Green tea and red bean go together like peanut butter and jelly. Delicious on their own but even better when paired together.

The great depth of flavor in these matcha azuki cupcakes can be attributed to the slight bitterness of green tea and the sweetness of red bean.

Beans as part of a dessert?

It is used more often than you would think.

The azuki or adzuki red bean is quite popular and frequently used in Asian foods, especially in Chinese and Japanese cuisine.

Sweetened red bean paste is used as a filling in cakes, pastries, and baked bread buns. Azuki beans are also made into soups and teas. And its made into one of my all times favorites– red bean ice cream.

Baking with Matcha Powder:

Matcha is simply powdered green tea. This powder is simple to add into your favorite baked goods– cupcakes, pound cakes, breads and pastries.

See my post on Matcha Swirl Tea Cakes ; its a great way to introduce newbs to green tea powder.

There is a large selection of matcha powders available online. They can be quite pricey depending on the quality and grade of the powder. Taste and color also varies. I have some powders that are bright green and others that are dark forest green.

I suggest shopping around and visiting any nearby Asian markets (I find lots of great baking goodies at Mitsuwa and 99 Ranch Market). Try out different brands and find one that suits your liking.

These cupcakes make a great afternoon snack or a nice little pick me up anytime of the day. I love the frosting. I can eat it all by itself because it reminds me of red bean ice cream.