The pre-holiday season can be challenging. Task lists get longer, responsibilities pile up, not to mention the ever-present rush. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Try to find a moment just for yourself to slow down and take care of your inner harmony. Drinking a cup of matcha, which contains L-theanine, may help with this. It is an amino acid that stimulates the emission of alpha waves in the brain, which affect our mood and induce feelings of relaxation and calmness without causing drowsiness. L-theanine helps induce a state of alert relaxation similar to the one achieved through meditation. 

While staying in the December, circa-Christmas mood, we have prepared a recipe for a drink that calms you down and puts you in the mood for a magical winter wonderland. Matcha with homemade cranberry sauce combines the mild bitterness of Japanese green tea with the sweetness and slightly sour character of cranberries. Even the preparation of this drink can be a pleasant interlude during a busy day. Make matcha with cranberries for yourself and for someone who needs a break. Or perhaps you can prepare it together and take care of your quality time together in the process.

Instructions:

Cranberry sauce

In a saucepan or deep frying-pan, combine cranberries, sugar, orange juice and cinnamon. Cook over medium heat, gradually adding water, until the fruit softens and is easy to mash. Rub the whole thing through a strainer to get rid of the skins. Set the sauce aside.

Matcha

In a small bowl, thoroughly mix matcha with lukewarm water using a bamboo chasen broom or milk foamer until smooth.

Pour 3 tablespoons of the prepared cranberry sauce into the milk, heat and froth.

Combine the prepared matcha with the cranberry milk.

Alternative version

If you prefer a more prominent cranberry flavor, do not mix it with the milk. Pour the sauce into the bottom of the cup, add matcha and pour the whole thing over the foamed milk.

Itadakimasu! Enjoy!