Introduction
Who doesn't need a little boost to get on with the day and get things done? Many turn to coffee for that spurt of energy, but there's a healthier, more nourishing, and less-stressing alternative: green tea powder, also known as matcha. And although we would all love to sit down, relax, and sip on some matcha tea for breakfast, a green tea granola bar is a better alternative for busy people on the go.
In this recipe, we will show you how to make matcha "green-boost" granola bars that are both vegan and gluten-free.
In less than 30 minutes, you can make a big batch of these energy bars for the whole week. The list of ingredients is short and accessible: only natural, plant-based, and healthy ingredients, without added refined-sugars or unnecessary fats.
To make wholesome and energetic snacks, we need proteins, lots of dietary fibres, some powerful - yet beneficial - stimulant, and something to glue it all together. We packed all of these properties into a portable treat. If you are into nutrition facts, keep reading to learn more. Or jump straight to the recipe below!
Matcha is the pillar ingredient in our green energy bar. We wrote an in-depth article on why caffeine from matcha is healthier than coffee's, which we encourage the curious and the coffee lovers to read.
In short, both matcha and coffee have caffeine, a source of excitement for our body, but also anxiety and nervousness. Unlike coffee, matcha contains a chemical called L-theanine that promotes a state of calm and mental alertness and offsets the harmful effects of caffeine. So while both coffee and matcha can boost our energy levels, too much coffee makes us nervous, whereas matcha puts us in a state of focused alertness — ideal for working and studying!
As a source of proteins, we used almonds and almond butter. You can use peanut butter if you prefer, or any other nut butter that you fancy. We like almonds because they are a rich source of vitamin E, unsaturated fats, and magnesium, and have a delicate taste.
For extra vitamins, fibres and precious antioxidants, we added a mix of pumpkin seeds, oats, and the superfood goji berries. Learn about the nourishing properties of goji berries here.
The bell rings and class is over. Now let's have some fun together and prepare some crunchy matcha tea granola bars!