Best For Lattes: Encha Latte Grade Pure Organic Matcha
There is no shortage of matcha latte mixes, but Encha considers itself the only company “offering a latte grade using first harvest pure and organic matcha powder.” Essentially, other latte mixes tend to contain later-season matcha made from tougher, more bitter leaves, leading to an earthier taste, but this mix is filled with the good stuff.
While some reviewers picked up hints of bitterness, the majority call it smooth, naturally sweet, and extremely easy to blend. Encha is so confident in its matcha that the mix has a 100 percent money-back guarantee.
Bags are sold in two sizes, 30 and 60 gramsâboth of which have handy recipes printed on them. The recommended ratio is 2 grams of matcha for 6 to 8 ounces of milk. Shake, whisk, or blend it. No matter what, it takes just minutes for a delicious matcha latte.
Grade: Latte | Origin: Uji, Japan | Harvest: First harvest | Size: 60 grams
Benefits Of Drinking Matcha
One of the secrets of the Zen monks was drinking matcha green tea. It helped them stay calm and alert during long stints of meditation. Because you are consuming the entire tea leaf, you benefit from higher antioxidants, most notably EGCG, higher caffeine, and higher theanine levels.
The nutritional goodness of matcha green tea is plentiful:
- EGCG: or Epigallocatechin gallate is a catechin, a form of antioxidant. Many scientific studies have been done to determine the effect of EGCG on human health. Some studies show the positive health benefits of EGCG against cancer while others are inconclusive.
- Promote Immunity: Polyphenols of many types are abundant in tea and help promote immunity to foreign pathogens.
- Cancer Prevention:;Where tea does help in cancer prevention is by mitigating free radicals, giving rise to the development of abnormal cell growth. The abnormal cells can turn cancerous. Tea alone will not prevent cancer, but combining it with a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating may certainly help.
- Matcha Green Tea: Provides 30 times more Vitamin C than an infusion of whole leaf green tea. The protein and calcium levels are also higher in matcha green tea.
- Weight Loss: Studies have shown that tea does increase your metabolic rate of burning calories. The catechins in tea help turn fat into energy by increasing your energy expenditure.
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Powder Matcha Is The Way To Go If You Want The Health Benefits
If youre looking for health benefits than again, Matcha powder is the best choice here. This is because with traditional Matcha powder youre ingesting the tea powder, along with the rest of the drink.
This results in a higher chance of metabolizing the antioxidants and vitamins and minerals that Matcha can provide.
Simply steeping the powder for several minutes and then drinking the resulting infusion will result in some antioxidants and nutrients, yes, but not as many as drinking the powdered leaves themselves.
If drinking Matcha by itself proves to be too much for you, you can always add that serving of tea powder into a smoothie and turn it into a health drink.
Soemthing to help the antioxidant count skyrocket would include berries as well, and a couple of greens like spinach and kale. It might not sound like the most appetizing combination, I know.
But its definitely something thats going to help you deal with Matcha much better than drinking it whole.
Weve covered the important bits. But theres a couple things I feel I need to make clear, just so you know to keep safe when shopping for Matcha, and know what youre looking for.
Chalait Everyday Ceremonial Grade Matcha
Chalait is one of Kavaliunas’ favorite matcha brands. On Amazon, you can purchase the Chalait’s everyday ceremonial grade matcha, which is sourced directly from its place of origin in Uji, Japan. The flavor is described as mellow, with subtle hints of bittersweet chocolate and cacao nibs. Enjoy this antioxidant-rich drink at any time of the day!
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What Is The Best Brand Of Matcha Green Tea Powder
Results: Ceremonial Grade
- First place: Kyoto Dew Ceremonial Grade Matcha.
- Second place: Matcha Konomi Akira Ceremonial Grade Matcha.
- Third place: Matcha Moon Ceremonial Grade Matcha.
- Fourth place: Kiss Me Organics Ceremonial Grade Matcha.
- Fifth place: KENKO Ceremonial Grade Matcha.
- Sixth place: Encha Ceremonial Grade Matcha.
What Does Match Taste Like
You know Im always going to tell it to you straight. And if Im being 100% honest, I would say that matcha has a definite earthy flavor. Its hard to describe, because its unlike pretty much anything else Ive ever tasted.;
For some people, the earthy taste of matcha is a total turnoff to the flavor palette. Others enjoy it! You definitely have to try it to decide.;
That being said, if you have trouble with the matcha flavor but want to start drinking it as an alternative to coffee or benefitting from its healthy properties, you might consider adding a sweetener. You can use the same sweeteners you would add to other teas!;I like adding beet sugar!
Read Also: What Is The Healthiest Green Tea To Buy
How To Grow Matcha
Its not a huge hassle to drive to the local grocery store and buy your producebut isnt it better and healthier to grow your own?
In terms of produce, if you have the gardening space, right weather conditions and a green thumb, I say go for it.
But what about Matcha? Is this delicious green tea something you can and should grow on your own?
