What Does Matcha Green Tea Do For You
When you consume matcha, you are getting an unparalleled amount of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, amino acids, and more. On average, one serving of matcha tea is the same as 10 cups of regular green tea. That means you get 137x the number of antioxidants per cup.
As would be expected, the health benefits are vast. With its potent nutritional properties, matcha tea can boost your metabolism, detoxify your body, calm the mind, enhance your mood, and lower cholesterol. Matcha tea provides vitamin C, selenium, zinc, magnesium, EGCG, fiber, chromium, and more.
Matcha known to support a healthier immune system too. Its antioxidant catechins work to boost the immune system against cancer, assist with weight loss through thermogenesis, and improve your concentration with L-theanine. Studies also remind us that matcha may help boost immunity against the common cold and flu virus, because the catechins protect our cells from infection by reducing their chance of attaching to pathogens. In short, matcha can help you feel better, think better, and live healthier.
It Can Protect Your Heart
Drinking matcha green tea could help protect the heart and circulatory system from disease.
Drinking lots of green tea rich in catechins such as matcha can significantly reduce your risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.15
Further, drinking daily matcha and green teas are also associated with a lower risk of experiencing a stroke.16
Froth = Look For The Bubbles
We all have seen the creamy, frothy matcha that makes us drool. That is what you want your good quality matcha tea to have! The best matcha tea powder will have an excellent frothy foamy layer after whisking, not just a thin layer with large air bubbles. The better the quality of the matcha, the more foam it will create.
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Republic Of Tea Double Green Matcha Tea
Republic of Tea Double Green Matcha Tea comes in tea satchels like other green teas, so its a good fit if you want to be able to make matcha tea in a less messy, more convenient, and equally nutritious package, Republic of Tea is a great fit.
Its a blend of Chinese and Japanese matcha teas, but all of the ingredients are organically grown, so while its not a single-source product, its still free of any potential toxins.
Texture Of Matcha Green Tea Powder = Smooth And Silky
The best matcha tea powder will be always stone milled, so good quality matcha tea needs to be smooth and silky when you rub it between your fingers. You can do the paper test grabbing a pinch of matcha tea and smearing it onto a piece of white paper if it leaves a long, clean line that means it is good quality. Rocky versions wont dissolve as good and are an indication of bad quality matcha tea. This is also the result of being leaves that are lower in the plant, and therefore thicker.
Why does the texture matter? You want a good quality matcha that is smooth and dissolves quickly, so you do not have lumps on your tea.
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Where Should I Buy Matcha
We carry various matcha powders, from the highest-quality culinary grade matcha to ceremonial grade matcha. Not sure which matcha powder is suitable for you?
If you’re interested in preparing matcha at home, we also have all the essential accessories you need to whisk up a traditional Japanese-style bowl of matcha.
Green Tea Can Help You Reduce Your Sugar Intake
Green tea is a healthy choice for those worried about added sugars, because it naturally contains zero grams of sugar. Compared to soda and fruit juice, which both contain a lot of sugar, green tea is the healthier choice. If you are accustomed to sugary beverages, it may take some time to adjust to the more astringent flavor of green tea. One good way to reap the benefits of green tea is to mix a tablespoon or two of matcha green tea powder into your smoothies until you get used to drinking green tea on its own.
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Expired Or ‘bad’ Matcha Becomes Lower Grade
A word before I explain the transition into lower grade Matcha.
This is a delicate tea, and an expensive one, yes. But there is no need to save it for later, or for a special occasion.
First because Matcha is meant to be enjoyed as an everyday drink, both in order to get the health benefits and also to get used to the flavor quickly.
Chances are you won’t fall in love with its taste straight away, and this is actually normal since most folks are used to sweet tea, or at least not this kind of flavor.
So only drinking Matcha every now and then won’t help you get used to it. Drinking it every day will help you learn to love the subtle notes in your tea.
Second, since this tea is so delicate and loses its oomph fairly quick, there’s no reason to wait around to drink it. You can use your Matcha in smoothies if you like, not just to brew regular Matcha and this will also make sure you get your fix every day.
While it’s true that Matcha that has gone off isn’t really the best, there’s no reason to throw it away if it’s not completely ruined.
You can use stale Matcha in baking or recipes that require some heat. If you were to use good, ceremonial Matcha to bake a sponge cake the flavor wouldn’t be as strong and it would be a waste of a perfect Matcha.
Another thing would happen: high grade Matcha is more sensitive and delicate, meaning that your cake or baked goods might change color faster, or turn a little bitter.
Best Decaf: Celestial Seasonings Decaf Green Tea
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White tea blend to avoid bitterness
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Mild flavor
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No strings on tea bags
When it comes to caffeinated beverages, green tea is fairly low on the list. An 8-ounce cup contains about 30 milligrams of caffeine. For comparison, the same size cup of coffee packs in 95 milligrams, while black tea hovers around 50 milligrams. But even though theres not a lot of caffeine in green tea to start with, you may still be looking for a decaffeinated green tea. Thats where the Celestial Seasonings Decaf Green Tea comes in.
