Matcha Chia Pudding

This Matcha Chia Pudding is a fueling and filling, deliciously creamy mixture of chia seeds, coconut milk, maple syrup and matcha powder. This vegan and plant-based breakfast treat is jammed with healthy fats, omega-3s, fiber, and antioxidants. It’s a powerhouse breakfast that’s simple to make, with just six ingredients. Top with your favorite fruit, nuts, seeds or granola.

In August of 2019 I was lucky enough to get to travel to Japan with my family. While there, I fell in love with a beautifully breathtaking country with a rich history steeped in thousand year old traditions. Japan is filled with the kindest people, incredible views, and ancient temples and architecture. And let’s not forget about the delicious food. Udon, sushi, okonomiyaki (savory pancakes) are definitely at the top of my list for Japanese favorites, but anything matcha is by far the winner.

What is Matcha?

Matcha is a Japanese green tea made from finely ground dried tea leaves. The powder is vibrantly green and has a faintly bitter, herbal flavor to it. Matcha has ceremonial roots in Japan, but has since spread in popularity to much of the western world and is popping up in every coffee chain in America due to its touted health benefits.

Health Benefits of Matcha

Matcha has quite a few health benefits, like…

• High in antioxidants
• Energy booster
• Promotes heart health
• Helps reduce inflammation
• Naturally detoxifies your body

Helpful Matcha Tips

• Pick the right matcha for your use – There is a huge gap in the price and quality of matcha, based on who produces them and what they are used for.
  • “Ceremonial” matcha – highest quality (and most expensive) and in an authentic brand, the matcha will be truly silky smooth, herby, a very vibrant green, and slightly bitter. Use ceremonial matcha for drinking in the purest form (hot or iced tea).
  • “Culinary” matcha – lower end of quality (and cheaper) and will be more bitter and darker in color, but works well when you plan on blending it with other things (like milks, sugars, etc.). We use this for baking, smoothies, and sweet treats.
  • “Ceremonial barista” matcha -“in-between” quality of matcha that’s lower quality than ceremonial, but higher grade than culinary. We use these for lattes and lightly sweetened recipes, like this chia pudding.
  • We really love the brand Matcha Kari. They produce authentic and reputable Japanese matcha. Plus they have a huge selection of matcha varying in quality and price range to fit your needs and budget.

Full disclosure: this post was made possible thanks to a generous gift of two ceremonial grade matcha samples from Matcha Kari. I received these free samples and in returned created this recipe incorporating their matcha powder. However, I never recommend a brand that I don’t 100% stand behind; I’ve tried several “big brand” matcha powders and none have compared to the quality of the Matcha Kari samples I received.

• Freeze to keep it fresh – matcha unfortunately does not last forever. To prolong its life, freeze for up to two months after opening. We recommend buying small canisters, unless you use it every day, in order to keep it fresher longer.
• Get some matcha tools – we use a simple wire whisk to prepare our matcha for baking. However, if you intend to drink your matcha on a regular basis, you may want to invest in a small bamboo whisk and wire sifter. These are traditionally used in matcha tea ceremonies and do a better job of breaking up the clumps and creating a beautiful foam.
• It may not be your cup of tea – matcha has an herbal, almost grassy, flavor that can be an acquired taste. You can try adding a few drops of sweetener or blending with milk to make it more mild.

Ingredients for Matcha Chia Pudding

• Chia seeds – black or white chia seeds work in this recipe. They will plump up considerably as they absorb the milk.
• Matcha powder – We recommend ceremonial barista (middle tier) grade matcha powder in this recipe. For better quality powders, check that they are sourced from Japan and that the only ingredient is matcha (watch for ones with added sugars and preservatives).
• Milk – this recipe calls for both full fat coconut milk and almond milk to keep this chia pudding super creamy. Feel free to use all coconut milk, almond milk, or other milk of choice. The consistency and flavor may differ slightly.
• Maple syrup – we opted for a more natural sweetener in this recipe. Swap with date syrup or honey, if desired.
• Vanilla extract – a splash of vanilla extract lends a little sweetness to this chia pudding.
• Toppings (optional) – add your toppings of choice, like fresh fruit, dried coconut, chopped nuts, seeds, or cacao nibs.

How to Make Matcha Chia Pudding

Whisk together the almond milk and matcha powder until there are no more clumps of powder. Whisk in the coconut milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth. Mix in the chia seeds.

Cover the chia pudding with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours to thicken up. Divide the chia pudding among cups, topping with coconut, cacao nibs, and fresh fruit of choice, if desired.

Tips for Making Matcha Chia Pudding

• Sift and whisk – to reduce the number of matcha clumps in this recipe, you can lightly sift or whisk the powder into the milk. Bamboo whisks work really well, but a wire whisk will work fine too.
• Modify for the desired consistency – we prefer our chia puddings thicker and creamier, but if you like yours a little thinner, feel free to add a little extra milk to thin down the pudding. We recommend adding it after the pudding has set and mixing again before serving for the best results.
• Mix several times while it sets – while it isn’t necessary, we recommend stirring the chia pudding several times during the 2 hour setting time. First, after about 20 minutes, then again after 1 hour, and once more just before serving. This will help prevent clumping and clusters of hard, non-plump seeds.

Let us know what you think about this recipe for Matcha Chia Pudding by dropping a comment and/or rating below! Also, please share on Pinterest or social media if you enjoyed this recipe (we really appreciate it!)! 💕

Check out our other healthy breakfast recipes:

• Coconut Banana Chia Pudding
• Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
• Healthy Pumpkin Muffins
• Chocolate Banana Muffins
• Cranberry White Chocolate Quinoa Bowl
• Healthy Apple Cobbler Muffins