Baking with Matcha: Elegant French Matcha Financier Recipe
- Jeanette
- Jul 25
- 3 min read
Dear Tea Friends,
Welcome to another newsletter from Nagomi no Zen. We hope you are all doing well.
This month, we are delighted to share a recipe that has become one of our favourites: Matcha Financiers. We have baked them many times, and every batch reminds us how beautifully the rich umami of Japanese matcha can be transformed into an elegant little cake.
The recipe is inspired by the celebrated Japanese recipe developer and cookbook author Yōko Wakayama (若山曜子), whose creations beautifully combine traditional Japanese ingredients with classic French pâtisserie.
What Is a Financier?
A financier is a classic French almond cake, traditionally made with browned butter (beurre noisette), almond flour, and egg whites. The result is a pastry with a lightly crisp exterior and a wonderfully soft, moist centre.
In this recipe, premium Japanese matcha adds a vibrant green colour and a refined balance of gentle bitterness, natural sweetness, and lingering umami, creating a harmonious fusion of French baking and Japanese tea culture.
The Perfect Tea Pairing
For the most authentic experience, we recommend serving them alongside a cup of fine Japanese tea. Our new Sayama Sencha, with its deep sweetness, gentle umami, and refreshing finish, is a wonderful companion. Together they create a harmonious pairing that invites you to pause, breathe, and enjoy the quiet pleasure of the moment.
Whether it is a peaceful afternoon as the rain falls outside or a quiet break in the middle of a busy day, we hope these Matcha Financiers bring a little of Japan's timeless tea culture into your home.
May every cup and every bite be a moment of nagomi—a feeling of harmony, calm, and gentle joy.
Warmest wishes,
Nagomi no Zen
Jeanette
We hope you enjoy creating these Matcha Financiers as much as we have enjoyed baking them. May they bring a moment of Japanese-inspired calm and sweetness to your tea table.
Matcha Financier Recipe
Elegant French Almond Cakes with Japanese Matcha
These delicate financiers bring together the artistry of French pâtisserie and the refined character of Japanese matcha. With their golden buttery aroma, moist almond texture, and gentle umami finish, they are the perfect companion for a quiet tea moment.
INGREDIENTS (Makes 6 financiers (8 × 4 cm moulds)
45 g almond powder
15 g cake flour
6 g Japanese matcha powder
1/3 tsp baking powder
65 g butter (unsalted, cut into 3cm cubes)
60 g (2 eggs) egg whites
45 g sugar
2 tsp honey
PREPARATION
Bring the egg whites to room temperature before beginning.
METHOD
1. Prepare the brown butter
Put the butter in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When it turns light brown and becomes fragrant, remove from the heat and strain through a tea strainer.
2. Prepare the batter
Put the egg whites and sugar in a bowl and whisk with the bottom of the whisk to break up the egg whites. Sift in the dry ingredients and mix well. Add the warm butter mixture from step 1, honey, in that order, mixing well after each addition. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours (up to 1 day).
3. Bake the financiers
Preheat oven to 200°C. Pour batter into the mold, level it with a knife, and bake in the oven (reset to 170°C) for about 12 minutes.
*Alternatively, you can bake the batter in muffin cups or aluminum madeleine molds, filling them to a height of 1.5 cm.
