Matcha Green Tea Energy Bites

You guys – I cannot tell you how long it took me to “crack” the code to a good energy ball! I wanted it to stick but not be sticky. I wanted it to be firm but still having a softish quality. Most of all, I wanted it to be delicious, satisfying and having the ultimate “yum” factor. And so I proudly present to you today these Matcha Green Tea Energy Bites.

These babies are everything I just described with an added bonus of needing a minimal amount of ingredients, very little prep, and keeping super well in an air-tight container in the fridge. I have been looking forward to having them as my mid-morning snack every day – a blissful, bite-delight 😍!

For once in a blue moon, I was also super intentional in planning this shoot. I wanted it to have a “greenish” vibe and I hope that has come across, even though there is a lot of white and beige tones in the shots as well. The vibrancy of the balls is definitely there, and I promise you this is also how they are looking at me from inside my fridge 😉.

Why are these Matcha Green Tea Energy Bites good for you?

Oats

If you have been here for a while, you know that oats are one of my easiest, relatively in-expensive go-to gluten-free alternatives (be sure to buy certified gluten-free if celiac)! They also hit a lot of awesomeness in terms of their nutritional value, along with being relatively taste-less, which is the reason why I enjoy and use them so much. Oats are high in both fiber and protein and are awesome for our digestive health. They allow our food to move through the digestive tract nicely, whilst at the same time slowing it down enough so that the nutrients in our food can be ideally absorbed. In addition, oat fibers can ferment and therefore become a fantastic feeding ground for your good-gut bacteria. A good intake of fiber has long been associated with cardiovascular health. Oats may also reduce inflammation in the blood vessels, which further supports our cardiovascular health.

Dates

Dates are grown on date palm trees in tropical regions. They are high in fiber, potassium, magnesium, copper, and manganese. As said above, fiber is super important for our digestive tract. Next to the general benefits pointed out above, it also avoids constipation and allows for easy elimination. Dates usually arrive dried in the Western world and, therefore, have a higher sugar content than fresh fruit. But, the high amount of fiber tends to avoid the spiking of blood sugar levels. In addition, dates are also high in antioxidants. These antioxidants decrease inflammation in the body, as well as supporting and promoting our heart health. In laboratory studies, Dates have been found to decrease inflammation markers in the brain, which is often-times associated with both Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Matcha

You may have not heard a great deal about this bright green powder before – but once you matcha – you will likely not go back 😉. Matcha is from Japan and a form of green tea, which has been finely ground. Other than regular green, black, or white tea, the tea plants for Matcha are covered about 30 days prior to harvest. This ensures that they are not receiving direct sunlight and also have to amp up their own chlorophyll production. The high chlorophyll amount is, ultimately, what provides Matcha with its vibrant green color. As the entire tea leaf is ground up, Matcha contains a much higher amount of both caffeine and antioxidants.

Matcha is a relatively new field of research and so whereas there appear to be loads of health benefits coming from it (such as protecting the liver, boosting brain function, and potentially preventing certain types of cancers), those will take some time to be fully proven. One thing I can say for sure though is: There is a big difference in the taste of Matcha. My travels through Japan have definitely highlighted and shown us that quality does make a difference. However, quality comes at a cost. So, you may want to give Matcha another chance should you have tried it in the past and found it was too bitter (I oftentimes find that the cheaper Matchas tend to have more of a bitter taste).

How can I adjust these Matcha Green Tea Energy Bites to my dietary requirements?

This recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan. Due to the grains used, it is, unfortunately not suitable for the paleo lifestyle. If you are allergic to nuts, you could swap in the cashews for sunflower seeds in order to make a nut-free version.

• 

• 

• 

And there you have it for this week 🤗! I hope you enjoyed this excursion in a slightly different recipe than what we usually have here and that you find these Matcha Green Tea Energy Bites and delightful as I do 🥰. These babes definitely pair well with a Golden Latte or a Homemade Hot Chocolate. As always, please let me know how you are liking the recipe, by leaving a comment, rating it, or chatting with me over on Instagram. Happy rolling everyone!