Matcha is a trendy green tea that has become mainstream, impressing even devoted coffee lovers. But what’s so special about this beverage? After all, it is still green tea, right?
If you want to give it a try, or you’re just curious about this trend that stirred quite the buzz lately on social media, you should know that matcha has some incredible health benefits.
Here is what you need to know.
Matcha 101: Facts You Should Know
When you prepare a traditional green tea, you infuse components from the leaves into hot water, then throw away the leaves. Well, you might be surprised how things work with matcha, which literally means “powdered tea.”
When you drink matcha, you actually drink the leaves. How cool is this?Â
The leaves can be finely powdered and turned into a smooth solution. Next, they can be mixed with a teaspoon of matcha powder and a third cup of hot water.Â
Finally, everything is whisked with a sleek bamboo brush until it perfectly froths.
The thing is that, unlike traditional green tea, matcha’s preparation is at another level. It requires covering the tea plants with shade cloths before they’re finally harvested. And that’s not all.
The leaves are always handpicked to stop fermentation. The process continues with the leaves being dried and aged only in cold storage.
The final step includes turning the dried leaves into a fine powder. As complicated as this might be, it is, in fact, pretty amazing.Â
Incredible Health Benefits
As previously mentioned, matcha offers some fantastic health benefits that you don’t want to miss out on.
Thanks to the process of making matcha, the beverage is a more reliable and powerful source of nutrients. It’s also rich in antioxidants known as polyphenols, which can protect you against heart disease and cancer, boosting your metabolism.
Moreover, matcha contains more caffeine than you imagine, but you’ll feel more relaxed due to a natural substance that contains l-theanine. As a result, you’ll feel energized and calmer at the same time!
Remember to discuss it with a specialist how much matcha you can consume.
Matcha Recipe
Here’s how you can prepare your delicious matcha:
Ingredients:
- 1/4 teaspoon of matcha;
- 2 ounces of hot water;
- 6 extra ounces of hot water or steamed milk (oat milk, dairy milk, almond, etc.);
- a sweetener, honey, or maple syrup.
Instructions:
- Filter the matcha into a small bowl to get rid of lumps;
- Pour in the 2 ounces of how water;
- Whisk vigorously from side to side until the matcha powder is fully dispersed and you see a foamy layer;
- Add the rest of the hot water or steamed milk;
- Whisk again and sweeten.Â