The brand combines green tea and white tea leaves for a smoother, mellower taste. The gentle flavor and lack of caffeine make it a great option right before bed. On the flip side, however, some customers wish the beverage had a slightly stronger flavor. The tea bags are sold in 40-count boxes, and there’s a K-Cup version available for those who want their tea fast.
Form: Tea bags and K-Cups | Caffeine: 0 milligrams | Steep Time: 2 minutes | Ingredients: Decaffeinated green tea, decaffeinated white tea, and ascorbic acid
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Can make hot or iced tea
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Expensive per serving
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Designed for small servings
Pique is an innovator in the tea world, creating travel-friendly tea crystals that are soluble in both hot and cold water. Each box of Organic Jasmine Green Tea contains 14 individual packets that you can mix with hot water or pour right into bottled water and shake for iced tea, making it ideal for anyone consistently on the go.
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Sencha Vs Matcha: The Differences Explained
There are many great reasons to begin incorporating tea into your diet, both physically and emotionally. Drinking tea, whether youre replacing other caffeinated beverages or youre sticking to herbal, can be an excellent way to avoid mid-day crashes, relieve tension and stress, and support your overall health and wellness. It can also help you to stay hydrated, and even feel more relaxed, so its easier to get the rest you deserve every night.
When it comes to finding that perfect tea to fit your daily needs and personal goals, you have many options, including black tea, herbal tea, green tea, and chai. Matcha tea is another great example of teas with healing and boosting qualities that taste delicious.
Here at Tenzo Tea, were dedicated to helping you find the ingredients and flavors that give you feelings of gentle energy and make achieving your goals feel accessible and exciting. We provide the information you need on different teas, like what sets sencha tea apart from matcha tea, and we share our favorite recipes and uses for fresh, healthy ingredients.
Matcha and sencha teas are just two of the tea choices at your disposal. Heres what youll want to know about each when it comes to picking your next perfect tea combination for school, work, or home.
The Smell Is Gone You Can’t Detect Anything
While Matcha does not smell very strongly, it still has a bit of a scent of its own. This means you should detect a fain grassy smell, with a little sweet undertone.
It won’t be strong, but it’ll be there.
If the smell is gone, or very very faint that is a sign the Matcha is starting to lose its properties. It’s not all the way gone, but it’s definitely losing flavor and antioxidants.
This means you should finish it, or use it in another manner.
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The Taste Is Delicious
Matcha is similar to green tea, but with an earthier taste: Something between wheatgrass and sweet vegetables, like cucumber. Matcha delivers a seaweed aftertaste but in a good way. It has a richer taste than normal green tea and blends well with lavender, jasmine, coconut and other flavors. Try adding a scoop of matcha powder to your green smoothie or vanilla yogurt to boost the benefits. The leafy taste adds rich flavor and thickening texture to either. Don’t worry about the cost: With all these health benefits, you should thank yourself very matcha.
How To Make Matcha Tea: 4 Simple Steps
A traditional cup of matcha tea is very simple to make. But, as well discuss in just a bit, it doesnt always taste great, depending on a few different factors.
Part of the secret to enjoying a great cup of matchaand to ensure that its a good experience for youis to know how to prepare it.
Making matcha tea can be a contemplative ritual, simply because it takes a few steps beyond simply steeping tea. Slow down and enjoy the process.
Here are the steps for preparing a great, healthy cup of matcha tea:
Step 1: Gather Your Tools
There are a few things youll need to make a proper cup of matcha tea that you probably dont have just lying around the house.
So, before you get started, gather these items:
- Chasen- a whisk thats handmade from bamboo
- Matcha-chawan- a special bowl just for tea
- Chashaku- a ladle thats used specifically for measuring
- Tea Strainer
- Teapot or other pot to boil water
Step 2: Measure and Scoop
Put your water in the chosen boiling vessel so it can work while you are. Use the chashaku to measure out about 1 ½ scoops of matcha powder. This is something you might want to adjust later, if you decide you prefer a thicker consistency in your matcha.
Step 3: Sift
Pour the scoops of matcha powder into the sifter, over the tea bowl. Use the ladle to gently help push the matcha powder through the strainer. This will help if there are any clumps hanging around. Nobody wants a chunk of matcha while theyre sipping tea.
Step 4: Combine and Whisk
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Same Leaf Different Processing
Green tea and matcha both come from the plant known as Camelia sinensis, an evergreen shrub native to East Asia, Southeast Asia, as well as the Indian Subcontinent, and this common progenitor is about all they have in common. According to Nourished Life, the cultivation of green tea involves much more drying and processing during production.
