What's Up With Japan's Green Tea Matcha?
You might not have heard of the newest super-food that is booming in health circle popularity right now; Matcha, A bright green powder made from green tea leaves. Matcha green tea powder is unique to Japan and has been celebrated in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony for decades. The powder boasts numerous health benefits such as renowned nutritional benefits, being an antioxidant powerhouse, detoxifier, and natural weight loss aid.
The initial taste of matcha is a bit sharp which is then followed by a sweet aftertaste, much like the sensations of eating dark chocolate or red wine. As it is made from the entire green tea leaf, you receive 100% of the nutrients of the leaf. This means that matcha tea has 137 times more antioxidants than brewed green tea.
“One cup of matcha= 10 cups of regularly brewed green tea in terms of nutritional content.”
Some Quick Matcha Facts:
Packed with antioxidants
Boosts metabolism and burns calories
Detoxifies effectively and naturally
Calms the mind and relaxes the body
Is rich in fibre, chlorophyll and vitamins
Enhances mood and aids in concentration
Provides vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium
Prevents disease
Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar
Where Does this Green Stuff Come From?
Matcha is grown only in Japan, where it is cultivated by traditional farming methods. It gets its bright green colour from the increased chlorophyll content that is caused by farmers gradually reducing the amount of sunlight the plants receive. After harvest, the leaves are steamed, air-dried, and then stone-ground to become the powder you can buy in stores today.
Antioxidants Rejoice!
Antioxidants are naturally occurring chemical compounds that work to prevent aging and disease. Experts claim that Matcha possesses twenty times more antioxidants than fruits like pomegranates or blueberries! It also beats Goji berries, acai berries, broccoli, and spinach! This means drinking/eating matcha leaves your body better able to fight against infections and diseases. By brewing regular green tea, countless antioxidants are essentially being wasted! The water it is being steeped in can only extract a portion of what the tea actually has to offer. The greater majority of the antioxidants end up remaining trapped in the tea leaves.
Matcha beats this dilemma since it is a powder made from the entire tealeaf. By drinking matcha you are getting the most out of green tea, plenty of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids too!
Matcha and Weight Loss
Just when you thought matcha couldn’t get any better, it does! The tea is nearly calorie free and boosts metabolism while burning fat. An American study found that consuming matcha tea could increase the rate of burning calories from a typical 8-10% of daily energy expenditure to a range of 35-43%.
Consuming matcha is also very easy on the body. It does not raise blood pressure or heart rate. This allows the green tea powder to be a safe alternative to many ‘quick fix’ diets or regimes that might not be the safest weight loss alternatives.
Good To Read: The Surprising Health Benefits Of A Glass Of Wine Green really is the colour of health, and matcha is really green! The high amounts of chlorophyll work as a wonderful and powerful everyday detoxifier. Both heavy metals and chemicals are removed from the body!
Concentration Tool For over a thousand years, Japanese monks would use Matcha to aid in their meditation practice. While sitting for long hours, it would allow them to remain calm yet attentive. This ability is caused by the presence of L-Theanine, an amino acid that promotes a state of relaxation by acting upon the brain’s functioning.
This rare amino acid also assists with memory and learning, all while inhibiting any of the negative effects of caffeine. L-Theanine can be found in many teas, however, the super-food can contain up to five times more than common black and green teas!
How to Make Matcha Tea and Some Other Tasty Treats!
Matcha Tea:
Use this easy preparation time to relax in the morning!
Boil water
Add one teaspoon of Matcha powder to 6oz (177 millilitres ) of water…Start by adding a few drops of water to the powder and mix into a paste.
Add the rest of the water to the paste and mix
Taste…add more powder/water to your liking
Enjoy your super healthy and tasty matcha tea!!
Matcha Coconut Latte:
Add ½ - 1 teaspoon matcha powder into mug
Add ¼ cup hot water and ¼ cup warmed coconut milk
Whisk together quickly in an up and down motion until the drink is frothy
(Optional) add sweetener such as honey
Enjoy!
Matcha Green Tea Chia Pudding
Step One: Blend 2 cups almond milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 teaspoon matcha powder until smooth
Step Two: Pour the mixture over 6 tablespoons of chia seeds
Step Three: Stir every few minutes for about 15 minutes Step Four: Let the mixture sit for at least an hour, or overnight in the fridge Step Five: Stir once more before eating and add fresh berries if you like *Makes two servings
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