DIRTEA Matcha Frappé Recipe: Functional Mushroom Iced Matcha Latte
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The Unexpected History of Blended Ice Drinks
Matcha has been whisked in Japanese tea ceremonies for over 800 years. Frappés were invented by accident in 1957 when a Nescafé representative in Greece shook instant coffee with ice. This recipe brings them together with a modern twist that would surprise both traditions.
Using DIRTEA's Matcha Super Blend, you get ceremonial-grade Japanese matcha combined with Lion's Mane for cognitive support and Tremella Mushroom for skin hydration. The result tastes like the perfect summer drink whilst delivering 2,500mg of functional mushrooms that work on focus, energy, and overall wellness.
The ceremonial-grade matcha provides smooth, sustained energy without jitters. The functional mushrooms add cognitive and skin benefits that develop over time. Five minutes of blending creates something that tastes incredible whilst supporting focus and hydration.
What You Need
- 1 scoop (6g) DIRTEA Matcha Super Blend
- 50ml hot water (not boiling)
- 150ml milk of choice (oat milk works brilliantly)
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 1-2 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- Whipped cream for topping (optional)
DIRTEA Matcha Super Blend contains:
- Organic ceremonial-grade Japanese matcha
- Lion's Mane mushroom extract (1,250mg per serving)
- Tremella mushroom extract (1,250mg per serving)
- Organic moringa leaf powder
- MCT oil
- Organic coconut sugar
- Organic coconut milk powder
- Organic B vitamin complex
How to Make This Matcha Frappé
Step 1: Sort the matcha base
Put DIRTEA Matcha Super Blend in a small bowl and add hot water (around 80°C, not boiling). Whisk hard until completely smooth. This prevents clumps and activates the mushroom compounds properly.
Step 2: Blend everything
Chuck the matcha mixture, milk, ice, sweetener, and vanilla into your blender. Blast on high for 30-45 seconds until the ice is properly crushed and everything's smooth and frothy.
Step 3: Serve immediately
Pour into a tall glass, add whipped cream if you fancy it, and drink whilst it's perfectly chilled. The gorgeous green colour makes it look as good as it tastes.
Why This Works Better Than Regular Matcha Frappés
Regular matcha drinks rely on caffeine alone for energy, which inevitably leads to crashes. This version combines matcha's natural caffeine with L-theanine for calm focus, plus Lion's Mane that supports cognitive function long-term.
Tremella mushroom holds over 500 times its weight in water, providing hydration support for your skin whilst you drink. The molecules are smaller than hyaluronic acid, so they penetrate more effectively.
MCT oil provides clean energy for your brain without glucose spikes. The result? Sustained alertness that lasts hours without the typical afternoon crash.
Advanced Frappé Techniques That Make a Difference
After making dozens of these matcha frappés, certain techniques consistently produce better results:
Ice quality matters more than you'd think: Filtered water ice cubes prevent any chlorine taste that can clash with the delicate matcha flavour. For an ultra-creamy version, freeze coconut milk in ice cube trays. This creates richness without diluting the drink.
Temperature precision affects everything: The initial hot water should be exactly 80°C. Too hot and you'll destroy the delicate L-theanine compounds. Too cool and the matcha won't dissolve properly, leaving you with clumps.
Blending time creates texture: Thirty seconds produces a smooth drink. Forty-five seconds creates perfect frothiness. Beyond that, you start breaking down the texture and creating a watery consistency.
Milk choice changes the entire experience: Oat milk adds natural sweetness and creates the creamiest texture. Coconut milk provides richness that complements the matcha's earthiness. Almond milk keeps things light but can taste thin. Each creates a completely different flavour profile worth exploring.
Seasonal Variations That Work
This base recipe adapts brilliantly to different seasons and moods:
Summer Tropical Version: Replace regular milk with coconut milk and add a splash of pineapple juice. The tropical notes complement matcha's grassy flavour surprisingly well.
Autumn Spice Blend: Add a pinch of cinnamon and cardamom to the matcha base before blending. The warming spices create depth whilst maintaining the refreshing ice element.
Winter Comfort Adaptation: Use warm milk instead of cold, reduce the ice slightly, and add a touch of vanilla. This creates something between a frappé and a traditional matcha latte.
Spring Detox Focus: Include a handful of spinach and half a banana. The vegetables blend invisibly whilst adding nutrients, and the banana provides natural sweetness.
