Have you ever heard of matcha green tea powder and wondered what it is? Learn more about the history of this Japanese superfood, its taste, health benefits and how to incorporate it into your healthy diet.
If you've been to any coffee shop or cafe lately, you've seen some really fun-looking green drinks on display! Or you've found Matcha on the dessert menu at your favorite restaurant. Oh yeah, Matcha is everywhere nowadays.
The install-worthy green powder has become every food blogger's BFF thanks to its visual appeal, but it's also supposed to have many health benefits. Last but not least, it has a wonderful green tea taste. Find out more about the ground green powder everyone drinks in this blog post.
What is Matcha Powder?
So what is matcha powder? It is a stone powder made from green tea leaves. The best Matcha comes from Japan. What sets it apart from other green teas is the way it is grown. The tea bushes are covered for several days before harvesting to protect them from sunlight and, therefore to increase the chlorophyll content of the plant. This process is responsible for the vibrant green color of the leaves.
After harvesting, green tea leaves are dried and then finely ground into Matcha powder. Due to the laborious process of producing Matcha, this green tea is generally more expensive than tea bags or tea bags.
Matcha powder is most commonly used to make tea, simply by mixing the powder with hot water, but there's no shortage of creative uses (scroll down to the recipe). It is green in color and is now widely available in Western countries.
History of Matcha Green Tea Powder
Matcha originates from China, where matcha tea has been prepared since 618 AD. Chinese Zen Buddhists began incorporating matcha tea into ceremonies in 1100 AD. Chinese monks later brought matcha tea to Japan where the tea ceremony grew in popularity.
The meditative act of preparing, serving and sipping Matcha is now the backbone of the famous Japanese tea ceremony. While the origin of Matcha is purely ceremonial, powdered green tea has now become popular worldwide.
As well as its most common use being in drinks like tea lattes, smoothies or bubble tea, foodies also find it a baking and cooking ingredient using it to add a nice tea flavor to baked goods, ice cream, salad dressings, you name it. .
What does Matcha taste like?
Matcha has a very complex taste and is unlike any other tea you've ever tried. It is rich and intense and leaves a lingering sweetness. The highest grade matcha will have no bitterness in it, while the culinary grade will have a slight bitterness. You can balance the taste with a little agave or honey if it's bitter.
What are the health benefits of Matcha?
Matcha has also recently been making waves in the health and beauty sector. Green tea is generally considered healthy because the leaves contain antioxidants. However, water can only extract a small amount of them. In the case of Matcha, one consumes the whole leaf, which makes the powder exponentially more healthful.
Further health benefits of matcha powder:
- It improves metabolism,
- body detox,
- rich in fiber.
- Can improve mood and
- lower cholesterol and blood sugar.
Matcha for Skin
Yep… the benefits of Matcha just don't stop! Instead of ingesting this grass, try applying the powder topically or using Matcha products for glowing skin.
The benefits of Matcha for the skin include:
- Treat inflammation
- Improve complexion
- Reduces redness
- Balances signs of aging
- Treat oily skin
- Supports all skin types
Does Matcha have any side effects?
Matcha is generally considered safe, but it's not important to overdo it because it contains caffeine. Excessive caffeine consumption can cause headaches, insomnia, heartburn, and irritability.
It also depends on how you consume Matcha – full-fat lattes aren't ideal for regular consumption, nor are sugar-filled cupcakes with matcha frosting.
Is Matcha good for weight loss?
One of the excellent benefits of Matcha is its ability to help you lose weight. Consuming green tea increases thermogenesis, the body's calorie-burning rate, from about 10% to 35-43% of daily energy expenditure.
If you are drinking matcha tea to support weight loss gently, you should choose caffeinated one. Why do you ask? Because the decaffeination process significantly reduces the amount of flavanols and antioxidants that can aid weight loss.
How much caffeine is in matcha powder?
Matcha is a type of green tea, so it does contain caffeine. Because it is made from crushed leaves, it has a higher caffeine content than bagged tea. It contains about 34mg, which is about half the amount of espresso coffee or the same as a cup of brewed coffee. The caffeine punch of Matcha is more energizing and longer-lasting than coffee.
Matcha calms the mind, improves mood and helps concentration. The energy you get from drinking a cup of Matcha differs greatly from coffee. Even though coffee sometimes makes me jittery and anxious, I feel alert, clear-headed, and energized yet calm after drinking Matcha! The perfect drink to drink while studying or working on your computer.
Can I drink Matcha every day?
Drinking Matcha every day is fine, but you don't want to drink too much, especially if you are sensitive to caffeine. If you drink your morning coffee every day, try swapping it for matcha tea. You'll still get the energy punch, but it has many more health benefits.
How is Matcha prepared?
Different grades, or qualities, of Matcha determine what type of recipe you should use Matcha for. The main values are:
- Ceremonial grade: The highest quality Matcha in color, taste and texture. Reserve for drinks.
- Culinary grade: Still high quality but not as good as the ceremonial grade. Bake or cook with this Matcha.
Save the ceremonial grade matcha for drinks. It's the best quality matcha, and just like you wouldn't stir a $50 bottle of wine into a stew, you will want to save the finest quality of ceremonial-grade Matcha on a recipe.
Use culinary-grade Matcha for recipes like my Matcha Granola, Popsicles, and more.
Matcha Beverages
Matcha is delicious in a matcha latte, made with just a little hot water, frothed milk and a pinch of sweetener.
You can also make a simple ceremonial tea by stirring Matcha in hot water.
If you prefer an iced drink, try making a matcha latte as written but use cold milk instead of froth. Pour over ice… it's delicious! So much better than Starbucks.