Best Ceremonial Grade: Matcha Konomi Akira Organic Ceremonial Matcha
There are two main grades of matcha: culinary and ceremonial. The former is best for cooking purposes, the latter for general drinking purposes. You can whisk ceremonial matcha with hot water for traditional tea or mix it with milk for a matcha latte.
“Ceremonial grade is picked by hand and tends to yield a sweeter-tasting tea,” says Michelle Puyane, co-founder of Chalait. Tencha, the name of the tea leaves that become matcha, is ideally stone ground to reduce heat and friction, which prevents bitterness. As a result of this care and craftsmanship, ceremonial matcha is more expensive than culinary grade, but also more flavorful.
We considered several factors in selecting our top ceremonial matcha. Taste weighs heavily, of course, but price, variety of sizes, and sourcing region are components as well, which is why Matcha Konomiâs Akira Organic Ceremonial Matcha is a terrific all-around option, suitable for newbies to longtime fanatics. Just keep in mind that this is not the flat-out tastiest matcha powder you can buy; for that, look at higher-priced products .
The Matcha Konomi powder is organic, stone-ground, and harvested from the heralded Uji region of Japan. It has glowing online reviews, with the majority of customers giving it five stars. The taste is typically described as light and sweet with a mild earthiness. Units are available in sizes of 1 ounce, 3.5 ounces, and 1 pound.
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Does Matcha Have Caffeine
All teas derived from the camellia sinensis plant contain varying levels of caffeine. Only tisanes made from fruit or herbal origins do not. Matcha contains caffeine but also the amino acid L-theanine, which means the caffeine content is processed a little differently in your body. Caffeine and L-theanine team up to provide you with slow release fuel for focused energy without the post-caffeine jitters.
How To Make Iced Cold Brewed Matcha Step
Start with a glass filled with ice. I like these smaller cubed ones usingthis ice cube tray.
Next, pour 3/4 cup cold water. If you have filtered water, that would be best to really bring out the matcha flavor.
Ok, heres the workout portion of this recipe.
Into a;cocktail shaker, add cold water followed by a teaspoon of matcha.
Shake, shake, shake. Shake, shake, shake vigorously for about 10-20 seconds.
Into the glass of ice water, pour in the cold matcha tea.
Its so fun to watch the matcha green swirling around. Make this for your guests at your next get-together and theyll be wowed. Its mesmerizing.
Give it a little swirl to make sure the matcha is well incorporated into the cold water and sip away!
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Best Budget: Purechimp Matcha Green Tea Powder
Due to a brief harvest season and select growing regions , matcha powder can get pricey, especially compared to coffee and tea. But U.K.-based company PureChimp keeps its prices low, which is why it’s our best budget pick.
The product has solid online reviews, with many customers calling the flavor smooth, though slightly grassy, while others say that it’s an unbeatable value-for-money option. Keep a decent amount of skepticism, of course. The powder is duller than many pricier matchasâa sign of lower qualityâand the company does not indicate how the tencha leaves are ground, meaning a cheaper and cruder alternative to stone grinding might be used.
On the plus side, all of PureChimp’s products are sourced in the Kyoto region of Japan, and the company even sells flavored matcha powders, including mint, turmeric, rooibos, and lemongrass. As an added bonus, 5 percent of profits are donated to Save The Chimps.
Grade: Ceremonial | Origin: Kagoshima, Japan | Harvest: First harvest | Size: 20, 50, 100, and 500 grams
Culinary grade matcha can be enjoyed in traditional tea form, but it’s best for mixing into recipes: smoothies, baked goods, saltâyou name it. Since the tencha leaves are harvested later in season and ground with more heat, the resulting powder has a darker color and more bitter taste. This helps it “stand up to the strong flavors in milk, butter, and sugar,” explains Puyane.
How Is Matcha Different From Green Tea
The main difference: Matcha is a tea that comes in the form of a powder, rather than leaves in a tea bag. This means that both the flavor and nutritional benefits are more prominent in matcha.
“Most tea leaves, like the ones you find in everyday tea bags, are steeped in water to extract their flavor and benefits. Matcha, however, is the whole tea leaf ground into a powder and consumed. So when you drink matcha, you are literally drinking a plant,” says Kavaliunas.
Matcha comes from Tencha leaf, which means that it’s shade-grown. This gives the powder its inherent bright color and assortment of unique nutrients.
“The ground powder is not water-soluble, so the particles won’t dissolve when added to water or milk,” she explains. “Instead, the powder is suspended in liquid.”
This is why matcha works so well in lattes, smoothies, and shakes; its thicker viscosity gives a creamy beverage.
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Iced Matcha Green Tea
This ones for all you matcha purists out there. You know who you are.
The only ingredients need to make iced matcha is cold water, matcha, and ice.
If you wish, you can add a little sweetener like honey or sugar but this is a version made just like the hot whisked matcha drink which also doesnt add anything sweet.
Matcha is meant to paired with something sweet though, so I would recommend drinking your iced matcha with dessert like a slice of cake or sweet mochi.