Understanding Matcha Quality and What It Means for Your Frappé
The difference between ceremonial-grade and culinary-grade matcha becomes obvious in cold drinks. Ceremonial-grade matcha, like what DIRTEA uses, has a naturally sweet, grassy flavour that works beautifully in frappés. Culinary-grade matcha tastes bitter and requires significant sweetening to become palatable.
DIRTEA's matcha comes from the Shizuoka region of Japan, where tea plants grow in ideal conditions. The leaves are shade-grown for weeks before harvest, which increases chlorophyll content and creates that vibrant green colour. After harvest, the leaves are steamed, dried, and stone-ground into the fine powder.
This traditional process preserves the L-theanine content that creates matcha's unique calm-alertness effect. When combined with Lion's Mane mushroom, you get both immediate cognitive benefits and long-term brain health support.
The Functional Mushroom Science Behind Your Drink
Ceremonial-Grade Matcha Powder
DIRTEA uses authentic Japanese ceremonial-grade matcha that dissolves properly in cold preparations—something cheaper alternatives often fail at. The L-theanine creates sustained alertness without the jittery energy that can make concentrating difficult. It's steady energy that enhances focus rather than overwhelming your system.
Lion's Mane Mushroom Extract (1,250mg per serving)
While you're enjoying the drink, Lion's Mane works on cognitive function in the background. The afternoon energy dip that usually hits around 3 PM becomes less of an issue when B vitamins contribute to normal functioning of the nervous system and normal psychological function, helping maintain mental clarity throughout the day.
Explore Lion's Mane cognitive benefits →
Tremella Mushroom Extract (1,250mg per serving)
Traditional Chinese medicine has used Tremella for skin health for centuries, long before anyone thought to add it to bubble tea. Biotin contributes to the maintenance of normal skin, working from within while you enjoy your drink. It's functional skincare that happens to taste good.
Learn about Tremella's beauty benefits →
B Vitamin Complex Support
This is where the functional benefits accumulate. Riboflavin contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism, while vitamin B6 contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. Pantothenic acid contributes to normal mental performance—turning your afternoon treat into something that supports sustained energy and brain function rather than just providing temporary satisfaction.
Tapioca Pearl Function
Beyond the textural interest, tapioca provides quick carbohydrates that work well with matcha's sustained energy release. The chewing action also triggers satiety signals, making this more satisfying than drinks that disappear quickly.
MCT Oil Integration
The MCT oil in DIRTEA's blend enhances absorption of the mushroom compounds while providing its own steady energy contribution. It works behind the scenes to make everything else more effective.
Troubleshooting Common Matcha Frappé Problems
Clumpy texture: This happens when the matcha isn't properly dissolved. Always whisk the matcha with hot water first, ensuring complete dissolution before adding cold ingredients.
Bitter taste: Usually indicates either low-quality matcha or water that's too hot. DIRTEA's ceremonial-grade matcha shouldn't taste bitter when prepared correctly.
Watery consistency: Over-blending or using too much ice creates this problem. Stick to 30-45 seconds of blending and use the recommended ice amount.
Separated layers: This occurs when the fats aren't properly emulsified. Make sure to blend thoroughly and drink immediately after preparation.
Upgrade Your Matcha Routine
Ready to make cafe-quality matcha frappés that do more than just taste good? DIRTEA Matcha Super Blend delivers ceremonial-grade quality with functional mushroom benefits that regular matcha simply can't match.
FAQs
Can I make this matcha frappé recipe without a blender?
You can whisk the matcha base, add it to ice and milk, then stir vigorously. A blender creates the perfect frothy texture for an iced matcha latte, but you'll still get a decent drink without one.
How quickly do functional mushroom benefits work in this iced matcha frappé?
Energy and focus effects from matcha are immediate. Lion's Mane mushroom benefits build over time - most people notice improved mental clarity within a week, with skin hydration benefits from Tremella developing over 2-4 weeks.
Is this matcha frappé recipe suitable for caffeine-sensitive people?
DIRTEA Matcha contains natural caffeine but less than coffee. L-theanine creates smoother energy delivery, but very sensitive people might want to drink this matcha frappé earlier in the day.
Can I prep this iced matcha latte recipe ingredients ahead?
The matcha base can be whisked and refrigerated for up to 24 hours. The frappé tastes best blended fresh, but you can pre-portion dry ingredients for quick assembly.
Will this matcha frappé break intermittent fasting?
The blend contains coconut sugar and MCT oil, so it's not fasting-friendly. For a fasting version, use pure matcha powder with just water and ice in your iced matcha latte.