This creamy DIY Matcha Green Tea Body Butter is packed full of green-tea goodness. The base is shea butter, which has a soft texture that’s perfect for whipping into a smooth texture. Then, Matcha Green Tea Butter is added. This new butter is a combination of sweet almond oil, vegetable oil, and matcha green tea powder. It gives the body butter a light green color and antioxidant properties.
For extra antioxidant power, a dash of green tea extract is whipped into the butter. Matcha Tea Latte Fragrance Oil gives the butter a creamy, green matcha scent. Once all the ingredients are mixed, arrowroot powder helps reduce the greasy feel of the butter. That being said, because this is made with only oils and butters, it does have a heavier, oilier feel than a lotion.
Because this butter does not contain any water, it does not require a preservative. If you’d like to be extra safe though, you can add an oil-soluble preservative like Optiphen at 1%. We recommend using a preservative if you’re storing the product in the shower, or someplace where it may come into contact with water.
What You Need:
Four 4 oz. Bail Jars
12 oz. Shea Butter
4 oz. Matcha Green Tea Butter
0.3 oz. Green Tea Extract
0.2 oz. Matcha Tea Latte Fragrance Oil
1 oz. Arrowroot Powder
0.1 oz. Optiphen (optional)
Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!
Find the supplies you need for this project below
ONE: Add the shea butter to a large mixing bowl. Using a hand blender or stand mixer, whip the butter on medium speed for 1-2 minutes until it’s fluffy and smooth. Periodically scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
TWO: Add the Matcha Green Tea Butter to the shea butter. Turn the mixer on medium and whip the two butters together until they’re completely smooth.
THREE: Add the Matcha Tea Latte Fragrance Oil (and the Optiphen if you’re using it) to the bowl. Turn the hand blender on low so the oil doesn’t splatter out of the bowl and then gradually increase the speed to medium. Whip for another minute, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula periodically, until the liquids are fully incorporated.
FOUR: Add the arrowroot powder. Using a spatula, hand stir the powder until it’s mostly mixed in. Then mix with the hand blender on low speed, gradually increasing the speed to medium. Blend for another 1-2 minutes to fully incorporate all the ingredients. Spoon the butter evenly into jars and enjoy!
- Four 4 oz. Bail Jars
- 12 oz. Shea Butter
- 4 oz. Matcha Green Tea Butter
- 0.3 oz. Green Tea Extract
- 0.2 oz. Matcha Tea Latte Fragrance Oil
- 1 oz. Arrowroot Powder
- 0.1 oz. Optiphen (optional)
- Add the shea butter to a large mixing bowl. Using a hand blender or stand mixer, whip the butter on medium speed for 1-2 minutes until it’s fluffy and smooth. Periodically scrape the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
- Add the Matcha Green Tea Butter to the shea butter. Turn the mixer on medium and whip the two butters together until they’re completely smooth.
- Add the Matcha Tea Latte Fragrance Oil (and the Optiphen if you’re using it) to the bowl. Turn the hand blender on low so the oil doesn’t splatter out of the bowl and then gradually increase the speed to medium. Whip for another minute, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula periodically, until the liquids are fully incorporated.
- Add the arrowroot powder. Using a spatula, hand stir the powder until it’s mostly mixed in. Then mix with the hand blender on low speed, gradually increasing the speed to medium. Blend for another 1-2 minutes to fully incorporate all the ingredients. Spoon the butter evenly into jars and enjoy!
Made this awhile back. Love it. Decided to make again but the matcha green tea latte fragrance oil is no longer available. Is there a substitute fragrance oil that you can recommend?
You can really use any fragrance oil you like the smell of! If you are wanting to keep it to a similar scent I would recommend the Green Tea & Cucumber Fragrance Oil.
https://www.brambleberry.com/Green-Tea-Cucumber-Fragrance-Oil-P5598.aspx
hello fellow soapmakers ! I couldn’t find any entry on the blog about using matcha tea in cold process soap. Has anyone tried this yet with good results? I appreciate your help !!
We haven’t tried Matcha Tea but I would assume you would follow the same sort of tutorial for this recipe here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/black-tea-cold-process-soap-tutorial/
thank you Chloe for your speedy reply.
