Matcha pistachio bliss balls

These matcha pistachio bliss balls are made with pistachio nuts and matcha powder to give a  naturally gorgeous green coloured snack. They use only 6 ingredients are are ready in 5 minutes, with the matcha powder giving a nice energy boost.

Pistachio and matcha make a really gorgeous combination and I love these little snack bites so much. They are filled with healthy fats, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals are are one of my favourite adult-only things to have in the fridge.

What you’ll need for the matcha pistachio bliss balls

• Pistachio nuts. I like to buy pistachio nuts in the shell for the best freshness, texture and taste but you can also purchase them peeled in sealed bags. If you want to elevate this recipe, try using activated pistachio nuts. 
• Sunflower seeds. You can use whichever sunflower seeds you have, but I like to use activated like these ones here. 
• Shredded coconut– cook shredded or flaked coconut for this recipe over desiccated coconut. Shredded coconut adds moisture, sweetness and a gorgeous chew to these nutty
• Coconut oil– for a boost of healthy fats
• Medjool dates– you can use dried dates if you prefer but fresh dates work better for these pistachio matcha bliss balls.
• Matcha powder– choose etc best matcha powder you can afford. Matcha quality varies greatly so find one that is vibrant green and not a yellow or brown tinted green (which would make these bitter).

Why you want to add matcha into your diet

I am a huge fan of matcha and start my morning with it every day in the form of. bulletproof matcha latte. Matcha (or matcha powder) is finely ground green tea and is a traditional ceremonial tea from Japan and China, where its origins can be traced all way back to the Tang Dynasty between the 7th-10th centuries.  In more recent times Zen Master Sen-no-Rikyu was credited with popularising the Japanese Tea Ceremony, a ritual that imbues four basic principles of respect, harmony, purity and tranquility.

To read more about the Japanese Tea Ceremony I’ve linked it here for you.

So why should you add matcha into your daily diet?

First and foremost, for me, because quality matcha has a beautiful flavour and feel. Its energising without being as potent as coffee or black tea, it’s sweet, slightly bitter, grassy, fresh and clean tasting.

Theres more though. Matcha powder;

• is loaded with antioxidants, especially an array of catechins which have potent anti-cancer properties (with major studies done on EGCG)
• is energising while causing less of the jitters (compared to coffee)
• has a gorgeous flavour for adding to no bake treats, ice cream, desserts and cakes.
• contains a bunch of vitamins and minerals, making it a nutritive powder
• may help to promote healthy cholesterol levels
• contains polyphenols (another type of antioxidant) that has been shown to reduce risk of developing osteoporosis

Pretty cool, huh?

Honestly though- I drink it because I love it.

Choosing good quality matcha

Not all matcha is created equal! My first few experiences with matcha were memorable for all the wrong reasons and I’m a firm believer that is you don’t like matcha its because you have not had the good stuff.

How to get teh most out of you matcha

• Buy the best quality you can afford. Matcha will be sold as culinary (to be used in food) or ceremonial grade (for tea), but I prefer to use ceremonial garden matcha for all my raw food recipes and the taste is incomparable.
• Matcha should have a vibrant, sweet, slightly bitter and grassy flavour. It should be vibrant green and store in a bag or container that blocks sunlight.
• If your matcha powder is overly bitter, yellow-green or brown-green avoid buying this brand again.
• To keep matcha at its best store in the fridge once opened.
• Do not heat ceremonial grade matcha over 70 degrees C. Heat will a) destroy the potent antioxidants present and b) create an excess of bitterness.

Here are my favourite brands that I have used time and again;

• Bareblends matcha powder. Best affordable, organic Japanese matcha powder- not ceremonial grade but a beautiful flavour and gorgeous green colour.
• Zen Wonders– if you want to splash out on really premium matcha powder Zen Wonders have a wonderful selection of culinary and ceremonial matcha powders. They also sell tools for tea ceremony.
• The source bulk foods sell culinary matcha that has a. great colour and flavour, can be purchased per gram and without packaging.

If you’re after more healthy snack ideas recipes you might like to try;

• Carrot cake energy balls (date free)
• Fermented blueberry lemon bliss balls
• 5 ingredient vegan chocolate ice cream bars
• Plum crumble slice
• No bake cherry bounty bars
• Raspberry coconut bliss balls
• Raw vegan brownie with chocolate ganache

I hope you and your family enjoy these whole food matcha pistachio bliss balls as much we do. Your reviews and comments help other people find this recipe too, so please leave one if you have time. Plus, I just love reading your feedback.

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