Randy Chandler
Matcha is a type of finely ground green tea made from specially grown and processed tea leaves. It has a unique flavour and is rich in antioxidants and chlorophyll. Beyond its health benefits, matcha delivers a distinctive taste that is green, grassy, and earthy, with a naturally sweet or savoury finish. Its flavour profile helps it pair well with a variety of foods, including cheese. While it may seem like an uncommon combination, matcha and cheese can be a truly pleasant pairing, with the nuttiness of Alpine cheeses balancing perfectly with matcha's flavour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese type | Cream cheese, mascarpone, cheddar, comte, burrata, mountain cheese, goat cheese |
| Flavour | Creamy, nutty, grassy, earthy |
| Texture | Creamy, smooth |
| Taste | Sweet, salty |
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What You'll Learn
Matcha and cheese ice cream
Matcha and cheese is a rare but surprisingly delightful combination. The grassy, nutty, and earthy notes in both matcha and cheese create a harmonious pairing. The creamy texture of cheese blunts matcha's bitterness and enhances its subtle sweetness. This unique duo can be enjoyed in various forms, from savoury dishes to sweet treats, and even in ice cream!
Creating matcha and cheese ice cream at home is a fun and indulgent way to explore this unexpected pairing. Here is a step-by-step guide to crafting your own matcha and cheese ice cream:
Ingredients:
- Heavy cream
- Matcha powder
- Mascarpone cheese
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Mint extract
- Mini chocolate chips (optional)
Method:
Begin by whipping the heavy cream until it forms stiff peaks. This step is crucial for incorporating air into the mixture, resulting in a light and fluffy texture. Next, add two tablespoons of matcha powder, ensuring full incorporation without any lumps. The matcha powder lends its vibrant green colour and distinctive flavour to the ice cream base.
Fold in eight ounces of mascarpone cheese, a creamy and rich ingredient that complements the grassy notes of matcha. The mascarpone also adds a tangy twist to the ice cream, creating a delightful contrast of flavours. Then, pour in 14 ounces of sweetened condensed milk, which not only sweetens the mixture but also contributes to the creamy texture.
For a refreshing twist, add a teaspoon of mint extract. This ingredient is optional but can provide a cool, refreshing flavour that pairs well with the matcha and cheese. Finally, if desired, fold in one and a half cups of mini chocolate chips. These tiny morsels of chocolate add a crunchy texture and a hint of sweetness to the ice cream.
After combining all the ingredients, transfer the mixture to a suitable container and freeze it for at least four hours or until it reaches the desired consistency. This waiting period is essential to allow the ice cream to firm up and develop its creamy texture.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve your homemade matcha and cheese ice cream in bowls or cones, garnished with additional mini chocolate chips or a drizzle of melted chocolate. For a more indulgent treat, top it with a sprinkle of matcha powder or a dollop of whipped cream. Enjoy the unique combination of flavours and textures that your creation offers!
Feel free to experiment with different types of cheese and additional ingredients to create your own signature matcha and cheese ice cream. This unusual pairing showcases the versatility of matcha and cheese, providing a delightful sensory experience that challenges traditional flavour combinations.
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Matcha cream cheese foam tea
Matcha is a type of finely ground green tea made from specially grown and processed tea leaves. It has a strong, grassy, earthy, and umami flavour. Its unique combination of caffeine and l-theanine provides a calm, focused energy without the jitters of coffee. Matcha's versatility means it can be drunk plain or sweetened, and it can pivot easily from beverage to food.
Cheese foam tea is a popular drink that combines smooth, salty cream cheese with iced green tea. To make a matcha version, you will need the following ingredients:
- Cream cheese
- Sweetener
- Matcha powder
- Sea salt
- Half-and-half (a blend of half heavy cream and half milk)
- Heavy cream
- Oolong, jasmine, or black tea leaves
First, add sweetener and cream cheese to a medium mixing bowl and beat on high until smooth and creamy. Next, add matcha powder, sea salt, half-and-half, and heavy whipping cream to the mixing bowl and beat until thick and frothy but still slightly runny. Put the tea leaves in a teapot and pour in boiling water. Let steep for 3-5 minutes, depending on how strong you like your tea. Finally, spoon the matcha cream cheese foam on top of the tea.
Matcha's grassy, earthy, and umami notes pair well with the creaminess of cheese. This combination brings out the sweetness of the milk in the cheese. While the above recipe uses cream cheese, other cheeses that pair well with matcha include mascarpone, Sierra Nevada Soft Cream Cheese, and Montchevre Natural Goat Cheese.
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Earthy notes in cheese and matcha
Matcha is a type of finely ground green tea made from specially grown and processed tea leaves. The flavour is green, grassy, and earthy, with a naturally sweet or savoury finish. The grassy, earthy notes in both cheese and matcha live in perfect harmony. Matcha’s taste is so versatile that there’s no wrong way to enjoy it. It can be drunk plain or sweetened, and the finely milled leaves pivot easily from beverage to food.