I saw the tutorial and just went for it using the following recipe >>
lye 4.73oz
goat’s milk (frozen) 10.89oz
apricot kernel oil 4.95oz
castor oil 1.65oz
coconut oil 8.25oz
hemp seed oil 1.65oz
olive oil infused with rosemary leaves 8.25oz
palm oil (sustainably sourced, purchased from brambleberry) 8.25oz
matcha green tea 3 tsp
rosemary eo 2 tsp
jojoba beads large 2 tsp
sodium lactate 2 tsp
finished the soap a couple of minutes ago and is now in the freezer. Let’s see how it goes. Only thing I do not love right now is the color. Looks like bird poop XD oh well. It’ll be worth it if it feels good on the skin.
Thanks for sharing your test Ross!
I believe what you wrote made a great deal of sense.
However, consider this, what if you wrote a catchier post title?
I am not saying your information is not good, however what if you added a
post title that makes people want more? I mean DIY Matcha Green Tea Body Butter – Soap Queen is kinda boring.
You ought to glance at Yahoo’s home page and note how they create article titles to get people interested.
You might add a video or a related pic or two to grab readers interested about what you’ve got to say.
In my opinion, it would make your blog a little bit more interesting.
How do I prevent the butter from melting during transit from an online order? Is there any ingredient i need to add to butter while making it?
Nothing will prevent the butter from melting, but there are a few tricks you can use when shipping it. Those include shipping it with ice packs and scheduling a pick-up time so the balm isn’t sitting on a hot porch. Learn more here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/soaping-in-the-summer-heat/
Is your recipe above using refined or unrefined shea butter? If I do use unrefined, will it smell a little weird if i choose to hide the nutty smell by adding in fragrance/essential oils?
We use refined shea butter in this recipe: https://www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Butter-P3220.aspx
Unrefined shea butter can have a pretty strong scent. You can try adding fragrance or essential oil to see if that helps. I would recommend a small test batch to see what you think. If you’re not a fan, the shea butter from our website works well and doesn’t affect the scent of this recipe.
where can I get matcha butter ?
You can find it on our website.
Match Green Tea Butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Matcha-Green-Tea-Butter-P6755.aspx
I just tried this recipe but the finished product is grainy. Please advise on how this could’ve happened. I’m thinking maybe there’s some graininess in the shea butter or maybe the matcha butter but your recipe doesn’t say to heat either. Any ideas on how this can be fixed?
Shea butter is notorious for becoming grainy. It’s possible it was grainy prior to whipping. Shea butter contains a variety of fatty acids which melt and cool at different temperatures. When the butter melts and cools down too slowly, it can cause crystallization.
To fix this, remelt the butter completely over a double-boiler. Once the butter is completely melted, pour it into a container and place it in the freezer. A few hours in the freezer will do the trick, you want the butter to cool down quickly and turn solid. If you would like the butter to have a whipped consistency, allow it to return to room temperature and re-whip it.
Can you use Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) as a preservative in this recipe?
You can add vitamin E oil at 1% of the weight of the recipe to help extend the shelf life of the oils. However, it doesn’t protect against mold and bacteria. For that we’d recommend Phenonip or Optiphen at 1%.
Learn more about preservatives here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/talk-it-out-tuesday-preservatives/
Vitamin E Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/vitamin-e-oil-p3200.aspx
Phenonip: https://www.brambleberry.com/Phenonip-P4038.aspx
Optiphen: https://www.brambleberry.com/Optiphen-P3682.aspx
What is the shelf life for this product? I want to start selling body butters commercially, but afraid that they may spoil / grow mold overtime .
This product has a shelf life of about a year. It stores best in a cool, dry place like a cabinet or basement.
Learn more about product shelf lives here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/shelf-life-bath-products-ingredients-rancidity-vs-mold/
I’ve made a few test batches of body butter (mostly following your whipped champagne Shea butter recipe but switching Meadowfoam for grapeseed and a different fragrance). They’ve all turned rather stiff and crumbly overnight. Still nice when used but I’m not comfortable selling in this state. Any ideas? I’m wasting all my ingredients trying to figure this out! 🙁
Once the butter is whipped and allowed to sit overnight, it will stiffen to a mousse-like consistency. If you prefer a softer texture, you can increase the liquid oil. It also helps to put the butter into an airtight container to retain moisture.
Would this make a good facial moisturizer?
It depends on your skin type. It’s a fairly heavy and moisturizing butter, so if you have dry skin it may work well for you. If you have oily skin, it may be a bit too heavy. I would recommend making a small test batch to give it a try.
You may also want to reduce the fragrance, it can be strong right by your nose. Find out how much to add with our Fragrance Calculator: http://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx
what is the shelf life of this recipe?