Traditionally, green tea leaves were left in the sun to dry or else dried via pan-firing, or basket-firing. According to The Republic of Coffee, more modern methods for drying include tumbling, steaming, or oven-firing. The process removes the bitter taste of the leaves while preserving the natural, distinctive flavors of the tea. The leaves are then chopped and placed inside a tea bag.
Meanwhile, bushes that will be used to make matcha powder are purposefully kept under cover in an effort to increase the number of amino acids and chlorophyll found in the leaves. When they are ready, the stems and veins of the matcha are removed. The leaves are then briefly steamed. According to The Republic of Coffee, this step halts oxidation and helps the leaves maintain that distinctive emerald green color. Finally, the matcha is stone-ground into a fine, and much more concentrated powder.
How To Buy Good Quality Matcha Green Tea
Recognizing good quality matcha tea is easier than you think! It is just a matter of learning how to do it. That is why we have compiled this 9 tip guide on how to buy good quality matcha green tea, to help you buy the best matcha tea powder.
Recognizing good quality matcha tea was one of the things that overwhelmed me the most when buying matcha tea, like a matcha green tea consumer I did not know how to recognize good quality matcha tea and was often confused with so many options!
Sometimes I even encountered flavored matcha or even worst, matcha with fillers such as sugar or powdered milk. If you identify yourself with this struggle, hang in there! Learning how to recognize good quality matcha tea is very easy and here are the tips on how you can buy the best matcha tea powder from now on.
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Green Tea May Help You Chill Out
Green tea contains the amino acid L-theanine, which is found almost exclusively in tea plants . L-theanine acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain, meaning that it sends signals to neurons. Several studies have shown that L-theanine appears to increase alpha-wave generation in the human brain, signalling a state of relaxation .
It Can Strengthen Your Bones
Most people don’t think about actively taking measures to build bone strength, but it’s important for your fitness and mobility, especially as you age. Polyphenols, the antioxidant-packed compounds in green tea, may increase bone mineral density by reducing inflammation-causing oxidative stress on the bones. That in turn can lower your risk of developing osteoporosis, according to several past studies.
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What Good Matcha Should Taste Like
The matcha taste descriptions above are characteristic of good matcha. A skilled tea master will create matcha blends that are balanced, such that there is no one dominating taste that will overpower everything else. The taste will transition gradually and softly, into a pleasant aftertaste.
In summary, good matcha should always have a smooth mouthfeel. Any initial bitterness should be subtle and blend gently with the taste receptors on your tongue. This should be followed by a slow, lingering after taste that starts with a light sweetness but ends in a nuanced, almost savory note.
How Healthy Is Matcha Compared To Green Tea
The notably high concentrations of phenolic acids, quercetin, rutin, theanine, and chlorophyll in matcha exceed those in other green tea varieties. Studies have shown that matcha often contains 310 times more antioxidants than typical green tea varieties. Matcha is also packed with EGCG, also known as catechin, one of the strongest antioxidants.
So, even though they share many of the same health-promoting properties, the beneficial biologically active compounds in matcha are more active and concentrated than in regular green tea. This makes the regular consumption of matcha particularly good for both physical and mental health.
Did you know?
One study found that matcha has more than double the amount of vitamin C than other brewed green teas.
Matcha also has more caffeine than regular brewed green teabut less than you’ll find in regular brewed black tea or coffee. On average, an 8-ounce cup of matcha has around 1945 milligrams of caffeine, while typical green tea has approximately 1125 mg per serving.
When tea leaves are removed from the water after the steeping process in regular green tea, some of the nutrients are inevitably removed. In comparison, you reap the full benefits of the whole tea leaf when consuming matcha. The shade-grown cultivation method is also behind the added health benefits of matcha compared to green tea.
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Energy Without The Anxiety Crash Or Jitters
The combination of caffeine with l-theanine in matcha green tea provides a stable and extended boost of energy without the anxious jitters or side effects like you might have previously experienced with coffee and energy drinks.
The caffeine will gently pick you up, provide you with an extended energy boost and then will let you softly back down to earth.
Here’s the Secret:Matcha is 100% powdered green tea that gives you clean energy without excessive caffeine, sugar content and unknown chemicals. But don’t worry, one scoop of Tenzo Matcha still contains same caffeine as one shot of espresso, but the energy lasts for hours!
How Can You Make Matcha At Home
You don’t have to go to your nearest coffeeshop to get matcha. In fact, you can make a version at home with minimal kitchen gadgets. “Traditionally, Japanese people use a bamboo whisk and ladle to make matcha tea. If you don’t have it, you can use a spoon,” Miyashita says. Here’s how:
2. Place 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of matcha into a cup and add a splash of hot water.
3. Mix thoroughly with a spoon to remove lumps of matcha.If you have a bamboo whisk, mix matcha with it until frothy. Now that you have your concentrated matcha, you can either fill the glass up the rest of the way with water or milk.
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