Tag: Drink – Iced

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Dalgona Matcha (Vegan)

Dalgona coffee has been trending over the last few weeks as people are looking for something to do. If you’ve ever looked up dalgona, it’s actually a Korean candy that resembles honeycomb toffee (yum!) – which has no part in the dalgona coffee recipes that I’ve come across at all. The work from home and required social distancing is reason enough to look for something to at home as people become better (or worse?) cooks and baristas at at home.

As someone who doesn’t drink coffee, I definitely scoffed at this idea of making a whipped coffee. That is, until I saw photos of a matcha version pop up on Instagram. But most people were sharing photos of it without a recipe (for shame!). So I challenged myself to make it at home with what I had on hand. It took a few attempts, but I finally got something that tasted good, looked mostly right – and I did it all with ingredients I had available – win! Because of the ingredients I used, this is vegan, you’re perfectly welcome to sub in non-vegan/vegetarian ingredients…

Just don’t use coconut milk. I tried that (and it was gross).

Dalgona Matcha – Serves 2

1 tbs matcha powder¹
2 tbs agave syrup
4 tbs aquafaba²
Soy milk³
Handheld milk frother or whisk

¹I used DavidsTea’s Grand Cru Matcha.

²Aquafaba is this fascinating stuff that is the water from cooking legumes (like chickpeas!). I got the aquafaba from this recipe from opening up a can of chickpeas, but you can cook your own and use the water from that.

³I use Silk’s Unsweetened Organic Soy Milk as my non-dairy milk of choice.

In a bowl (or measuring cup), froth the aquafaba until it is approximately tripled in volume and white.
Slowly mix in agave syrup, continue to froth.
With handheld frother off, sift in matcha. Stir it in with a spoon before turning on the milk frother again and fully incorporate the matcha.
Fill 2 glasses approximately ¾ full with your soy milk.
Top with frothed matcha foam.
Take a photo (or two) for the ‘gram & enjoy!

If you make this Dalgona Matcha, I’d love to see your photos! Be sure to tag me on Instagram (@onemoresteep #onemoresteep) or comment below with a link to the photo!

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Matcha Latte Bubble Tea

Less than a week since publishing my London Fog Bubble Tea recipe and here I am with another bubble tea! While matcha has a long history, it has enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years as it’s been deemed a superfood. Matcha provides you with caffeine without the crash and is the basis for this bubble tea recipe.

There are different grades of matcha and each one has their own use. A lower quality matcha is a great option for baking, while a higher quality matcha should be reserved for drinking straight. While price isn’t the only thing to consider, the quality is typically reflected in a higher price point (usually at least $1 per gram). The colour is brighter, the aroma is stronger, and it creates a brighter green cup of matcha. The first tip is to look for a matcha that only contains matcha – no sugar, no other additives of flavouring.

Matcha Latte Bubble Tea Recipe – Serves 2

Tea
2 cups water (79°C/175°F)
4 teaspoons of matcha
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Tapioca Pearls
½ cup black tapioca pearls
4 cups water

Simple Syrup
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water

½ cup milk (dairy or non-dairy alternative)
Ice cubes

Prepare Simple Syrup
Mix 1 cup brown sugar and 1 cup water together in a small pot.
Heat until the sugar is fully dissolved and allow Simple Syrup to simmer for 5-10 minutes.
Remove from heat and set aside.

Prepare Tapioca Pearls
Heat 4 cups of water in a small pot until boiling.
Add tapioca pearls.
Stir to prevent the pearls from sticking together.
Follow cooking time on the packaging – you’ll know that the pearls are cooked when they’re dark and translucent. Most black tapioca pearls need to be cooked for a minimum of 30 minutes, so check the package directions!
Strain out the pearls, and rinse under cool running water to wash off the extra starch.
Add pearls to Simple Syrup.
Set aside until ready to use.
Do not prepare tapioca pearls too far in advance, if left for more than 4-6 hours after cooking, they get very tough/chewy. Leaving the pearls to ‘swim’ in a Simple Syrup bath will help prevent them from sticking, and also make them sweeter.