This butter lasts about a year. It stores best in a cool, dry place.
Learn more about storing handmade products here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/
Awsome, what’s the pH on this formulation?
This butter doesn’t have a pH level – the shea butter and matcha green tea butter are essentially neutral, so they’re nice and gentle on the skin.
May be a stupid question, but is this body butter used after shower? Or to be rinsed off in shower?
Body butters are great for after the shower because they help moisturize the skin. I’m not sure how it would work as an in-shower moisturizer, but you can give it a try and see what you think.
What can i replace the arrowroot powder with? Kaolin clay?
Kaolin clay would be a good substitute. It’s slightly heavier, so I would recommend starting with about 1/2 ounce and seeing how you like the texture. Then keep adding the clay until you get a texture you like.
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
Would tapioca powder also work? If I replaced it, would I use the same amounts?
Yes, you can use Tapioca Powder instead of the Arrowroot Powder to help cut the grease in this body butter recipe. You can start by using it at the same amount.
Do you have any advice on coloring body butter? I’ve used mica before, and thought it was okay, but a friend who I gifted a body butter to said she noticed a slight shimmer on her skin when she was at work. She likes it, but I don’t always want my body butters to be shimmery. When I try to research the best colorant for body butters, I can’t find anything. Sometimes butters and lotions are mentioned as an afterthought, but not enough for me to trust it. Most of the time, it’s all about soap. I want to be sure that it will be safe, non staining, and will stay put in the formula, as I plan on giving them as gifts.
Micas are a good option for coloring butters because they’re lightweight and mix in well. However, if too much is used they will transfer to the skin. The key is to use a very small amount of mica – just enough to color the butter but not transfer. I would recommend starting out with 1/8th tsp. per pound. Keep adding and testing on your skin until you find that perfect balance.
Micas: https://www.brambleberry.com/Micas-C46.aspx
I love to try this project!!!
Can I use jojoba butter instead shea butter?
Thank you
We haven’t worked with jojoba butter a lot so I’m not entirely sure. I would recommend making a small test batch to see if you like the consistency with the substitution.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hello Kersley! Its a pleasure reading your blog as theres so much more knowledge to gain here. Thank you! Its helped me alot to get my basic data on soap making and other range of ingredients that are an amazing remedy towards skin health. Does bramble berry deliver their products to indiA?
Oh you’re welcome, glad you’re enjoying the blog Zainab. We do deliver to India, learn more in our international shipping policies: https://www.brambleberry.com/International-Shipping-Policies.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Is there a ‘cure’ time per se? In other words, how soon can it be sold once it’s made and placed in jars?
No cure time! The butter is ready to use and sell right away. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can Beeswax or Soywax be added to this to make it more stable for the hot summer months for fairs and shipping? And, how much?? Thank you.
You can give that a try to make the butter a bit firmer. Beeswax has a fairly high melting point so that would be a good one to try. I would recommend starting with 1 ounce and going from there.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Beeswax: https://www.brambleberry.com/Premium-White-Beeswax-P4211.aspx
Would you replace something with beeswax or just add an ounce?
The beeswax is in addition to the current recipe, it’s not replacing anything. You can melt it, whip into the butter, and test it to see what you think. If you want it more firm, you can add more from there.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I have matcha green tea powder but not the butter, how would I incorporate it in this recipe?
Do you have other butters on hand, like shea or avocado?
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
This sounds like a great project! Could I substitute essential oil for the fragrance oil? Or if I simply omit the fragrance oil, would that change the texture of the final product?
Absolutely, you can use an essential oil or leave this product unscented. It won’t affect the texture, just the way it smells. Our Fragrance Calculator tells you how much essential oil to add: https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx
Find our essential oils here: https://www.brambleberry.com/Essential-Oils-C157.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I don’t have green tea extract and arrowroot powder. What can I replace them with? Thnx
For the extract, you can leave it out or swap it with another extract. Avocado or aloe extract would feel really nice in this recipe. Learn more about those here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bramble-berry-news/sunday-night-spotligh-extracts/
The arrowroot powder helps absorb some of the greasy feeling from the butters. You can skip it if you like, or add tapioca flour. That can usually be found in your local grocery store or online.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I know the green tea butter is a trade secret but can you tell me if it’s palm free and what the sap value is ? Thank you
You can request more information by emailing MSDS(at)brambleberry(dot)com. Our customer service team can contact our vendor to see if they can find out more about this butter. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry