This post and recipe is By Diana Weil, Matcha.com's Integrative Nutritionist and Food Relationship Specialist.

Yogurt is a phenomenal health food and, as it turns out, is surprisingly easy to make yourself. While it may sound like an overly ambitious task, making your own yogurt really own takes 2 simple ingredients and a bit of patience. We’re upping the ante here (and deliciousness) by adding some high-quality matcha and a touch of honey. Matcha takes what would be boring, plain yogurt, and turns it into something truly magical.

While there’s nothing wrong with store-bought yogurt, many brands add unnecessary ingredients (like gums and gelatin) and pack it full of added sugars. By making your own, you control precisely what you’re enjoying. Plus, the flavor of fresh yogurt is truly unbeatable.  

Matcha green tea yogurt combines two incredible foods into one health-packed dish. 

Matcha is full of antioxidants and vital nutrients. Yogurt is a wonderful source of protein and is also excellent for your microbiome. The microbiome has been getting a lot of attention recently, for good reason!

Our microbiome refers to the bacteria that live in our gut. Our microbiome aids digestion, boosts our immune system, and protects us from harmful bacteria. Fermented foods (such as yogurt and sauerkraut) promote microbiome diversity and strengthen the good bacteria in our gut.

What you’ll need:

Whole Fat Milk: If possible, opt for organic. Full-fat milk is a healthier alternative, generally speaking, but especially important for a creamy thick yogurt. 

Honey: Buying local honey can help combat allergies. So, buy local if you can find it! Remember that you can always sweeten to your preference. Feel free to skip the honey entirely or add in a bit more. You can also alternatively use maple syrup as a sweetener. 

Matcha: Always use high-quality matcha. The taste and nutritional benefits of high-quality matcha are unmatched. Your product should be bright green in color. It’s ok to use culinary grade matcha here. 

Whole Fat Yogurt: Not every yogurt will work. Look for a yogurt that contains live and active cultures. The yogurt cultures are what turn our milk into actual yogurt! The thickness and flavor of your yogurt will be determined by what blend of (good) bacteria are introduced.

Matcha Green Tea Honey Yogurt With Figs Recipe

Ingredients you will need:

1 tbsp sifted matcha

3 tbsp honey

1-quart milk

2 tbsp whole milk yogurt with live and active cultures

Add Optional Fig or another fruit of choice. 

Directions: 6 Simple Steps to Matcha Yogurt

1. Add milk to a heavy pot and bring to a bare simmer, just until bubbles form around the edges. About 180-220. Stir milk occasionally to prevent scorching.

2. While milk is heating, add matcha and honey to the milk. Whisk until combined.

3. Remove pot from heat and let cool for about 15 minutes. You can leave the mixture in your pot or transfer it to a glass or ceramic bowl.

4. Combine ½ cup warm milk mixture with yogurt in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth. Stir the yogurt-milk mix back into the remaining pot of warm milk.

5. Cover with a lid and let sit for 6-12 hours. Keep the pot warm by placing it on a heating pad or somewhere warm in your house, like on top of the fridge. Yogurt should become thick and tangy. The longer it sits, the thicker and tangier it will become. While your pot mix sets, find your fig or additional fruit to cut into thin slices. Set aside.

6. Transfer to a refrigerator-safe container along with your thin slices of fig or another fruit of choice or simply leave out additional fruit. Let chill for at least another 4 hours before enjoying. It will continue to thicken up here, so ideally give it a full 12 hours to set.

The bottom line: Enjoy!

The best part about making your own yogurt is that you get to flavor it to your preference! Want the matcha flavor a bit stronger? Add it in! Want more honey or a bit of lemon? You got it! There’s so much you can do once you have your base. So experiment and play to find YOUR favorite yogurt.

If these steps sound like way too much time and effort, you can always take plain yogurt and simply mix in some sifted matcha and a touch of honey. No judgment here.