Prepare Matcha
Sift the matcha powder into a bowl (do each portion separately if using a small bowl).
Whisk together matcha with warm water.
Add vanilla extract.
Set aside to cool.

Now to just put all the components together! In each tall glass, layer the following:

¼ cup cooked tapioca pearls in Simple Syrup
Ice, to fill glass
¼ cup milk
1 cup matcha (with added vanilla extract)
Serve with wide bubble tea or smoothie straw to make it easier to drink the bubble tea and to mix the layers together.

Excess Simple Syrup can be kept in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks in the fridge – don’t forget to label it with the date!

Tea Tip! Get all of your matcha mixed in one go by sifting the matcha into a measuring glass, and using a handheld milk frother to mix the matcha and water together.

If you make this Matcha Latte Bubble Tea, I’d love to see your photos! Be sure to tag me on Instagram (@onemoresteep #onemoresteep) or comment below with a link to the photo!

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London Fog Bubble Tea

Bubble tea, boba tea, pearl tea – whatever you call it, it’s (usually) a milk tea with tapioca pearls and an extra-wide straw. Bubble tea was invented in Taiwan in the 1980s. This popular drink is often seen with chewy dark tapioca pearls and a wide straw – perfect for getting all that delicious goodness at the bottom of the cup! If you’re shopping for tapioca pearls online or in store, you’ll see both black and white varieties – you’ll want the black ones for this drink. The white pearls cook up clear and are meant to be used in dessert, and aren’t as sweet as the black tapioca pearls.

Earl Grey is one of my favourite classic black tea blends – I just love the combination of black tea with bergamot. And I make it no secret that I adore a good London Fog (you can find my recipe for a London Fog with Lavender Simple Syrup here), so the idea of a London Fog Bubble Tea is just perfection in my summer-lovin’ eyes. And even though it’s getting to be really close to August, I’m pretty sure any day is a good day for bubble tea!

London Fog Bubble Tea Recipe – Serves 2

Tea
2 cups water (100°C/212°F)
3 teaspoons of loose Earl Grey tea or 4 Earl Grey tea bags
1 teaspoon dried lavender buds
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Tapioca Pearls
½ cup black tapioca pearls
4 cups water

Simple Syrup
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water

½ cup milk (dairy or non-dairy alternative)
Ice cubes

Prepare Simple Syrup
Mix 1 cup brown sugar and 1 cup water together in a small pot.
Heat until the sugar is fully dissolved and allow Simple Syrup to simmer for 5-10 minutes.
Remove from heat and set aside.

Prepare Tapioca Pearls
Heat 4 cups of water in a small pot until boiling.
Add tapioca pearls.
Stir to prevent the pearls from sticking together.
Follow cooking time on the packaging – you’ll know that the pearls are cooked when they’re dark and translucent. Most black tapioca pearls need to be cooked for a minimum of 30 minutes, so check the package directions!
Strain out the pearls, and rinse under cool running water to wash off the extra starch.
Add pearls to Simple Syrup.
Set aside until ready to use.
Do not prepare tapioca pearls too far in advance, if left for more than 4-6 hours after cooking, they get very tough/chewy. Leaving the pearls to ‘swim’ in a Simple Syrup bath will help prevent them from sticking, and also make them sweeter.

Prepare Tea
Steep Earl Grey and lavender buds in heated water for 3-5 minutes.
Remove tea leaves/tea bag – strain out lavender buds.
Add vanilla extract.
Set aside to cool.

Now to just put all the components together! In each tall glass, layer the following:

¼ cup cooked tapioca pearls in Simple Syrup
Ice, to fill glass
¼ cup milk
1 cup Earl Grey tea (infused with lavender buds and added vanilla extract)
Serve with wide bubble tea or smoothie straw to make it easier to drink the bubble tea and to mix the layers together.

Excess Simple Syrup can be kept in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks in the fridge – don’t forget to label it with the date!

Fun Fact! Like regular-sized straws, you can also find and purchase reusable bubble/boba tea straws! They come in silicone, stainless steel, and glass.

If you make this London Fog Bubble Tea, I’d love to see your photos! Be sure to tag me on Instagram (@onemoresteep #onemoresteep) or comment below with a link to the photo!