Very few brands have caused quite the frenzy quite like matcha green tea, and not just for the obvious health benefits it brings, but also the fact that it contains a myriad of antioxidants. It also gives you several times more energy compared to your run of the mill caffeine drinks. So what is all the fuss about Matcha green tea? And why is it so popular?
What is Matcha Tea?
Despite its eerie look of grounded grass, matcha tea is one of the most popular, Japan-based tea to hit the market. It simply consists of powdered green tea leaves that are the main ingredient in making anything from lattes to various forms of herbal essence.
This tea powder is made of ground whole leaves. It stands out due to the concentrated nature of its flavour and the strikingly green colour that comes attached to it.
Before learning how to make matcha green tea, you first have to know how to get that fine neon-green powder. The preparation process consists of harvesting, followed by drying of the leaves, separation of the stem from the leaves, which then culminates in the grinding of the dried leaves using traditional ball mills.
Key elements
Matcha tea contains the EGCG catechin that is known to be a cancer-fighting agent. You have the obvious green tea benefits that span from heart health benefits to battling type two diabetes based on the various antioxidants present in the drink.
The mode of preparation also means that you get maximum benefits from this tea brand. This means a hundred times the antioxidants you get from your run of the mill green tea, as well as 100% of the nutrients.
Health Benefits
On average, you would require about 10 cups of regular green tea to get the benefits attached to matcha green tea. Health benefits here vary, there are suggestions that it improves your metabolic rate quite substantially, although the degree of this benefit has been known to differ on a person to person basis.
Matcha is also rich in fibre, and some varieties have been known to burn calories and assist in overall weight loss. Further down, this decrease in negative weight is directly linked to a lower chance of heart-related problems, a better BMI, decreased chances of diabetes and more favourable blood sugar.
Psychologically, matcha tea comes highly recommended for reducing stress and anxiety. It calms the mind and causes the body to relax. The high level of antioxidants contained is also known to reverse the ageing process, making your daily cup of matcha tea your little elixir brew.
The L-Theanine property of matcha tea promotes focus and catalyzes concentration at the highest levels. It has been known to be an age-old remedy for monks, who used it to facilitate meditation. So if you are looking to enhance your memory and learning abilities, then matcha tea is what you are looking for.
Lastly, the energy boost resulting from matcha tea is not a caffeine rush but simply the rich blend of natural properties it contains. It is a great way to ensure you have a productive, mellow day, even if you are not doing any physical work.
Can Anyone Drink it?
It probably isn’t recommendable to a 2-year-old, but for anyone of caffeine drinking age, then it is worth a try. It is especially advantageous to people battling with issues of weight, high cholesterol, people who have anxiety and stress-related problems and generally people who have low energy levels daily.
Athletes and regular gym-goers are also good candidates, as it is also known to increase exercise endurance by up to 24%!
Bottom Line
Matcha green tea is causing waves the world over not because it’s neon green, but because it’s benefits have been tried and tested, and yes, it does work.
Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.
