Bulletproof Matcha Latte

RIVSTANG
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NIKO NEKO

@rivstang is an instagram that promotes the importance of physical and mental wellbeing by sharing her wellness journey through yoga, meditation and food. In early 2020, Rivs underwent a yoga teacher training course in India. As a graduate in Culinary Arts Management, her interest in food and nutrition plays an important role in her life and she shares not only delicious, healthy recipes but educates on the nutritional value of each ingredient.

“Wellness and healthy living is a personal journey, there’s neither timeline nor comparison.”

Rivs / @rivstang

Instagram: rivstang

INTERVIEW WITH @RIVSTANG

What motivates you to live a wellness-centered lifestyle?

I find happiness in giving back, helping people and sharing knowledge that could make a positive impact in other’s life. It wasn’t super easy for me to find fun and easy-to-digest wellness & lifestyle information that’s relatable in Malaysia when I first started my wellness journey. That’s one of the reasons that keeps me fueled to keep learning, take good care of my personal wellbeing and live a wellness-centered lifestyle, so that I could keep sharing and help people that needed help, as I understand how it feels. “The world doesn’t change by your words, it changes by your actions” I believe that if I’m not at my best, I can’t give my best.

What motivates you to live a wellness-centered lifestyle?

I find happiness in giving back, helping people and sharing knowledge that could make a positive impact in other people’s lives. It wasn’t super easy for me to find fun and easy-to-digest wellness & lifestyle information that’s relatable in Malaysia when I first started my wellness journey. That’s one of the reasons that keeps me fueled to keep learning, take good care of my personal wellbeing and live a wellness-centered lifestyle, so that I could keep sharing and help people that needed help, as I understand how it feels. “The world doesn’t change by your words, it changes by your actions”. I believe that if I’m not at my best, I can’t give my best.

You often share your home-yoga journey and about self-meditation on your IG. How does this change your lifestyle, state-of-mind or perspective in life?

Yoga is an important part of my wellness practice and lifestyle. I love how it works on balancing the mind and body at the same time. It has helped me to improve both my physical and mental health. I learned to be more self-aware and self-conscious in my daily life — that includes being more mindful in the words I speak towards others and myself, the food I eat, the things I consume emotionally, the way I make decisions and the mindset when I handle challenging situations. Practicing yoga asana and meditation definitely has helped me to be more grounded, grateful and self-content, which I think is one of the most beautiful parts of my wellness journey.

Any tips for viewers who are inspired and like to explore into a healthy lifestyle as you do?

I think it’s very important to first look into what works best for you. You can start by practicing awareness and being conscious about what you consume physically, mentally and emotionally. It could of course start with your personal diet, work with your food sensitivities and gut imbalances. It could also be finding out what type of physical movement that works better in your daily routines. Explore what makes you feel most connected to your highest-self. We are all bio-individuals, what works for others might not work for you. As you keep exploring and learning about your own body, listening to your physical and emotional needs, you will find what makes you feel and perform at your best. Wellness and healthy living is a personal journey, there’s neither timeline nor comparison. I hope you’ll cultivate compassion and happiness along your way.

How did you come up with your Bulletproof Matcha Latte recipe?

Few years ago, when I first started to change my diet for health purposes, taking coffee in the morning was pretty challenging for me as I was sensitive to caffeine and possibly mycotoxin in some coffee. But I still wanted to benefit from less stimulating caffeine for better mental and physical performance, therefore Matcha was the best option for me. By incorporating high quality, healthy fats into high-quality matcha, I find that not only it gives me a good boost of performance, but it also makes me feel calm and have stable lasting energy throughout the day, due to the potent combination of caffeine and L-theanine, that promotes calm alertness and reduces fatigue.

What do you like about working with KIKU / Matcha powder when creating your recipes?

I've been consistently taking matcha for about 3 years and bulletproof matcha latte is part of my daytime routine, you're probably very familiar with my signature foam-swirling movement of my latte if you've been following me on IG. I've tasted many different matchas before I came across Niko Neko's KIKU / Matcha powder. I knew how different it was when I first saw its gorgeous emerald green color, it was almost like love at first sight — I mean who doesn't like to see that first thing in the morning?

You often share your home-yoga journey and about self-meditation on your IG. How does this change your lifestyle, state-of-mind or perspective in life?

Yoga is an important part of my wellness practice and lifestyle. I love how it works on balancing the mind and body at the same time. It has helped me to improve both my physical and mental health. I learned to be more self-aware and self-conscious in my daily life — that includes being more mindful in the words I speak towards others and myself, the food I eat, the things I consume emotionally, the way I make decisions and the mindset when I handle challenging situations. Practicing yoga asana and meditation definitely has helped me to be more grounded, grateful and self-content, which I think is one of the most beautiful parts of my wellness journey.

Any tips for viewers who are inspired and like to explore into a healthy lifestyle as you do?

I think it’s very important to first look into what works best for you. You can start by practicing awareness and being conscious about what you consume physically, mentally and emotionally. It could of course start with your personal diet, work with your food sensitivities and gut imbalances. It could also be finding out what type of physical movement that works better in your daily routines. Explore what makes you feel most connected to your highest-self. We are all bio-individuals, what works for others might not work for you. As you keep exploring and learning about your own body, listening to your physical and emotional needs, you will find what makes you feel and perform at your best. Wellness and healthy living is a personal journey, there’s neither timeline nor comparison. I hope you’ll cultivate compassion and happiness along your way.

How did you come up with your Bulletproof Matcha Latte recipe?

Few years ago, when I first started to change my diet for health purposes, taking coffee in the morning was pretty challenging for me as I was sensitive to caffeine and possibly mycotoxin in some coffee. But I still wanted to benefit from less stimulating caffeine for better mental and physical performance, therefore Matcha was the best option for me. By incorporating high quality, healthy fats into high-quality matcha, I find that not only it gives me a good boost of performance, but it also makes me feel calm and have stable lasting energy throughout the day, due to the potent combination of caffeine and L-theanine, that promotes calm alertness and reduces fatigue.

What do you like about working with KIKU / Matcha powder when creating your recipes?

I've been consistently taking matcha for about 3 years and bulletproof matcha latte is part of my daytime routine, you're probably very familiar with my signature foam-swirling movement of my latte if you've been following me on IG. I've tasted many different matchas before I came across Niko Neko's KIKU / Matcha powder. I knew how different it is when I first saw its gorgeous emerald green color, it was almost like love at first sight, I mean who doesn't like to see that first thing in the morning?

RECIPE

Bulletproof Matcha Latte

by @rivstang

Ingredients

190 ml Unsweetened almond milk (you can use homemade almond milk from my panna cotta recipe)
40 ml Water
2 tsp Grassfed ghee (or butter 1tbsp)
2-3 tsp Mct oil
2 tsp Extra virgin coconut oil
1/2 tsp Spirulina powder
1 tsp KIKU / Matcha powder
1 scoop Grassfed collagen peptides (unflavoured) (optional)

*substitute ghee/butter with cocoa butter for vegan option or simply remove it.

Method To Assemble

In a milk jar, heat up almond milk and water to around 65 - 70°C.
Pour warmed almond milk mixture and blend all ingredients in a blender for 30 sec or till smooth and frothy.
Serve immediately.