What Is Matcha Powder
Matcha powder is made of special ground green tea leaves.
The tea shrubs grow in the shade in Japan and the leaves are processed differently and ground to a fine powder. This is the major difference to regular green tea.
Matcha powder has a huge significance in Japan. Special tea houses prepare ceremonial teas in front of the customer.
The powder is also used in foods such as mochi rice cakes, regular cakes and ice creams.
Matcha Vs Coffee Caffeine Release
On this point, I should stress out the fact that caffeine in green tea powder releases slowly in the body.
If you drink a cup of matcha, caffeine will release for about 36 hours after drinking it.
It is different when drinking coffee. Caffeine in coffee will release quickly and give you energy boost fast.
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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It Acts As An Appetite Suppressant
As you already know, it contains caffeine that accelerates metabolism and helps the body to burn fat like green tea.
This is why many diet supplements contain it but it is surely better if you drink matcha instead of eating supplements that you dont know what they are made of.
It has one more benefit if you want to lose weight. It is an appetite suppressant, so your weight loss journey will be even easier.
Powdered Matcha Is Worth The Price
To be honest, Matcha can seem like too much if its your first time drinking it.
But the price of several ounces of Matcha is well worth it. Theres a lot of labor, skill, and a certain degree of precision that goes into making a great Matcha powder.
And that comes with a price. Most often youll find the ceremonial grade as the most expensive form of Matcha.
Its also the most flavorful, and just downright impeccable. Theres really nothing bad to say about ceremonial grade Matcha. Its flavorful, has a strong dose of umami, and definitely should have that sweet aftertaste.
The aftertaste pair well with/is a result of the creamy/buttery notes youll feel throughout your sips of Matcha, which will contrast heavily with the bright vegetal flavor.
Its a work of art in its own way, and you need a certain mastery of all details to really produce great Matcha, both as a powder and as a brew.
And your best bet is starting with a great Matcha powder. I recommend going to ceremonial grade from the start. Itll be a little extra, but well worth it.
And theres no point in saving it for a special occasion, since Matcha is not the kind of tea that gets better in time.
As a recommendation I suggest this ceremonial grade Matcha by Encha. Its organic, USDA certified, and comes straight from an estate in Uji, Japan.
Youll also find the antioxidant count noted on the back of the Matcha tea pack.
You can find , and read the reviews as well.
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Differences Between Matcha Teabags And Matcha Powder
Matcha in teabags and powder form seems to be a bit of a debate lately. Some say the teabag version is worth it, mush less hassle and just generally easier to work with.
Others maintain that true Matcha will always need to be frothed with actual Matcha powder, and theres no need to bring teabags into this.
Thats also the stance Im supporting, so lets get into the main differences between powder Matcha and teabag Matcha. Just so were all on the same page.
How To Grow Matcha Green Tea At Home
One of the best things about Matcha green tea powder is the fact that it is a gift from Mother Nature. Matcha Green Tea is derived from a plant, so you can virtually grow it right at home. However, you should realize that growing Matcha Green Tea is an art that requires precision. If you do not take extra special care, there is a good chance that your plants will perish. In this comprehensive guide, you will learn all about growing Matcha Tea at your home.
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Matcha Wellness A Cup You Must Experience
Matcha Health Benefits Matcha is one of the most powerful superfood you can find today. Packed with antioxidants, chlorophyll, EGCG, fibre& minerals. A cup of matcha can have up to 10 x more nutritional value than brewed green tea.Amazing Health Benefits You Can Enjoy!
- 4-6 Hours of Jitter Free Energy
- Enhance Focus & Brain Function
- Antioxidant powerhouse, up to 137x More than regular brewed green tea
- Boost Metabolism, Burn Calories & Suppress Appetite
- Enhances immune system
- Improves Skin Elasticity & Promotes Radiant Skin
- Natural Detox
Where To Get Matcha For Smoothies
While you may find a decent quality of matcha at your local Asian market, be cautious that the options available are in fact from Japan . Matcha is a labor of love that only Japan can do best, so be cautious of low price points which sacrifice one or all of authenticity, quality, and health properties.
- 1-2 Ice Cubes for desired consistency
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How To Make: Matcha Green Tea Smoothie
While other matcha smoothie recipes chalk-up the green tea solely as a caffeinator, it so happens that matcha powder is typically the ingredient with the most concentrated nutrition, health benefits in any smoothie.
