to 80 degrees Celsius, L-theanine—which gives matcha its vegetal sweet and umami taste—is extracted the most. Any temperature above this will overpower the extraction of catechins and caffeine.

The caffeine and catechins are present in the plant to protect it from pests, hence their astringent and bitter taste. However, in high-quality matcha, the chlorophyll and L-theanine content contrast these flavors with sweetness and earthy umami.

Keep in mind that if your matcha leaves a bitter taste in your mouth even after you swallow it, this isn’t how it should be. Ditch it. You might use it for baking, but this is not the type of matcha you want for your drinks.

What Makes for a High-Quality Matcha?

To reap all of the health benefits, high-quality matcha should be:

• Shade-grown for at least 21 days

Shade growing keeps the L-theanine content that is initially stored in the roots of the plant. It’s a common misconception that shading the plant ‘boosts’ this content; it actually preserves the existing L-theanine. Without shade, it gets converted into substances like catechins.

• Picked during the first harvest (spring)

This is a basic rule—any harvest other than the first one is not suitable for drinking matcha. The first harvest has the highest L-theanine and nutrient content. For our Awaken matcha, only the last four leaves are picked. Other farms often use the last eight, resulting in a less nutrient-dense matcha.

• Ground in small batches on stone mills

Stone milling is a lengthy process—1 kg per day! But it is the most traditional and best method for tencha milling. It keeps all the aroma and nutrients intact, resulting in a powder that does not feel sandy in your mouth.

• Grown away from pollution and tested for purity

Pollution can lead to heavy metals in the final product. These heavy metals are not good for you. This is why our matcha comes from Kagoshima, not Uji. In Uji, we could not find matcha completely free of heavy metals. You might think a bio certification logo means the product is safe. Unfortunately, this is not necessarily the case. It often just means it is within acceptable parameters.

• Pesticides & Herbicides

It’s better for your health, the health of farmers, and the health of our beautiful planet to choose products grown completely without pesticides and herbicides. Our farmer uses no chemicals on his plants. To fertilize the soil, he makes his own compost that ferments for four years before use. Weeds are removed by hand, and for pest removal, he relies on nature—like ladybugs. Cross-contamination is an important factor. If the farm is not surrounded by other organic farms, there will still be cross-contamination of chemicals like pesticides and herbicides. For truly clean matcha, the farm must be surrounded by other organic farms.

That’s exactly what Awaken Matcha offers. Without these specifics, your matcha can do you more harm than good.

Now let’s move on to the drinks that can help you feel hydrated and cool this summer.

3 Easy Recipes to Make Cooling Matcha Drinks

How to Make an Iced Matcha (The Simplest Ritual)

This classic drink is naturally refreshing and a great thirst-killer.

You’ll need:

• 1 gram of Awaken Matcha

• 60 ml hot water (max 80°C)

• Ice (a generous amount)

• Extra water to top off

  
  

How to make it:

1. Fill a tall glass with ice and water.

2. Whisk the matcha with hot water.

3. Pour the matcha over the ice.

4. Stir and enjoy.

   
   

How to Make an Iced Matcha Latte (Creamy & Cooling)

In the picture shown, I used real strawberries for a bit of a twist, making it a healthier, sugar-free option (instead of using syrup, for example). For an extra creamy option, I recommend cashew or coconut milk.

You’ll need:

• 2 grams of Awaken Matcha

• 40 ml hot water (max 80°C)

• 200 ml milk of choice (oat is my favorite)

• Ice

  
  

How to make it:

1. Fill your glass with ice and pour in the milk. Leave a few cm of space at the top.

2. Whisk your matcha with hot water.

3. Gently pour the matcha over the milk—it should swirl beautifully.

4. Mix and sip.

   
   

How to Make an Iced Ginger Matcha (Surprisingly Addictive)

This is a special one as I love ginger beer in general—this combo is amazing!

You’ll need:

• ½ gram of Awaken Matcha

• 40 ml hot water (max 80°C)

• Ginger beer or ginger tonic (Fever Tree works great)

• Ice

Optional: a splash of strawberry syrup at the base.

How to make it:

1. Add ice to your glass and pour in the ginger beer, leaving some space at the top.

2. Whisk the matcha with hot water.

3. Pour over your drink, stir, and enjoy.

4. If using syrup, add it before the ice for a layered effect.

   
   

Where to Find Matcha in Milan

If you prefer to go out for matcha instead of making it at home, I can suggest the following spots:

• The Seed (iced matcha latte, or iced matcha)

• Serra di quartiere (iced matcha latte, or iced matcha)

• MICA (iced matcha latte)

  
  

Where to Find Matcha in Vimercate

• Sottocasa has a lovely outdoor terrace, perfect for early mornings on Saturday and Sunday! (I’d recommend booking in advance.) They make a mean strawberry iced matcha latte, but their normal iced matcha or iced matcha lattes are also made to perfection.

  
  

Where to Find Matcha in Lombardy

• DAL COL in Bassano Del Grappa is perfect for a weekend trip, offering a huge selection of iced matcha drinks (they also have fantastic pastries!)

  
  

If you’d like to start making your matchas at home and make it a nourishing daily ritual, why not take a look at our subscription options on the website? We’re working on making your morning routines even more special by introducing different types of Japanese and handmade tools in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for more!

I hope this post brings you a little refreshment and a lot of inspiration this summer. I’ve just inspired myself, so I'm off to make an iced matcha latte (again).

Take care, stay cool, and until next time.

October 2025 will be an exciting period—I’m hosting ‘The Matcha Movement’ retreat, a 3-night retreat in the hills of Spain. This retreat is designed to help you unplug from the noise and come back to yourself.

With mindful movement, nourishing plant-based meals, daily journaling, and moments shared over Awaken Matcha, this experience is your invitation to rest, reflect, and realign. All in the company of like-minded women from around the world. All details are right here, and I hope to see you there!

Love, 

Saraya van Dreumel

Founder - Awaken

@awakenbysaraya

www.awakenbysvd.com

Proofread and edited by Ché Milani

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