Matcha Guide Vol.2

🍵✨ My Matcha Guide Vol.2 for 2023 is finally here! If you're a matcha lover like me, then you're in for a treat! Today, I want to share with you the best matcha places in London where you can find the most delightful and high-quality matcha lattes. Get ready to elevate your matcha experience to a whole new level! 🇬🇧💚

1. Cafe Kitsuné: Nestled in the heart of Knightsbridge, this matcha place comes with a Japanese accent. The matcha lattes are high quality, super foamy and the right level of intensity. I usually get my matcha with oat mylk but at Kitsuné I have mine with unsweetened soy . A cup of matcha latte is priced at the higher end so every sip counts :)

2. Omotesando Koffee: This coffee shop started out in Tokyo and is located near Tottenham Court Road. They do delicious matcha lattes, very smooth and velvety. The decor of the shop is aesthetically pleasing. You gonna love the minimalist Japanese style with the light wooden theme.

3. WA Café: This independent charming little Japanese cafe and patisserie is a matcha paradise in Covent Garden and Ealing. Their matcha latte is crafted to perfection, with a beautiful balance of earthy notes and creamy goodness.

4. Kuro Café: Kuro offers a serene space that draws inspiration from Japanese minimalism and is nestled among the charming and colourful houses of Notting Hill. Try the Genmaicha Matcha Latte which has more an intense taste and is a Japanese green tea consisting of popped brown rice. Definitely worth trying.

5. Raw Press Café: Located in Chelsea and specialised in matcha lattes. I really do like the vibrant green colour and rich flavour. The best thing, the friendly staff even asks you how strong you would like your matcha. There are different matcha lattes on the menu, you can add CBD, lavender and more. It's the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy a cup of matcha bliss after exploring the bustling streets of Southwest London.

6. Notes: That one might fly under the radar because it’s missing the Japanese touch but oh boy they know how to make a good matcha. If you crave for a simple tasty matcha at an affordable price that is a safe choice.

7. Hagen: A Danish hospitality which has several location across London. Their matcha latte is made using ceremonial-grade matcha, resulting in a smooth and velvety drink that will leave you craving for more.

There are many more good matcha places which I will pack into a next guide. For now however, my guide Vol. 1 and this one should keep you busy exploring new locations that will provide you with a delightful matcha experience. Let me know which on the list is your favourite!

Summer Salad Recipe

Looking for a refreshing summer salad? This healthy recipe is a perfect combination of fresh flavours and vibrant colors. Toss mixed greens and bitter radicchio, cucumber slices, juicy tomatoes and strawberries and add a ripe avocado. Drizzle tahini vinaigrette. Garnish with fresh herbs and pumpkin seeds. Packed with vitamins and minerals, this salad is delicious and satisfying. Enjoy it for lunch or as a side at a summer barbecue.

This summer salad recipe was shared in collaboration with Anatomē - The London Apothecary.

Salad

1/2 Radicchio

1 Chicory (Endive)

Red Oak Lettuce (or any other lettuce)

1 Cucumber

Handful of Cherry Tomatoes

Handful of Strawberries (local and seasonal if possible)

1 Avocado (optional)

Dressing

2-4 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

1 tbsp Tahini

Pepper

Pinch of Salt

Squeeze of Lemon

Toppings

Fresh herbs (used Basil and Parsley)

Pumpkin seeds

Stay cool, stay healthy, and enjoy the vibrant flavours and colours of summer!

Mindful eating

1. First things first, try and be mindful around when you eat. This means having nutritionally-balanced prepared food so you are likely to make the better choice for your body when you are a busy bee. You can find delicious, simple and nutritious recipes in my e-book that are balanced and healthy.

2. Be mindful of your body’s hunger signals. Do you really need to eat yet or are you just having a meal because you feel you should? If your schedule allows, it’s important to listen and respond to your body when it tells you too, this is also called intuitive eating. Intermittent fasting - leaving as much time as your body allows between meals - is good for you as it allows your digestive system a break, which is needed to build gut health. However, if you are feeling hungry, please do not ignore it. Nourish your body when it needs it, otherwise your energy and blood sugar levels will be disrupted, and you won’t find yourself eating more than you need to which is common when you are starved of nutrients.

3. Take a moment to consider the colours and variety on your plate before you start eating. Count how many different plant-foods you have, and how many different colours there are. You should aim for 5-10 different plant food varieties for each meal, from vegetables to fruits, legumes, grains, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices. It may seem like a basic activity but it will get you into the mindset of intuitively eating enough variety. A variety of plant based foods is effective in promoting a diverse ecosystem of beneficial bacteria to support both human gut microbiome and overall health.

4. Eat slower and chew more! Take a small mouthful. Consider all the textures, flavours and colours with each bite. Appreciate the food you have. Swallow and pause. Put your cutlery down. Perhaps even consider even swapping your fork for chopsticks? This will encourage you to eat slower and more mindfully, meaning you are likely to feel satisfied when you have eaten enough rather than too much food. Research* also shows that eating with chopsticks lowers the glycemic index of the food you consume, due to the nature of how you eat with them.

   Good to know;

   Your glycemic index indicates how fast your blood sugar levels rise, it is important to keep it as low as possible.

   *The impact of eating methods on eating rate and glycemic response in healthy adults - Physiol Behav 2014

5. Try not to distract yourself with anything e.g. screens and technology when eating. If you are distracted and not in the present, you are again likely not to be attuned to your bodily intelligence and as a result will eat beyond being satisfied. If you don’t have anything in front of you whilst you eat, you are likely to appreciate the food and the way it makes you feel.

   Being present with your food should help you relax and disassociate food from any intense emotions, which can be negative for your mental health. Stress has a direct link to your gut and so being present will help your digestion too.

   Find more in my e-book about conscious eating.

6. Last but not least, sometimes it might help to eat with others. Spending time with those we like being around naturally boosts our oxytocin levels and endorphins, both natural pain-relievers for our body. In fact, endorphins are opioids and are chemically related to morphine, produced by the brain and give you an opiate high. Likewise, when we eat something we enjoy, this triggers endorphins, along with the release of dopamine. More happy hormones equals reduced cortisol levels, and consequently better and a happy digestive health!