Some also wonder if you can make a green tea smoothie without matcha, the reality is that these should be one and the same. Green tea powder becomes matcha when its produced in Japan, according to strict cultivation and harvest techniques.
If green tea powder isnt matcha, then its generally bitter and unpalatable. Thats why if youre looking to make a matcha green tea smoothie, a premium quality is recommended for a savory, delicious, and zen-like focused experience.
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:
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How Does This Affect You
Having read the above, you will understand:
- There is no proper way of preparing matcha tea, only proper ways of making specific forms of traditional matcha tea, namely usucha and koicha.
- What is matcha tea should not be limited to just usucha and koicha.
- Matcha tea is really a wider category of different matcha drinks made with matcha and water
- We have recipes for other types of matcha tea that taste good and are easily enjoyable.
- You do not need to learn the tea ceremony or understand it in order to make and enjoy matcha.
- Usucha and koicha may not be appropriate for beginners, so try starting out with these other types of matcha tea.
Instead, focus on how to make matcha tea taste good. How matcha tastes is greatly affected by the way it is prepared. It is very helpful to have some guidance along the way.
That means starting with simple, milder recipes such as cold brew, our version of matcha tea, and of course, matcha lattes. Our recipes exist simply to help you make matcha tea taste good.
We also made an e-book putting some of this information and recipes into a 2 week matcha challenge to help you get started with matcha. It will help you learn important concepts and techniques to improve your enjoyment and appreciation of matcha. It will help you understand how you can replace coffee with matcha for wellness and productivity. Most importantly, it will teach you how to make matcha tea taste good.
Make A Diet And Workout Plan
Drinking this green powder will not be enough to achieve your goal. You should make a diet and a workout plan as well. Only a healthy lifestyle will bring you wanted results.
It is really not that hard. I am sure you know which foods are healthy and which workout you will enjoy.
Combine it with drinking matcha daily stay away from sodas and your results shouldnt be neglected.
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Risks And Side Effects
Many people wonder: Does matcha have caffeine? One of the biggest differences between matcha vs. green tea is its caffeine content.
In fact, matcha green tea is higher in caffeine than other green teas due to the fact that it contains the entire leaf of the tea plant. However, although it is significantly higher in caffeine than regular green tea, it is still much lower in caffeine than coffee, with around 70 milligrams per cup.
That being said, matcha green tea powder may not be a great choice if you are sensitive to the effects of caffeine. Although it gives more of a balanced, alert feeling due to the high levels of calming L-theanine, its best to keep intake in moderation and avoid around bedtime if you have any difficulty sleeping.
Because of its caffeine content, its also not recommended for children or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Keep in mind that drinking green tea on an empty stomach can lead to stomach pain and nausea. Its best to drink it after a meal, especially if you have any issues with peptic ulcers or acid reflux.
If you have iron-deficiency anemia, its important to note that green tea consumption can cause a decrease in the absorption of iron from food.
Unfortunately, lead contamination is a common concern with matcha and buying organic doesnt always guarantee purity. Buying a Japanese matcha rather than Chinese matcha can help decrease the risk of lead exposure, but its still best to stick to just one cup per day.
Is Matcha Healthier Than Green Tea
Matcha certainly offers more antioxidants.
“Matcha contains more than four times the antioxidant levels found in goji berries and dark chocolate. These antioxidants have been shown to protect against cancer, ward off cardiovascular disease, reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, detoxify the blood, alkalize the body, and stabilize blood sugars,” says Kavaliunas.
There is a particular catechin polyphenol called EGCG that matcha contains a whopping 140 times more of than its typical green tea counterpart does.
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In Which Aisle Can You Find Matcha Tea
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As you can see form the image, matcha tea can be found in the tea/coffee aisle, next to other teas. However, since matcha tea is essentially green tea, youll find it closely located to other green teas.
You may also be able to find it in the international aisle, where teas of Asian origin reside.
Where To Buy Matcha Green Tea Powder
Here at the Matcha Connection we get tons of emails asking many different questions. Today I found this email in my inbox with the subject line Where to Buy Matcha Green Tea Powder?. The writer wanted to know where is the best place to buy matcha, so i decided to put together a comprehensive buying guide on where to buy matcha green tea powder.
Do a quick internet search for matcha, and you will soon be bombarded with a copious amount of online matcha retailers.
