Sweet Superfood Heaven: Vegan Green Tea Ice Cream with Rose & Cacao Nibs

Satisfying your sweet tooth can be challenging, especially when your body is telling you to devour a decadent dessert, while your head is guiding you to take a healthier, less indulgent path.  So, how do you maintain your healthy course, while rewarding yourself at the same time?  Incorporate an antioxidant packed superfood into your dessert, of course!

Matcha, pronounced (MAHt-cha) is a finely-milled, powdered Japanese green tea made from shade grown tea leaves.  Great care is taken to produce the premium, high-quality tea, which starts several weeks prior to harvest in the spring. Farmers cover the plants with bamboo mats or tarp to gradually reduce sun exposure, which slows down growth, causing the production of amino acids that make the tea sweeter. This also increases the chlorophyll content, turning the leaves dark green, which gives matcha its distinct, vibrant green hue.   Once harvested, only the finest tea buds are handpicked and the leaves are sorted for grade, air-dried, de-stemmed and deveined to produce tencha, the precursor to matcha. The tencha is then stone ground to produce the fine bright green powder, known as matcha. 

Matcha Green Tea has profound health benefits and contains considerably higher levels of antioxidants than those found in spinach and blueberries.   Elevating its superfood status, matcha also contains Vitamins A and C, protein, fiber, potassium, carbohydrates, caffeine, and EGCg (epicgallocatchin gallate), which researchers have identified as having potent cancer-fighting properties. 

Why Matcha Green Tea is Good For You:

• Regulates healthy blood sugar levels
• Diminishes symptoms of PMS
• Helps maintain a healthy immune system
• Rich in antioxidants
• Detoxifies and can be used as a weight loss aid
• Naturally boosts energy for up to 8 hours without the negative side effects of other energy enhancers
• Reduces stress and enhances mood by inducing a state of relaxation and calm
• Improves memory 

Now for the fun and delicious part where we combine nutrient rich matcha green tea with other healthy ingredients to produce a cool, creamy treat. 

GREEN TEA ICE CREAM WITH COCONUT, ROSE & CACAO NIBS

Ingredients:

• 2 frozen bananas
• 2 teaspoons matcha green tea powder, cooking grade
• 1/2 cup spinach
• 4 tbs unsweetened almond milk, chilled
• ¼ cup medjool dates, pitted
• organic dried rose petal
• organic unsweetened coconut flakes
• organic cacao nibs
• optional: for those who prefer a sweeter taste, add honey (or maple syrup for vegans) to taste

Directions:

Combine the matcha, spinach, almond milk and dates in a blender, and mix until fully blended.  Add the bananas and blend until it forms a creamy texture.  Serve immediately or freeze until it reaches an ice cream like consistency, if the blending process warmed the mixture.  When ready to serve, sprinkle with the rose, cacao nibs and coconut flakes, or transfer to a container and freeze.

This recipe is perfect to add to your occasional dessert menu, or for a dinner party where guests can choose from different healthy toppings like mango, raspberries, dark chocolate and pineapple.