Matcha Shortbread Cookies
Matcha is an 800 year old, shade grown Japanese green tea. Made exclusively from the tips of the youngest tea plants. Ground into a fine vibrant-green powder. It is used for a delicious ingredient in recipes but is a delicious and extremely healthy drink. One of the highest natural antioxidant levels of any food on the planet!
Matcha Cookies
Subtly sweet shortbread cookie with a very pretty color!
- 1/2 lb unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons matcha powder
- 1 teaspoon Grand Marnier
- 1/2 teaspoon Oriental five Spices (blend of cinnamon, anise, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
In large bowl of an electric mixer, cream together softened butter and sugar until smooth. Add flour, matcha, 5-spice powder, salt and Grand Marnier. Blend on low until mixture just pulls together. Roll out thinly (1/8″ thick”) on parchment paper, place on sheet pan and chill for 20 minutes. With a sharp knife, cut into leaf shapes. (you may use a bay leaf about 2 1/4″ long as template)
Transfer shortbread to parchment lined or oiled sheet pan. Score a center vein into the ‘tea leaf’ very lightly. Bake at 300 degrees F until the cookies take on a dry powdery look. About 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
Makes 72 cookies. Recipe from Tea a Magazine Summer 2008
Interesting facts about Matcha
- 70x the antioxidants of orange juice
- 10x the nutrients of regular green tea
- 8x the beta carotene of spinach
Just to name a few of the benefits:
- Raises energy
- Helps antibiotic and anti-viral activity
- Calms nerves
- Improves mental alertness
- Helps boost metabolism
- Helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels
- Supports strong immunity and healthy tissue
- Helps stabilize healthy blood sugar levels
Matcha and accessories are available at www.annateashop.com
