Sunday, April 12, 2015

Much Ado About Matcha!

Lately as we have had more spring weather,  I've been looking to a lighter, fresher hot drink when I need a little morning or afternoon boost. It's one of the reasons I have come to be so in love with Matcha.

Matcha is traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies and is a very concentrated form of green tea. The leaves are carefully ground into a powder that ends up having a creamy texture.

To understand matcha, we first have to know a little more about green tea.

Green tea is appreciated across the world for its many health benefits. It goes through minimal processing which makes it very attractive to those who are interested in health and nutrition.
Green tea contains catechins which are powerful antioxidants. As a refresher- antioxidants are your bodies defenders. They are chemical compounds that can prevent and ward off aging and disease.
Green tea is full of them. Green tea is also known to improve blood flow, lower cholesterol, stabilize blood sugar and some studies have even shown it prevents the formation of plaques on your brain which can lead to the onset of Alzheimer's disease. Pretty powerful stuff.

Some people also believe that green tea can help in weight loss. While there is no scientific evidence to support that claim, if you choose green tea instead of drinking sugary juices or colas, you will definitely consume less calories and inadvertently trigger weight loss or weight maintenance.



On to the "matcha" talked about.... (ha ha)

They say that one serving of Matcha has the equivalent health benefits of ten cups of regularly brewed green tea (in terms of the nutritional content). It is the highest quality of green tea available for consumption. When you drink it, you are drinking the entire leaf after it has been steamed, deveined and ground into a fine, rich powder. Since you are drinking the whole leaf, you receive 100% of the nutrients available. It is said to contain 137 times more antioxidants than green tea does.

Additionally, matcha boosts metabolism, is rich in fiber, chlorophyll (great for detoxing), vitamins, lowers cholesterol and blood sugar, prevents disease and is a source of vitamin C, zinc and magnesium. Matcha is also said to improve your concentration and improve your mood. In short- it's one of the most powerful superfoods out there.

Matcha has more antioxidants than (ready for a mini brain explosion?): goji berries, blueberries, spinach, acai, broccoli and pomegranate! So the question is...why are you not yet making this a part of your daily life?

Matcha is super simple to make and tea shops as well as asian grocery stores sell whisks and wide bowls that will help you to prepare your matcha at home. While I love the taste of it and think it's delicious, I think matcha is an acquired taste. So before you spend money on the tea and accessories, try it out at a cafe or tea shop.

If you are a fan, it's super simple to make at home.

How to Make Matcha

You will need:
a wide, flat bottom bowl, a bamboo whisk, matcha tea powder, a scoop or spoon and hot water

1) Place a tea scoop or 1/2 tsp. of matcha powder into the bowl
2) Add a little hot water (about 2 ounces) and whisk it with a fast motion, back and forth until it combines and becomes frothy
3) Add more water to make the tea the consistency you are looking for
4) Transfer it to a cup and enjoy

Traditionally, matcha is enjoyed without any additional ingredients, but you can add hot milk to make a latte, a sweetner, or even ice if you'd like to enjoy an iced matcha.

Matcha is also added to smoothies, milkshakes, sifted onto cake and desserts...the list goes on and on.
Hope you enjoy making matcha at home! Would love to know what you think of it in the comments below!





3 comments:

  1. People who have a problem of overweight may take green tea instead of water and juices to lessen weight. Green tea has more antioxidants which suppress the appetite.
    Organic Green Tea in India

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  2. I'm normally a pretty cynical guy when it comes to "earthy" remedies. But consider me converted. I now realize what "alkalizing your body" actually feels like, and I'm just getting started! Green energy drinks are so calming that I can’t explain.

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  3. Simple way to prepare this Matcha. I love this method and i also try to follow this way.

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