7 Benefits of Matcha--and How to Use It
Matcha tea is all the rage these days, but do you know why that is? In this post, we'll talk about the amazing benefits of matcha powder, plus I'll share how to enjoy this superfood drink so you can incorporate it into your daily routine.
I'm sure you've been hearing about matcha powder for awhile now--it's used as a drink, of course, but people are incorporating it into all sorts of things--desserts, snacks, and more.
Once you find out why matcha is so good for you, you'll see why its popularity has grown.
What is Matcha?
The word "matcha" literally means "powdered tea."
Matcha Green Tea is a traditional tea that was consumed by Monks to improve mental clarity.
The Matcha plant is grown in the shade and contains high amounts of chlorophyll which is good for natural detoxification. The leaves are then harvested and ground into a powder.
The tea is special because the powder is mixed into water and not brewed like most teas. This way you get all extra health benefits from the leaves and fiber too.
One Cup of Matcha Green Tea has 10 times the nutritional value of one cup of regular green tea.
Just like regular green tea, Matcha Green tea does contain caffeine. The actual caffeine amount will change based on how much powder you use. Your cup could contain from 34 to about 68mg, whether you use ½ teaspoon or 1 teaspoon. Because of the calming effects noted below, however, some say you don't get that "caffeine crash" after consuming green tea.
What does Matcha taste like?
It has several layers of flavors from a sweet to a bitter, and a rich “healthy” taste too.
You want to make sure you get a good quality brand because the quality will change the flavor. Usually you can get the best price in your local Asian markets.
Benefits of Matcha
1. High in Antioxidants
Matcha is a great source of catechin polyphenols. Catechins are the most potent and beneficial. These are special antioxidants that aren't found in any other foods.
Antioxidants are known to help protect us from cancer, cardiovascular disease, and keep us looking young and beautiful. The more antioxidants you eat, the better prepared your body can be to fight off infections and diseases, and just simply feel better.
Check out the amount of antioxidants in Matcha vs common antioxidant "superfoods":
- 6.2 times more antioxidants than Goji Berries
- 7 times more antioxidants than Dark Chocolate
- 17 times more antioxidants than Wild Blueberries
- 60 times more antioxidants than Spinach
So you can feel really good about drinking matcha but also eating foods with matcha in them, like this easy and delicious Matcha Bark.
2. Calming and Improves Focus
Matcha contains the amino acid L-theanine that is known to relax the mind and improve focus. L-Theanine helps in the production of dopamine and serotonin. These two work together to enhance mood, improve memory, and promote better concentration.
This tea can also be a great way to start your day with a focused mind ready to tackle the problems of the world. Drinking this may help you focus for a big test or presentation at work.
Instead of drinking a cup of coffee in the afternoon, this would be a great drink to grab to push you through the rest of the day.
3. High in Fiber
One of the many benefits of matcha is that it is high in fiber. Fiber helps you stay full between meals and can help stabilize blood sugars. Fiber can also be a good thing to help you stay regular and keep your bowels moving.
4. Removes Toxins
Because Matcha tea is high in chlorophyll, it is a great way to detox naturally. Natural detox is a great way to keep our liver healthy and working properly. We try to avoid toxins in our environment and foods, but you just can't avoid everything. I like to take chlorophyll tablets too to increase my intake.
(This post on 7 Easy Ways to Remove Toxins from your life is helpful to keep the problem from getting too out of hand.)
5. Helps Burn Calories
Matcha tea is considered a thermogenic food which can improve your resting metabolism and help speed up your metabolism naturally. Just like how coconut oil can increase your BMR and help you lose weight naturally. This tea is great because you can burn calories without even trying.
6. Increases Energy Naturally
Drinking Matcha increases your energy naturally because of all the vitamins and minerals that help your body function at its best. This is what makes it the perfect drink to get you going in the mornings and keep you going in the afternoon. It does have some natural caffeine (less than a cup of coffee). The extra vitamins in matcha tea also help increase your energy levels.
7. Helps Stabilize Blood Sugar, Lowers Cholesterol and Improved Blood Pressure
A preliminary study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food in 2009 showed in tests on rats with type 2 diabetes that the rats receiving matcha demonstrated decreased levels of cholesterol and blood sugar.
The matcha also seemed to protect the rats from liver and kidney damage.
What About Radiation in Matcha?
There are so many benefits of matcha that it's tempting to want to have this amazing drink. However, due to the Fukushima accident in Japan, there are some concerns about radiation and how matcha might be contaminated.
It's a sensitive issue, and a complicated one, but one that should be addressed. This article goes into a lot of detail about how to think about this issue, with their conclusion being that most matcha should be considered to be safe to drink.
How to Use Matcha
Now that you know about the many fabulous benefits of matcha, I'm sure you'll want to know how to make it.
Because it is a powder that you just mix into water, it is very easy to fix.
Just mix a couple a teaspoons into a warm cup of water and add stevia, lemon or honey to taste.
Where to Buy Matcha
There are for sure a lot of options in the market to choose from when selecting matcha. While, I'm sure there are others that are good quality, this brand is well known for having high quality and has a history of testing for radiation as well. I highly recommend it.
Do You drink Matcha Green Tea or Regular Green Tea?
How do you like it?
Sources:
https://www.matchasource.com/about-matcha-s/19.htm
https://www.matchasource.com/v/vspfiles/new-to-matcha-tea/index.html
https://www.verywellfit.com/matcha-what-should-i-know-about-it-
https://www.drlisawatson.com/matcha-superpowdered-green-tea
In the article, you should point out the harm of excessive intake of matcha, such as affecting the body's absorption of iron and causing anemia. Of course, this is just a personal opinion.
