Fellow green tea drinkers rejoice! Matcha green tea is well on its way to becoming the newest health kick. The vibrant green colour alone will make you feel healthier from the inside out. Unlike regular green tea, matcha is prepared with a powder that gets whisked into hot water to make a frothy, more concentrated green tea. The flavor is a crisper more potent green tea taste. Matcha powder can be made into a regular tea, a latte, thrown into your favourite smoothie recipe, and added to baking! If you’re not a tea drinker there are still lots of ways to reap these benefits. Skip the coffee and try a cup of matcha today!
1) Antioxidants
Matcha powder is made out of dried ground up green tea leaves. Rather than straining the leaves, you’re actually ingesting them, which also allows you to sip 100% of the antioxidants. Just one cup of matcha (using ½ a teaspoon of powder) has the antioxidant equivalent of drinking 10 cups of brewed green tea!
2) No Caffeine Crash
Unlike coffee, matcha releases caffeine into your body slowly throughout the day which can keep you at a consistent energy level for approximately 6-8 hours . By preventing the adrenaline spikes that caffeine gives you, you’ll never have to experience the “I just had a double shot of espresso” shakes or the dreaded caffeine crash. Tea is also a great way to keep yourself hydrated and alert during the day.
3) Revved up Metabolism
Matcha can increase the body’s own rate of burning calories by revving up your metabolism and increase the rate of fat burning! Try adding a teaspoon in your pre-work out for an extra boost. It’s also naturally sugar and calorie free.
4) EGCg: the Disease Fighter In A Cup
Matcha contains EGCg (epigallocatechin-3-gallate), which is the catechin with the most cancer fighting properties. ECGg makes up 60% of a cup of matcha and is only found in green tea. This catechin is also associated with lowered blood pressure and decreased risk of a stroke. Multiple studies also show that green tea is also beneficiary for dental hygiene by reducing bad breath bacteria. Matcha also contains high levels of chlorophyll which act as a detoxifier in your body by removing chemical toxins.
5) Focus and Concentration
Around 3pm, I always find myself needing a pick me up. Recently, I’ve been swapping my Starbucks peppermint hot chocolate for a homemade cup of matcha (which incidentally also saves my wallet). L-Theanine, an amino acid found in all teas creates alpha waves in the brain, which allows for relaxed alertness rather than relaxed drowsiness. Because matcha is not a strained tea, it contains approximately 5 times more amino acid than regular tea. It is also known for creating dopamine and serotonin, aiding in memory and concentration. When studying for finals or drowning in deadlines, I’ll take all the help I can get; I usually have a hot cup of matcha at my desk at all times.
Hate the taste of green tea but still want the benefits? Many tea companies sell flavoured matcha! Although they’re usually sweetened with cane sugar or coconut nectar to enhance the flavour, they still contain a powdered matcha base. My favourite? David’s Tea Gingerbread Matcha!