Green tea pancakes anyone?

Now I know what most of you are probably thinking "why in the world would I put tea in pancakes?!"  Well ladies and gentlemen, green tea pancakes are exceptionally good tasting and very good for you. If you’re looking to wake up with a little boost, here’s one way. It’s not the only way to cram antioxidants into your early-morning diet — a pile of cooked greens could fulfill — but it’s certainly a change of pace for that chore. They say that green tea also helps you focus, and it does contain caffeine, too, so this might be like getting your cup of coffee (or tea) in solid form, too.

We all know that green tea is a great source of antioxidants. But when drinking matcha, or eating it as a baked good, you actually ingest the whole tea leaves, instead of just water steeped in them. Therefore, you take in about three times the nutritional benefits of regular brewed green tea. This includes the amino acid L-theanine, which is known to reduce stress and depression, as well as antioxidants to combat free radicals in your system. Also, matcha has a delightfully grassy, slightly bitter flavor that pairs well with sweetness.  

Here's what you'll need to make these seriously strange-looking stack of pancakes.

**Matcha powder is powdered green tea and can be purchased at your local health food store, from most tea shops, or online. This is the same stuff that Starbucks Coffee Co. uses in their green tea frappuccino.  I get mine from Mighty Leaf Tea. Its pricey but well worth it since you'll only be using about 1Tsp if that each time you make it.

Green Tea Pancakes

(makes 4-6)

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 grams (about 1/2 tsp) matcha powder**
2 teaspoons sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk
butter for the pan

(or you can use a pre-made pancake mix, which is what I chose to do).

Directions:

Combine the flour, baking powder, and matcha in a bowl. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk the egg with the sugar and whisk in the milk. Slowly whisk in the dry ingredients and continue to mix until there are no lumps. (Combine matcha and pancake mix in a bowl).

Heat a griddle or fry pan over medium-high. Add a small amount of butter and spread it around the pan. Scoop a ladle of batter onto the pan and let cook on one side about 1-2 minutes, or until bubbles start to form. Flip and cook on opposite until golden-brown on both sides. Transfer to a serving plate and continue procedure with the rest of the batter.

Serving suggestion: add bananas, kiwi fruit, candied ginger, or yogurt on top of these.