Which one do you pick?
How do you know youre buying the real thing?
First a little introduction to what matcha is all about:
Matcha is a super concentrated version of green tea that has been increasing in popularity in the recent past, when in reality, the use of matcha dates back thousands of years. The process entails cultivating green tea plants, shade growing the plants during the last weeks before harvest, hand selecting the youngest leaves, then a drying process, and finally, grinding the leaves into a powder.
Matchas antioxidant content is at least 137 times greater than brewed green tea! Green tea is immensely healthy on its own, research studies have even found that green tea can benefit individuals in a myriad of ways, such as with weight loss, immunity, diabetes, and even cancer!
For more in depth information visit the Ultimate Guide to the Best Matcha Green Tea Powder.
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Teabags Are Often Lower Quality
This ties into the first part, and its got to do with teabags in general.
While I can appreciate them for being very convenient and easy to brew with, theyre often lacking in flavor and because of that theyre usually enhanced with extra flavors or colorings.
Now, it depends and not every tea company will do this. But most do.
Teabags are almost always made with the scraps or broken pieces of tea leaves that get left behind when loose leaf tea is treated and packaged.
This means that your tea, Matcha or not, will not brew as well as regular tea and often isnt 100% the tea its meant to be, and has some fillers like hibiscus or apple or rose hip.
As for Matcha, the usual filler for Matcha teabags is powdered green tea. No, green tea and Matcha are not the same thing and they will give you two very different flavors.
So when buying Matcha teabags, you risk buying fake Matcha, or Matcha thats been poorly made and needs to be hidden in a teabag to cover it up.
Coffee Creamer: The Secret To Making Matcha Drinks Taste Amazing
Could coffee creamer be the secret to the best-tasting matcha drinks you’ve ever tasted? Let’s find out in today’s post!
If you know me well, you know that I love coffee as much as I love green tea. My hardest decision every morning is to decide if I should pour myself a cup of green tea or coffee – what a joyful morning I have! I enjoy learning about both coffee and tea. So now, I roast my own coffee and have a green tea to accompany it!
I always try to come up with a way to make my tea better with techniques from coffee or vice versa.
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Jade Leaf Organic Japanese Matcha
Not familiar with Jade Leaf matcha powder? It’s one of our trusted registered dietitians’ favorites.
“It’s USDA certified organic, contains no other additives, and is third-party tested for heavy metals and other potential contaminants,” says Cynthia Sass, RD, CSSD, LA-based performance nutritionist.
Things To Know Before You Begin
First and foremost, you should learn a little more about the Camellia Sinensis plant. This is the plant that is needed to make Matcha Green Tea Powder. Matcha can realistically be grown outside in the United States as long as the area has a hardiness of 7 through 9, as specified by the Department of Agriculture. It is also possible to grow Matcha in containers elsewhere. To ensure that your plant thrives, it is pertinent to give it some shade and plenty of protection from the wind.
Youll also need well-drained soil that is very rich in nutrients. The plants will begin producing small, white flowers during the fall. They can grow into dense, round shrubs and can grow up to 15 feet in diameter.
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Why Is Matcha Green Tea So Expensive
We drew up a recipe with our new whiteboard paint thinking it would be a fun weekend activity, but now we understand why matcha is so expensive. Its actually really hard to do at home. Certain products, such as artisan foods or fine wines are usually ridiculously expensive. Matcha could be considered the wine amongst teas. Basically, most green teas are just machine picked, and thats it. No more further processing. This is what makes Matcha different, and more superior. Similar to white tea, Matcha is made of the youngest, finest leaves that were carefully handpicked and grounded slowly to ensure that it retains its nutritional value.
The whole process is quite similar to wine-making, because you have to use the best leaves to ensure optimum quality then, blend and ground these leaves to achieve the jaded powder thats filled with wonderful goodness.
Simply put, it needs stringent care to produce these leaves, and only a few are qualified to become matcha. Likewise, only experts could determine if the leaves can be used or not. Thats why Matcha green tea is very expensive. In fact, even in Japan, any decent blend Matcha would cost more or less $25. The more exclusive ones could reach $80 an ounce. If you were successful enough to spot cheap Matcha, then thats too good to be true.
Fortunately, you dont have to shell out a lot of cash just to enjoy Matchas goodness, because its very easy to make one your own, and were going to discuss that shortly.