You must have heard about matcha green tea drinks sold in your favorite coffeeshop. Apart from tasting great, an all natural matcha green tea extracted from tea leaf packs with great health benefits. So grab your organic matcha and some hot water or anything you like and enjoy a cup of this green tea leaf drink!
What You Don’t Know About This Healthier Version Of Green Tea
Green tea has a variety of health benefits and has been found to help with weight management and improve cardiovascular health. Matcha is considered to be an even healthier form of green tea.
Matcha 101
This type of green tea is produced differently than typical green tea. Both types of tea are derived from the Camellia sinensis plant. Once native to China, this plant is now produced for tea in other areas of Asia.
When regular green tea is brewed, nutrients are extracted from the dried leaves. Only the resulting liquid is consumed in the brewed green tea. To make an organic matcha, the leaves are ground into a matcha tea powder, which is mixed with water.
Matcha leaves are also grown differently than traditional green tea leaves. Before the plant is harvested, it is covered for about one month. This prevents sunlight from reaching the leaves.
The plant develops extra chlorophyll. The leaves become much darker than traditional green tea leaves. After the leaves are harvested, the veins and stems are removed.
The soft part of the leaves is ground into a vivid green powder. Because the whole leaf is consumed, it delivers more potent nutrients than steep green tea.
According to Matcha Source, 1 cup of matcha contains the same nutrients as 10 cups of traditional green tea. One study discovered that the antioxidant level of matcha powder is more than 100 times the level found in low-quality green tea.
Scientists have not specifically conducted research on the benefits of matcha for humans. However, some studies have been conducted on rodents.
Another study found that matcha protects the liver and the kidneys, lowers blood glucose levels, and reduces triglyceride and cholesterol levels. It can also fight infection and viruses.
What Nutrients Are In Matcha?
Even though regular green tea just looks like dirty water, it contains many nutrients. It appears murky, thick and green, and it’s loaded with compounds that produces many good health benefits.
One gram of matcha powder contains:
- 105 mg of catechins – Catechins are the compounds in green tea and organic matcha that may improve cardiovascular and metabolic health, among other benefits.
- 61 mg of EGCG – EGCG is the most abundant catechin in matcha. EGCG has antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties, according to experts.
- 40 mg of L-theanine – L-theanine is an amino acid that can combat stress.
- 35 mg of caffeine content in matcha – Caffeine can boost energy levels and help you lose weight.
- 318 mg of fiber – Fiber helps promote healthy digestion and keeps you full between meals.
- 50IU of vitamin A – Vitamin A is necessary for immunity and vision. You can’t overdo it on plant-based vitamin A. You can, however, overdose on animal-based vitamin A.
- Certain amounts of polyphenols that help fight cancer and degenerative diseases
Try this organic Japanese matcha green tea powder perfect for matcha green tea latte, smoothies, and matcha tea. Also non-GMO and good for vegans. Contains powerful antioxidants and a lot of health benefits!
Matcha Is Rich In Antioxidants
Antioxidants that enter your system from the foods that you eat attach themselves to unstable molecules called free radicals. Unstable free radicals are attracted to other molecules in the body.
When they attach themselves to those molecules, they cause cellular damage. When the antioxidants are attached to free radicals, the free radicals can’t bond with and damage healthy cells.
The catechins in matcha are antioxidants. Research shows that these compounds can reduce inflammation, which may be responsible for almost every chronic disease. Catechins help keep your arteries healthy and help your body repair damage on a cellular level.
According to Bodybuilding.com, matcha contains more than 60 times the antioxidants as spinach. The powdered tea also has 17 times the antioxidant power of blueberries.
Matcha Consumption Can Benefit Your Heart
Heart disease is one of the biggest killers on the globe. Some of the health conditions that contribute to heart disease are:
- LDL cholesterol levels
- Triglyceride levels
- Blood sugar levels
Some of the compounds in matcha are not soluble in water. Scientists think that these compounds help reduce blood sugar and triglyceride levels.
Other research shows that the catechins in green tea can lower total and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels. One of the ways in which LDL cholesterol harms the cardiovascular system is by oxidation.
Scientists have found that green tea consumption decreases the amount of oxidation that LDL molecules undergo. They believe that drinking green tea can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Many other studies back up this theory. It doesn’t matter where the catechins in the diet come from, according to these researchers. However, the high levels in matcha make it easy to add catechins to your diet.
Matcha Green Tea Might Help You Lose Weight
Many supplements that are marketed for weight loss contain green tea extracts. Matcha can increase your metabolism and help you burn calories more efficiently. In addition, Bodybuilding.com reports that matcha can target fat cells specifically.
The compounds in green tea extract have thermogenic properties. That means that they encourage your body to burn calories for fuel. A 1999 study found that people who drink green tea increased their resting metabolic rate significantly.
When you drink green tea, your body uses more fat for fuel. You can burn up to 25 percent more fat when you exercise if you are a regular matcha drinker.