Where To Buy Matcha Green Tea
I buy my matcha from the online tea shops listed below. These retailers only sell quality matcha green tea.
Look for matcha that’s not bitter and has a clean taste. It may seem a bit pricey, but you always want to buy quality matcha. Some shops only sell matcha green tea. When that is their sole focus, it tells me they must really know their matcha.
I have also bought matcha green tea from The Tea Spot and the ceremonial grade from Adagio Teas. Both have excellent Japanese matcha tea.
- MatchaSource: Matcha tea comes in different grades. Alissa White is the Founder of Matcha Source, an online retailer of premium matcha tea and specialty utensils for preparing and enjoying matcha. This shop focuses strictly on matcha, from ceremony grade to kitchen grade and everything in-between.; MatchSource teas are hand-picked by the Yahagi River in Japan.
- Material Matcha Uji: Material Matcha Uji is another shop specializing strictly in matcha. They craft some of the highest quality matcha green tea in the world. Their aim is for purity. If you love matcha, this is one of the best shops to buy matcha tea online. Material Matcha works directly with small local farmers, favoring quality over quantity. Their tea is one-of-a-kind and extremely rare. Less than 100kg is produced every year, bringing a grade of loose green tea that has previously never been brought outside of Japan.
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Exposure To Toxic Elements
This side effect stems from the environment that the camellia sinensis tea plant is grown in. Lead, arsenic and fluoride have all been identified in the soil where some of these tea plants grow, and these chemicals make their way into the green tea leaves themselves.;
With regular brewed green tea, they pose less of a threat because only a very small amount infuses into the hot water. But utilizing the entire leaf to make matcha means consuming higher levels of potentially harmful substances.;
Especially if you are consuming matcha daily, youll want to make sure youre choosing organic matcha that is also screened for these toxins and heavy metals.;
Our Sun Goddess Matcha is Quadruple Toxin Screened to ensure purity:
Where Can I Buy Matcha
Look for high-quality matcha in grocery stores like Whole Foods, at local specialty tea shops, or online.
Jade Leaf Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder, $24.95 on Amazon
This organic matcha tea is ceremonial grade, which means it’s ideal for brewing into a bright green cup of goodness.
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Matcha Health Benefits Is Matcha Good For You
Compared to sugary coffee or tea, which is commonly drunk with milk or cream, matcha is a great alternative that can give you a gentle lift. As with many superfoods or, super teas in this case, matcha has been the subject of numerous studies, leading scientists to claim matcha may have an array of benefits thanks to a class of plant compounds called catechins.
As with everything, balance is key to a healthy diet. Drinking ten cups a day isnt recommended, for instance. But when enjoyed in moderation, there are plenty of matcha green tea and all-round matcha benefits.
So far, youve read why nutritionists believe matcha tea is a match made in heaven for your body, so how can you make your own?
What Are The Health Benefits Of Matcha
Matcha boasts a bevy of proven health benefits. For starters, matcha contains high levels of L-Theanine, an amino acid that balances the teas caffeine content . This can help reduce anxiety by inducing calmness without sluggishness. L-Theanine is also healthy for your brain, promoting increased levels of focus and concentration.
Matcha also carries an extremely high antioxidant content. Its polyphenol count is said to be 60x that of spinach. Epigallocatechin gallate , a specific type of polyphenol, has also been proven to help with weight loss by burning stored fat as energy and inhibiting the formation of new fat cells. Green tea consumption of three to five cups a day is considered optimal for harnessing the full health benefits.
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Matcha Hong Kong Egg Waffles
Michael Zee
You dont need to be a gourmet chef to make drool-worthy egg waffles in your own kitchen. In fact, all you need is some time, patience, and a little self-confidence . You can do it! Get our Matcha Hong Kong Egg Waffles recipe.
A post shared by Kelly Burnett on Oct 27, 2017 at 9:01pm PDT
Matchas versatility extends to crunchy chicken fingers, which makes it nothing less than a superfood to us. This is also a fun way to sneak greens into your kids diet. Get the Matcha Chicken Tenders with Ginger Citrus recipe.
Does Matcha Keep You Awake At Night
Drinking matcha at night will keep you awake Caffeine keeps us awake. … It’s the calmness you get from the high levels of L-theanine in matcha. The L-theanine works with the caffeine to ensure you don’t get a spike of energy, but rather a nice calming energy that has helped Zen Buddhists meditate for over 1000 years.
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Lexis Favorite Way To Make Matcha
A big reason I was intimidated to make matcha at home was figuring out the right water temperature as discussed above. While its true that making;matcha;with;hot water;can release L-theanine,;heat does;not destroy the nutrients, so drinking matcha both iced or hot is wonderful! In fact, cold brew matcha is so easy, and youll experience the same benefits! Heres my easy go-to recipe that I make almost daily.
Note: Matcha is;not;an instant tea, so it technically does not dissolve in water! That is why you need to whisk, froth, shake to fully dissolve!
This easy cold brew iced matcha recipe takes 30 seconds and is delicious!
- Lexi
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