Matcha Green Tea Chia Pudding

I love chia seeds, and I love matcha green tea powder too.  In an attempt to find a way to use my matcha powder, I realized it would go perfectly in chia seed pudding!  I have made a vanilla and chocolate version before, and a matcha version sounded like a great way to start my morning.

If you haven’t tried chia pudding before, it is a great way to get a hearty serving of chia seeds.  These little seeds are absolutely packed with all kinds of nutrients and benefits, and are the richest whole food source of Omega-3 (ALA) (as a vegetarian family, we love that!).  There are so many other nutritional benefits, from vitamins to minerals and helping with digestion.

This recipe is extremely easy – it only needs a few ingredients, doesn’t make a mess, and you can be creative with it.

Ingredients

1/3 cup chia seeds – (I use organic Salba Smart Chia Seeds, which are white)

2 cups milk (regular milk, coconut milk, almond milk – whatever you prefer)

1 teaspoon matcha powder

Optional: Vanilla extract

Optional: Sweetener of your choice – the amount will depend on what kind of milk and cocoa powder you use (sweetened or unsweetened).   I recommended sweetening to taste, which you can do even after your pudding is ready.

Optional: Fruit, nuts, shredded coconut, other toppings

Directions

I use a Mason jar to mix my ingredients and to store the pudding.  However, you can also mix your ingredients in a bowl. Whisk the milk and matcha powder, then combine all the ingredients (including your optional vanilla extract and sweetener if you choose to include them).  I didn’t measure out the vanilla or sweetener, so add it to taste – plus you can always add more afterwards once you taste test your pudding.

Be sure to mix the ingredients carefully, because I did notice spots where my chia seeds had soaked up the sweetener.

My favorite way to make this is in a Mason jar, because I like to shake the ingredients every 5 minutes or so in the beginning.  Otherwise you will notice the chia seeds clumping up in the bottom of the jar.

Allow to sit in the fridge overnight (or for the good portion of a day).  It only takes a few minutes to mix the ingredients, so you can make it right before bed and it will be ready in the morning.  If you can remember, mix at intervals every so often just to help break up some of the chunks that can form.

Once the chia seeds have thickened, mix again thoroughly, breaking up any chunks, as some of the chia generally becomes clumpy or sticks to the bottom of the jar.

I usually mix in fresh fruit with my chia pudding, such as bananas or berries, and sometimes also top with some shredded coconut.

You can get creative with your chocolate chia pudding, using other ingredients, such as different kinds of milk or sweeteners.

Serve, and enjoy!