I am a green tea LOVER! I used to drink coffee but when I hit my 30’s I could no longer handle the caffeine effects. I LOVE the taste and smell of coffee, but once you switch to tea, the feeling is so different. I am very fussy about my green tea. One of my big pet peeves and rants, is when an “upscale” restaurant serves cheap tea. There is such a big difference between the tea leftovers that they use in the paper tea bag and real whole tea leaves.
But this post is about Matcha!! With matcha you aren’t seeping tea leaves you are actually drinking the young whole leaves in powdered form. Traditionally it is made by mixing about a teaspoon of matcha powder with a third cup of hot water (heated to less than a boil), which is then whisked with a bamboo brush until it froths.
There are a variety of matcha grades. Simplified there is culinary matcha ( used in recipes) and ceremonial grades ( used to make tea with just water). Matcha does have caffeine and it gives me SO much energy all day without a stomach ache or jitters. it helps me be more focused, doesn’t interfere with my sleep ( I drink it before 4 pm) Think of it like ground green tea ( which is high in antioxidants) but with 120 times more anti-oxidants!!
Matcha provides you with the same burst of energy as coffee, but it contains L-theanine ( an amino acid) which provided a calm/mellow energy. Matcha is considered a superfood, which means it is packed with awesome health benefits. As I said not all matcha is the same; the type with the highest concentration of nutrients is ceremonial grade from Japan. It’s bursting with Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin C and Selenium to form an absolute anti-aging powerhouse. When drinking matcha at a restaurant, ask if they are using ceremonial grade. The culinary grade will work in a match latte but not in a plain tea. If you are ordering a matcha latte be sure they aren’t using a mix that comes with sugar and other additives!
Here are some great health benefits of drinking matcha:
1. ANTIOXIDANTS AND CANCER FIGHTING PROPERTIES
EGCG and other green tea antioxidants have been found to stop cancer cells from growing, kill cancer cells altogether, and prevent the formation and growth of new blood vessels in tumors. Specifically, green tea polyphenols known as catechins are believed to be responsible for many of the health benefits of green tea.
2. BURNS FAT AND BOOSTS METABOLISM
Matcha tea is practically calorie-free, and it works to both boost your metabolism and improve your efficiency for burning fat. Best of all, matcha won’t tax your body, as it doesn’t raise your blood pressure or heart rate in the same way that coffee does. A study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that matcha helped your body increase thermogenesis (its natural rate of calorie burning) from 10 percent of daily calories to up to 43 percent.
3. CALMS THE MIND AND RELAXES THE BODY
Matcha contains theanine – an amino acid known to help calm an anxious mind and increase focus.
4. PROVIDES VITAMIN C, SELENIUM, CHROMIUM, ZINC AND MAGNESIUM
Also rich in B complex, a lot of the daily vitamins you should have everyday.
5. ENHANCES MOOD AND AIDS IN CONCENTRATION
This soothing effect helped the Buddhist monks in maintaining deep concentration during their meditation sessions and was the main reason behind its popularity.
6. FORTIFIES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Catechins, a natural disease-fighting antioxidant found in plant-based foods, are the main key to matcha’s health benefits. Catechins in matcha green tea contain antibiotic properties, leading to an increase in overall health.
7. INCREASES ENERGY LEVELS AND ENDURANCE
Matcha contains caffeine in a healthier form — not to be mistaken with the caffeine in coffee. The caffeine in matcha, known as theophylline, works to sustain energy levels for up to six hours, without the unwanted side effects.
Tip:
It makes a great ice “cream” flavor (see my previous post) Just add the matcha to the frozen banana chunks!