Cheese and matcha are a pairing that’s sure to enhance your day. The nuttiness of Alpine cheeses balances perfectly with matcha’s flavour, making it an ideal pairing for a light meal or snack. For instance, when nutty Comte cheese is paired with hot hojicha, the cheese naturally melts on your tongue and leaves a delicious milkiness in your mouth. The earthiness of wheels from grazing cows, sheep, and goats also complements similar notes in matcha.
Matcha acts as a replacement for the herbs in a burrata herb salad, making this a very complementary combo. The matcha's umami flavor and the cheese's creaminess are a perfect harmony that further brings out the sweetness of the milk in the cheese. Smooth salty cream cheese and iced green tea also work perfectly together. You can make a cream cheese foam matcha tea by whipping cream cheese, vanilla extract, icing sugar, and a pinch of salt until the mixture is super creamy and then pouring it over your matcha latte.
For the ultimate ease, take your favourite cheese-tinged store brand and simply stir a teaspoon or two of matcha powder into your bowl. If you’re feeling more ambitious, it’s easy to make your own mint chocolate matcha ice cream, even without churning—sweet, rich mascarpone is the magic ingredient. For a lighter take on a New York City classic, try a matcha-infused cheese with smoked salmon on a tartine (the fancy French term for an open-faced sandwich).
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Alpine cheeses and matcha lattes
Matcha is a type of finely ground green tea made from specially grown and processed tea leaves. It is made from the entire tea leaf, which is ground into a fine powder, meaning that matcha powder uses the whole tea leaf. This gives it a higher antioxidant and chlorophyll content, enhancing both its taste and health benefits.
Matcha has a unique flavour profile, with a smooth and grassy taste, vegetal tang, and a deep umami aftertaste. This makes it a versatile ingredient that complements many flavours. Its earthy notes are complemented by the creaminess of cheese, with the rich cream blunting matcha's edges.
Alpine cheeses, such as Gruyère, Appenzeller, and Challerhocker, are particularly well-suited for pairing with matcha lattes. The smooth, nutty textures of these cheeses complement the earthy, grassy finish of matcha. The nuttiness of the Alpine cheeses balances perfectly with matcha's flavour, creating a unique and indulgent experience that is both refreshing and satisfying.
For those who enjoy a sweet matcha latte, the slight bitterness of matcha powder can complement the sweetness of cream cheese. A matcha cream cheese latte can be made by mixing matcha powder, sugar, and water, and then adding ice, milk, and creamy cheese foam. This combination creates a harmonious interplay of flavours that enhances the tasting experience.
The versatility of matcha extends beyond its beverage form, as it can be incorporated into savoury dishes and baked goods. Chefs experiment with matcha in pastas, while bakers utilise its vibrant colour and distinct flavour in desserts like blondies, doughnuts, chocolate truffles, and macarons. The grassy, earthy notes in both cheese and matcha can live in perfect harmony, making it a delightful culinary adventure to explore.
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Matcha-infused cheese
Matcha and cheese is an uncommon yet delightful pairing. The earthy, nutty, and grassy notes in matcha complement the creaminess and richness of cheese. The unique combination of caffeine and L-theanine in matcha provides a calm, focused energy, making it a healthier alternative to coffee.
Another option is to create a matcha cream cheese foam to pair with a matcha latte. This combination has gained popularity in cheese tea shops, offering a salty and creamy contrast to the matcha. To make the cream cheese foam, simply mix cream cheese, whipping cream, vanilla extract, icing sugar, and a pinch of salt until smooth and creamy. Prepare your matcha latte by blending matcha powder, hot water, ice cubes, milk or water, and sweetener of choice. Finally, pour the matcha latte into a glass, top it with the cream cheese foam, and enjoy the two layers separately or mixed together.
For those who prefer a simpler approach, a teaspoon or two of matcha powder can be stirred into a bowl of your favourite cheese-tinged brand. Selecta Quezo Real, flecked with cheddar pieces, is a recommended choice for this method. Alternatively, you can experiment with different types of cheese and matcha pairings, such as Tillamook Medium Cheddar with matcha ice cream or BelGioioso Mascarpone with matcha ice cream.
The versatility of matcha allows it to be incorporated into a variety of dishes, from savoury to sweet. Its distinctive flavour and health benefits have contributed to its surge in popularity, making it a trendy ingredient in cafes, kitchens, and wellness routines worldwide. Whether you choose to create intricate pairings or keep it simple, matcha-infused cheese offers a unique and indulgent tasting experience.
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Frequently asked questions
Matcha has a grassy, earthy, and nutty flavour profile, which pairs well with creamy, rich cheeses. Some specific recommendations include:
- Comte cheese with hot hojicha
- Cream cheese foam with iced matcha green tea
- BelGioioso Mascarpone with matcha ice cream
- Tillamook Medium Cheddar with matcha ice cream
- Montchevre Natural Goat Cheese with matcha tartine
The grassy, earthy notes in both cheese and matcha live in perfect harmony. The nutty notes in matcha can also balance well with the creaminess of the cheese, bringing out the sweetness of the milk in the cheese.
Matcha is a versatile ingredient that can be paired with a variety of foods. Some recommendations include:
- Avocado
- Mushrooms
- Sushi or onigiri (rice balls)
- Miso soup
- Chocolate
- Mochi
- Rice crackers
- Wagashi (Japanese confectionery sweets)