Hi Ken. I didn't hear about that. I did see one case study about it where a man was drinking 6 cups of green tea a day every weekday for 20 years. That's a lot of tea. I didn't see it on that site, however, so I guess you were just dropping a link perhaps? I removed the link since I couldn't find it there. Let me know if I am mistaken, please. Thanks.
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I love matcha green tea and have even made a matcha green tea lover of my husband when I challenged him to give up his usual morning caffeine fix of a canned energy drink, and he noticed his energy levels were far more steady with the matcha green tea. I use matcha green tea powder in my protein pancakes and mix it into my greek yogurt with some cinnamon for that afternoon pick me up without the crash. My favorite benefit to adding the matcha green tea powder? The green tint it gives my food and drinks keeps my kids from eating it 🙂
I LOVE matcha. Not a fan of its pricetag, though. Of all your sources, which do you think is organic AND most economical?
Before giving my answer, I'm going to have to do some research. Adrienne may have a better source for cost effective and organic. I don't think that what I have is very cost effective. I bought it at my local health food store.
Not for matcha but maybe try a google search for bulk matcha.
Azure Standard has an Organic Matcha sourced in Japan, 3.5 oz for $12.85. I haven't tried it so can't say how it tastes.
I am a green tea drinker but now I will be a matcha drinker, going to try and buy some today.
Let us know what you think! I like that you don't have to brew matcha and it is also easy to add into recipes.
I like my match tea with cashew milk that I make and a little liquid stevia.
Oh, that sound so creamy and delicious!
I love your site Adrienne! you always have interesting things going on here. Thank you for all the hard work and tiresome research you put in to get the info to your subscribers. Reference matcha, we don't have it here in Trinidad and Tobago and I want to agree with Carol about the toxin and all that stuff about treating people shoddy etc. I am not an health expert but I would want to be very cautious when dealing with food stuff coming from some countries.
You're too kind Rhoda! I know, it's tough. I guess we cd call the companies. I interviewed a nori producer from China area and they had tons of documentation that they had no radiation. He was from the US.
Thanks for reading Rhonda! Sounds like I need to get on the phone and investigate.
I buy matcha at Whole Foods...in the bulk jars.
Also, I make mine "bullet proof":
1-2 tsp. Matcha
1-2 Tbl. Butter
1 Tbl. Coconut oil
1 tsp. MCT oil
1 Tbl. Maca root powder
2 drops of peppermint essential oil
I mix mine in a latte machine or you can blend it a bit
so the butter melts and creates some froth.
When it cools a bit, I will sometimes add Raw honey and chia seeds.
This concoction keeps me full for 2 hours! (That is a feat for my hunger...believe me!)
YUMMY! 🙂
Oh wow! I can't wait to try your recipe. That sounds so delicious. Thanks for sharing!
OK. I Do think macha tea is great for you, and I agree with all the other comments in the article. My problem, however, is from WHERE this is sourced: Japan (Fukushima Radiation) or China (have you SEEN the pollution in the fields, of toxic heavy metals and more?????) The source of your link to macha tea is from China
NO THANKS!
I’ll take other, less great teas sourced from CLEAN sources and have fewer health issues because of it. No poisons for me or my family, thank you.
It amazes me that so many touting health and organic, etc, offer foods only from these countries: are they unaware of the area contaminated by Fukushima, or the horrible toxic contamination of the entire country of China??? (not to mention the human treatment element!)
There must be other safer locations to find good, safe, healthy foods and super-foods. And what about eating locally? Foods grown in the area where you live that should be actually better for your body....
Just a few thoughts, about what we choose to put into our bodies: not only should it be organic, but CLEAN organic, and that means NOT from sources that are inherently toxic like China for years, and now, due to Fukushima, the unfortunate Japan. (and via the Pacific ocean currents, most of the west coast of the US, as well, now:
https://www.naturalnews.com/041200_Fukushima_radiation_poisoning_contaminated_food.html
I’m not trying to freak everyone out, but the “news” is hiding the extent of this contamination from most of the public, although you can find information if you search.
We need to be alert to these cover-ups in order to protect us from unhealthy ‘healthy’ foods.
I think this is important but we do need to watch out that Natural News tends to blow things out of proportion. I didn't realize that matcha link was to a china one - odd since the post said it is only from Japan. Maybe Angela can address that. I will change the link.
From what I learned through my personal research was that Match is traditionally from Japan (a Monk Holy Drink). I found this article very interesting about sources for "real" Matcha: https://teatrekker.wordpress.com/2012/07/22/matcha/. It seems like there is mis-labeling going around marketing powdered green tea that is not Matcha (and not from Japan). What a great comment! Thank you so much for your insight.
Matcha is AMAZING. My family loves loves loves it, even though it was hard to find at first. You can use i in numerous foods. We even made them into some awesome cupcakes with & without frosting that my 5 children love. The biggest issue I had was finding the matcha in powder form locally but I did. And now that store orders it anytime I need it. 🙂
That is such a great idea to put Matcha in cupcakes. I love that your store will order it for you. What great customer service. How do you use Matcha the most? in recipes or as a drink?
I had a coworker whose parents lived in Japan. He brought me back a Matcha green tea cake around 15 years ago. I have never had the actual tea, but that cake was amazing. Not crazy sweet like american cakes but just wonderful tasting.
Japan's sweets are SO much less sweet. Some are fabulous but their ice cream is not :). That sounds fabulous though!
This tea was featured on Dr. Oz last week. I tried to find it but still can not. I will search it out online. Thanks for all the good tips and sharing the health benefits with us!
There's a link at the bottom of the post, Janet. Thanks!
Thanks Adrienne. I did see that after I commented. That makes it easy!! Have a wonderful afternoon!
Janet, Let us know what you think about it! I'm going to start finding ways to add green tea into more recipes like cookies and muffins. I think it will be fun experimenting. Thanks for reading!