I dedicate this note to KS (even though it is not Thursday), because he always posts about his delicious Starbucks green tea frap. Usually on Thursdays.
Usually what happens is KS posts about how delicious his green tea frap is, then I go to Starbucks to get one and end up getting snacks and treats and gums and mints and usually end up getting a drink that is not a green tea frap because I get distracted by shiney things. Then I get home and am like, Gee, I want a green tea frap.
So a while ago, I got a free sample for caramel MATCHAccino from Red Leaf Tea and it was delicious. I thought, why don’t I try a green tea MATCHAccino, then I can have it whenever I want. Because, you know, it is too complicated to get out all the things you need to make your own with just plain green matcha. There wasn’t that flavour on Red Leafs website. So I emailed Robert and he said they didn’t have it but he could certainly make some. So he did and posted it in the website. So yesterday it came! Hooray!
Not only is it in a releasable package, but it came with a scoop, yes a scoop. Whoop! The dry mix smells of strong, sweet and creamy green matcha. It smells very sweet, which is slightly concerning. I used 1 scoop, which I believe to be 1TBSP in 7oz of 2% milk, blendered it with 2 ice cubes. Now my blender isn’t the greatest. I kind of gets the ice chopped up, but not too small and still big enough that it gets stuck in the end of your straw and you can’t get any of the drink out.
It tasted almost spot on to the Starbucks green tea frap. It is strong but sweet matcha, smooth. There is less sweetness than what a Starbucks has, but I am ok with that. It wasn’t as smoothie like with the lack of crushed ice, but I don’t think I am going to get around that, unless I get out the snoopy snow cone maker and shave up some ice. I usually get a powder type taste with the Starbucks frap that I am not getting with this one. However, the MATCHAccino is giving me quite an aftertaste. But this may be due to the 2% milk. I usually drink skim, but didn’t have any in the fridge this morning. The Starbucks is a bit thicker and creamier.
So if I just do a basic comparison, Red Leaf advertises this to have 58 calories, 0g fat, 100% natural, no artificial sweeteners or colouring, no preservatives.
Starbucks for a tall has 320 calories, 12g fat, not sure about the other stuff.
The MATCHAccino is not as sweet, creamy or thick as a Starbucks, but I can also customize it better, and I like it less sweet.
So this doesn’t mean I am never going to Starbucks again (because I am sure I will need mints and gum and shiney things at some point) but I might be playing barista at home a bit more often.
People who liked this
Comments
Awesome! I wish I had a Snoopy snow cone machine. I have never had matcha at home. It seems like a lot of work. lol. I do get the Starbucks with 2% milk, fewer pumps of syrup, and no whipped cream. It isn’t Thursday but now I want one! Fortunately I have to walk past the shiny objects display to place my order so the need for frap stays intact because it is the last shiny object.
Wow, when you compare the nutritional values, it really makes this sound like an excellent alternative.
I found a Starbucks app. So I customized the Starbucks green tea frapp to make it more comparable. A tall, one pump syrup, no whip is 230 cal, 2.5g fat. Didn’t realize how much fat was in the whip.
I’m so glad I rarely go there. I can’t imagine how many calories people consume when they’re going there on a nearly daily basis.
I read an article about a woman who lost a bunch of weight by only eating at Starbucks. She ate there for all 3 meals of the day. Kind of like Jarrod with Subway. Not sure how she did it, or what she was eating because I can’t figure it out. Maybe it was just a marketing ploy.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it were. In the end, I guess it’s all about calories in and calories out. She must have not been eating much. I read an article that showed pictures of what 300-calorie, 450-calorie, etc meals look like, with a healthy option vs something from a restaurant. One of the breakfast examples showed 3/4 of a Starbucks muffin the same as a full plate of fruit, a homemade waffle, and yogurt on the side.
Now I want a green tea frap.
HI,
Just a quick correction. 58 calories is in one serving of MATCHAccino, but that’s not counting milk, since some may want to drink it with water. With milk I will be a bit more since milk has some calories as well and of cause it all depends what type of milk you use. We have made MATCHAccino not as sweet as Starbucks since it’s easier to add some sugar if you want more. It would be much harder to take some out :-)
HI,
Just a quick correction. 58 calories is in one serving of MATCHAccino, but that’s not counting milk, since some may want to drink it with water. With milk I will be a bit more since milk has some calories as well and of cause it all depends what type of milk you use. We have made MATCHAccino not as sweet as Starbucks since it’s easier to add some sugar if you want more. It would be much harder to take some out :-)
Thanks for that. I assume with milk it would be closer to 100 calories, which is still much better than Starbucks :)
Awesome! I wish I had a Snoopy snow cone machine. I have never had matcha at home. It seems like a lot of work. lol. I do get the Starbucks with 2% milk, fewer pumps of syrup, and no whipped cream. It isn’t Thursday but now I want one! Fortunately I have to walk past the shiny objects display to place my order so the need for frap stays intact because it is the last shiny object.
Wow, when you compare the nutritional values, it really makes this sound like an excellent alternative.
I found a Starbucks app. So I customized the Starbucks green tea frapp to make it more comparable. A tall, one pump syrup, no whip is 230 cal, 2.5g fat. Didn’t realize how much fat was in the whip.
I’m so glad I rarely go there. I can’t imagine how many calories people consume when they’re going there on a nearly daily basis.
I read an article about a woman who lost a bunch of weight by only eating at Starbucks. She ate there for all 3 meals of the day. Kind of like Jarrod with Subway. Not sure how she did it, or what she was eating because I can’t figure it out. Maybe it was just a marketing ploy.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it were. In the end, I guess it’s all about calories in and calories out. She must have not been eating much. I read an article that showed pictures of what 300-calorie, 450-calorie, etc meals look like, with a healthy option vs something from a restaurant. One of the breakfast examples showed 3/4 of a Starbucks muffin the same as a full plate of fruit, a homemade waffle, and yogurt on the side.
Now I want a green tea frap.
HI,
Just a quick correction. 58 calories is in one serving of MATCHAccino, but that’s not counting milk, since some may want to drink it with water. With milk I will be a bit more since milk has some calories as well and of cause it all depends what type of milk you use. We have made MATCHAccino not as sweet as Starbucks since it’s easier to add some sugar if you want more. It would be much harder to take some out :-)
HI,
Just a quick correction. 58 calories is in one serving of MATCHAccino, but that’s not counting milk, since some may want to drink it with water. With milk I will be a bit more since milk has some calories as well and of cause it all depends what type of milk you use. We have made MATCHAccino not as sweet as Starbucks since it’s easier to add some sugar if you want more. It would be much harder to take some out :-)
Thanks for that. I assume with milk it would be closer to 100 calories, which is still much better than Starbucks :)