Consuming cups of matcha is not going to help you lose weight if you gorge on pizza and junk food every night. Some researchers claim that green tea can’t be used as a medical treatment for obesity because it is not that effective. However, if you’re experiencing a weight-loss plateau or struggle to shed pounds even with a healthy lifestyle, adding matcha to your diet might bring about results.
Consuming Matcha Can Make You Feel Focused And Calm
Matcha has more L-theanine than other kinds of tea. This amino acid is known for making you feel more relaxed.
Evidence from EEG studies shows that L-theanine can help you feel relaxed without getting sleepy. That can translate into more focused attention.
One study involved giving tea with high levels of amino acids to participants who had to undergo a stressful task. After completing the task, the participants’ stress levels increased. Drinking tea with high levels of amino acids brought the stress markers back down.
Even though their stress levels were lower when drinking the tea, participants were able to complete more tasks that required analytical brain power during the study. The participants who drank the tea also reported being in a better mood.
When combined with caffeine, L-theanine diminishes the stimulating effect that many caffeine consumers may normally feel. Evidence shows that the combination also reduces the amount of blood vessel constriction that occurs with caffeine ingestion.
When you drink caffeine with L-theanine, blood flow to the brain is not restricted. This may explain why people who drink matcha feel alert without feeling jittery.
Matcha may even have neuroprotective effects on the brain. Researchers have found that green tea may improve cognitive function in the elderly.
Evidence shows that people who drink more green tea experience a lower prevalence of cognitive decline. Lab research indicates that green tea with L-Theanine can protect against age-related mental impairment.
Matcha Can Improve Your Mood
You may find yourself in a better mood after drinking a cup of matcha. That’s not just because you’re doing something healthy for your body. Consuming L-theanine increases levels of feel-good transmitters in the brain, according to science.
How Do You Make Matcha Green Tea?
Matcha has a rich flavor. It has a grassy taste, and some people find it bitter. However, others love its complex flavor profile.
Matcha comes in a powder form. You must prepare it differently than you would brew dried green tea leaves.
To prepare matcha in the traditional Japanese manner:
- Measure the tea with a Japanese bamboo spoon.
- Place the powder in a strainer over a warm tea bowl. Tap the side of the strainer until the matcha has been sifted into the bowl.
- Heat water to about 160 degrees Fahrenheit and pour it into the matcha bowl. This is cooler than boiling temperature, which is 212 degrees.
- Mix the tea briskly with a bamboo whisk until it’s smooth and frothy.
To get the feel of Japan, you can buy some traditional tools online. If you don’t have the traditional tools, make the Japanese green tea in a mug using a regular spoon and a whisk. This matcha tea gift set, a complete kit to make Japanese matcha latte or matcha green tea may seem great for you!
How Strong Should You Make Matcha?
You can adjust the strength by using more or less powder.
Regular Matcha
A standard matcha is made with 1 teaspoon of powder and 2 ounces of water. Make it thinner by using half a teaspoon of powder and up to 4 ounces of water.
Ceremonial Matcha
Ceremonial matcha is made with a higher quality powder. To make it, combine 2 teaspoons of powder with 1 ounce of water. It will be very thick and will not have froth on top.
How To Make Matcha Specialty Recipes
Matcha doesn’t have to be brewed in the traditional manner. You can use it to make lattes, iced matcha, and baked goods.
Matcha Latte
- Sift 1 ½ teaspoons of matcha into a mug.
- Stir in 1 ounce of hot water using a spoon or whisk until the powder is dissolved.
- Heat 1 cup of milk or dairy alternative, such as coconut milk, to 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Dissolve the desired amount of sweetener in the milk. You can use sugar, honey, or maple syrup to sweeten the beverage.
- Pour the milk over the matcha. If you don’t drink it right away, the matcha powder will fall to the bottom of the beverage.
Iced Matcha Latte
Make the iced matcha latte as you would the hot latte, but use cold milk instead of hot milk. Add the sweetener to the cup of tea before adding the hot water to ensure that it dissolves completely. Fill the glass with ice cubes before enjoying.
Matcha Salt
Season your food with matcha salt for a complex, earthy flavor. According to About Food, matcha can reduce carcinogens produced when you grill red meat.
To make matcha salt, mix together 1 tablespoon of sea salt with ½ teaspoon matcha powder. Sprinkle it on savory foods, or use it as a rub on meat, fish or chicken.
Matcha Butter
Use matcha butter to saute meat and vegetables. You can also spread it directly on bread, bagels or crackers.
To make matcha butter, mix 1 ½ tablespoons of softened butter with 1 teaspoon of matcha powder using a fork. Add a pinch of salt or pepper for additional flavor.
Matcha Baked Goods
To pack your cookies, cakes, muffins and breads with antioxidants, add 2 to 4 teaspoons of matcha powder to the dry flour. Continue to make the recipe as usual.