Matcha
Updated Jun. 19th, 2019
As soon as the young leaves found on the top of the plant are harvested, they are steamed, dried and then further processed to remove the veins, stems and impurities. After this, only about 10% of the original harvest remains, and this is very carefully hand ground to a fine powder.
How is matcha different from green tea?
Because matcha consists of powdered purified green tea leaves, when it is taken as tea or in food, the entire leaf is ingested. Green tea on the other hand consists of dried leaves steeped in hot water. This releases only some of the constituents while others remain trapped in the leaves. As such, ingesting matcha can provide you with the complete benefits of the nutritional and medicinal properties of green tea that simple steeping may miss.
Is it really like drinking 10 cups of green tea?
Matcha is packed full of antioxidants. Green tea has been receiving accolades for several years now for its intense antioxidant abilities that have been successful in preventing and treating many conditions including: arthritis, infections, age-related diseases, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, as well as aiding in weight loss. Matcha takes that to the next level with antioxidant levels that are between 10 and 200 times higher than regular green tea (depending on the quality of the green tea used for comparison). Strong antioxidant powers means that matcha can help to prevent, and maybe even treat, age-related disorders. In addition, one cup of relatively weak matcha tea (2 teaspoons of powder) will contain nearly 10 times the catechins found in one cup of regular green tea. So, in antioxidant and catechin content, one cup of matcha tea is actually almost the equivalent of 10 cups of regular green tea! For more information on the many benefits of green tea (and matcha), please see our green tea article.
What else can matcha do?
Prior to harvesting the tea leaves that will be used in matcha, the plants are shaded for two weeks to promote increased chlorophyll production, which is what gives matcha its bright green colour. The resulting high levels of chlorophyll act to help detoxify the body by drawing out and binding to chemicals and heavy metals in the body tissues.
Because it consists of the whole leaf, matcha also has a relatively high content of amino acids by weight. Much like other green tea, it also contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxed brain waves in humans. It also contains some caffeine and nutrients that help to boost mental-alertness. Combined, they improve presence of mind that you'd get from coffe, while still having the calming effect of tea.
What does it taste like, and how do I take it?
Matcha flavour is a rich, fresh "green" taste that tends to blend well with dairy, and thus can be found in many food and drink options such as: sweets, ice cream, cheese cake, chocolate, hot chocolate, lattes, and even cream cheese. To those who have read the green tea article, I would like to note that although that article recommends avoiding mixing green tea with dairy, the levels of antioxidants in matcha are much higher, that their reduction is no longer a significant concern.
In addition to being eaten in foods, matcha can be made into a tea. To make matcha tea, simply dissolve matcha powder in hot (not boiling) water and stir vigorously (you can buy a traditional bamboo whisk to help you mix it fully and create froth, if desired). The amount of matcha and water depend on your taste preference with anywhere from 1 to 6 teaspoons per 3/4 cup of water. Generally, there is approximately 3.5g of matcha in a teaspoon, and the traditional serving size of matcha is 1/2-3/4 cup.
I love matcha so “matcha” haha! It is a great alternative to coffee in the morning and I find it gives me more sustained energy without the jittery feeling that I sometimes get if I drink too much coffee. I also love the taste of matcha and especially the vanilla flavour but plain is good too even with a little bit of honey. Matcha has amazing health benefits too which is so great! I know coffee does as well so I like to use both depending on my mood. It is always nice to be reminded of the health benefits :)
Hello,
Matcha has many benefits and like you mentioned, provides a nice energy boost without the jitters. It's also great for skin health too! Definitely nice to have in the morning or afternoon on a chilly day.
First off, I love green tea and have been drinking it consistently for years. I find that it really aids in weight loss and always knew it was a healthy drink. However, now that I have read about matcha, wow! I'm very impressed! I have seen matcha teas selling in the supermarket, I wonder if these matcha tea bags are as good or as potent as the powder versions? Either way I definitely need to get me some more matcha!
Hello,
Indeed, green tea is packed with nutrients and will leave your skin glowing. Matcha is a more concentrated version and if you're wanting the therapeutic benefits of matcha, choosing a quality brand that doesn't use additives is a good place to start, we'd suggest Do Matcha, many of our customer's like them and they are top quality in matcha tea.
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/domatcha
Have a healthy day!