Green Tea & Oatmeal Cookies

by Kris Pitcher

Oh boy! When I saw this recipe I couldn't wait to try it. It blends my fascination with Japanese arts & culture (I don't know where I get this but hope to explore it in my lifetime) and cookies! Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees and let's get cooking.

Green Tea & Oatmeal Cookies:

• 1/2 T Maeda-en green tea powder - culinary quality    matcha green tea powder mix 
• 1 C all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 stick (1/2 C) butter at room temperature
• 1/2 C sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 C old fashioned oats

Beat together butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and mix well. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda and green tea powder. Combine wet and dry ingredients, mixing together. Stir in oats. Place rounded tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

You can order matcha green tea powder on line (check the link above), or visit your local Asian market if you're lucky enough to have one!


Tea can be divided into three broad categories: unfermented, semi-fermented and fermented drinks. White, green, blue-green, black roasted and smoked teas come from the same plant; it is the processing of the leaves that makes the difference. Japanese green tea is the unfermented type. To stop the fermentation of tea leaves, we use "steaming". Although there are many different types of Japanese green tea, the kind most often made and used by people in Japan is the steamed type of "sencha" and "fukamushicha". Aromatic teas such as bancha and hojicha are very popular as well. (ibukimagazine.com)