Matcha Green Tea: Is This Green Tea Really That Good For You?

Last updated on 11 MAR 2019

The health benefits of matcha tea is enhanced by covering high-quality green tea leaves before they are picked to accentuate the green color. Matcha has a strong vegetal taste—some say spinachy, others say grassy with an umami character. This full-natured tea differs from other teas in many ways.

Cheap imitations of Matcha use low-grade teas and fall short in flavor, health benefits, and the routine that accompanies drinking Matcha.

Matcha is not new—it originated in Japan hundreds of years ago when the Zen Monk Eisai brought it from China in 1191 A.D. He planted the green tea seeds on the temple grounds in Kyoto and introduced the Zen philosophy to Japan. Matcha and Zen have gone together ever since.

Matcha literally translates to “powdered tea”. In Japan, “cha” means tea and “ma” means powder.

Matcha is a very special green tea that helps you see the extraordinary in the ordinary, to view life more simply, and to find peace in the world. It is intended to bring your mind, body, and soul into the here-and-now, as Matcha helps to stimulate your alertness and presence of mind, while presenting a calm, meditative state.

The ceremonial tea celebrates the profound beauty found in simple, everyday things and experiences, which makes it a very powerful meditative drink.

Green Tea Vs. Matcha Tea

There are a few main differences between regular green tea and Matcha:

• With green tea you steep the leaves and discard them. With Matcha, you drink the ground leaves that dissolve into your tea-water. Because Matcha leaves are ground, the tea is more commonly used in baking, cooking, and desserts than green tea.

• Matcha has a higher level of caffeine, polyphenols, and antioxidants than green tea. This enhances Matcha’s fat-burning and cancer preventing capabilities. Because Matcha tends to be shade-grown, it has a higher level of chlorophyll which means it has better detoxifying properties.

• The last difference is the price. Matcha is more expensive than green tea, but there are less expensive versions you can start with. Matcha comes in a whole range, from cooking to ceremonial, so choose what you believe is best for you.

The Amazing Health Benefits of Matcha Tea

• High in antioxidants:  Matcha is one of the highest rated ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) foods, extremely high in antioxidants that neutralize free radicals and fight the negative effects of environmental toxins in our bodies.

• Anti-cancer:  It is loaded with one specific catechin called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) that is widely known for its cancer-fighting properties. It retards tumor growth.

• Mental clarity:  The L-theanine content in Matcha produces two chemicals—dopamine and serotonin—that enhance mood, improve mental alertness and sharpens memory.

• Energy booster:  The natural super nutrients content in Matcha increases energy and endurance levels without any side effects.

• Detoxifier:  The concentrated chlorophyll production in Match makes it a powerful alkalizer, detoxifier and blood cleanser that is capable of chelating heavy metals and toxins from the body.

• Healthy heart:  Green juices are best for melting away fats and improves cholesterol. Well, Matcha with all its concentrated green does all that and prevents heart diseases.

BUY ORGANIC MATCHA GREEN TEA:

The Routine

To drink Matcha properly you must ensure freshness. To do this, make sure you buy from an importer who moves their stock quickly.

• Add about a teaspoon in a small bowl with a third of a cup of hot water, heated just under a boil.
• Agitate the tea and hot water with a bamboo whisk to ensure quality and no metallic taste.
• Now you are ready to drink your Matcha tea.

Ways You Can Use Matcha:

• Add 1 teaspoon to your juice and beverages.
• Sprinkle onto your salad and dips.
• Sprinkle some Matcha powder into your omelette together with other spices.
• Sprinkle some on your breakfast—oatmeal, yogurt or chia seeds pudding.
• Use Matcha alongside your other spices when you stir-fry your vegetables.
• Add a dash of Matcha powder to spike your coffee.
• Make Matcha popsicles, flavored/colored icecubes or fruit-Matcha sorbet
• Add some into your soup.
• Add some into your guacamole.

Now that you know the wonders of this wondrous tea and the variety of fun ways to use it, I hope you enjoy your tea-making ceremony as much as the wonderful state it puts you in.

Thank you and Namaste!

Source:
https://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02735/green-tea-benefits

About Sara Ding

Sara Ding is the founder of Juicing-for-Health.com. She is a certified Wellness Health Coach, Nutritional Consultant and a Detox Specialist. She helps busy men and women identify their health issues at the root cause, in order to eliminate the problems for optimum physical/mental health and wellbeing.

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