What is matcha?
The word matcha sounds pretty fanciful, but in fact, what it means is simply “Powdered Tea.” Matcha tea is a type of green tea from a similar plant to other green teas; the Camellia Sinensis plant. But what differentiates matcha tea from other green tea is how it is grown.
About 20-30 days before it is harvested, the matcha tea is prevented from having a direct hit by the sun. This process increases the tea’s amino acid and chlorophyll content, giving matcha its bright green color.
After the leaves are harvested, they are steamed, dried, and ground into a fine powder. You get nutrients from the entire tea leaf when you drink matcha tea. Plus, preparing the matcha tea is easier when you have a matcha whisk and a matcha bowl for the mix.
Matcha and Caffeine
On average, one cup (8 oz) of brewed coffee contains 95mg of caffeine. Matcha, on the other hand, contains around 70-80 mg of caffeine per cup. While the difference in caffeine is minimal, the type of caffeine in tea makes all the difference. Why? Because the body metabolizes it differently.
The caffeine in coffee is quickly released into the bloodstream, while the caffeine in matcha is slowly released. This is because the caffeine molecules in matcha (and green tea) bind to the catechins. Caffeine enters the bloodstream slowly over a 6–8-hour period as the catechins break down.
This process also prevents adrenaline and insulin spikes, which prevents the dreaded caffeine crash and drop in blood sugar – as we will cover in later parts of this article.
Here are the top 7 matcha green tea benefits.
It is high in antioxidants
Matcha tea London has one of the highest antioxidant ratings. The Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) value is 1348 units per gram. That is statistically thirteen times the antioxidants in pomegranates and fifteen times the antioxidants in blueberries.
It contains a lot of catechins – arguably three times more than the content in other green teas. This antioxidant content in matcha tea can prevent cell damage caused by free radicals.
It may protect against certain types of cancer
After countless studies on EGCG, this catechin is protective against many types of cancers. A 2008 study published in “Oncogene” found that the EGCG in green tea helped kill off prostate cancer cells, while a 2006 meta-analysis found that consuming a lot of green tea lowered the risk of breast cancer by 22%.
The same goes for colon and rectal cancer, skin cancer, and cancer of the lungs.
Matcha tea has a calming effect.
This is because of L-theanine. Amongst the varieties of helpful compounds found in matcha tea, L-theanine stands out. L-theanine is an amino acid that puts its users in a calm and meditative state. And because the organic matcha tea London is shade grown, the L-theanine content it has is reportedly five times the amount of other green teas (20 mg vs. 4 mg).
When combined with caffeine, the calming effect rids users of the caffeine energy crash. It disarms the jitters that come with caffeine crashes. Instead, you’ll feel calmer and alert.
Consuming matcha tea can improve your focus and concentration
A significant compound found in matcha powder is L-theanine. A combination of this and caffeine has been said to increase brain focus. In 2008, researchers tested the effects of cognition with and without caffeine. Participants were tested on word recognition, rapid visual information processing, critical flicker fusion threshold, and attention switching.
The results showed that L-theanine and caffeine improved both speed and accuracy of performance and reduced distraction. Additionally, matcha is beneficial in sustained attention as well as memory.
It might be good for your heart
Over the years, it has been agreed that green tea is one of the best things to take that improves the heart’s health. Matcha green tea is no exception to this claim. According to a 2009 study published in “Stroke,” drinking 3 cups of green tea daily reduced the chance of a stroke by 21%. At the same time, a secondary study in a 2011 meta-analysis of 14 controlled trials discovered that Matcha tea significantly lowered LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Matcha might help with Weight loss programs.
According to a 2009 meta-analysis of 11 studies, researchers found a link between green tea (specifically, the antioxidant EGCG) and weight loss and weight management.
A 2005 study published in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” also supports green tea’s weight-loss properties. Over the course of 12 weeks, participants who consumed catechin-rich green tea extract showed significantly lower body fat mass, BMI, and body weight than those who consumed less.
It can improve your physical performance
One of the most common stimulants in sporting activities is caffeine, largely because studies have shown that caffeine increases physical performance by 11-12%. It makes the fatty acids in fat tissue available to use as caffeine.
As an athlete, why do you need to consume so much Gatorade when you have matcha green tea at your disposal? Organic matcha tea has all the caffeine you might require.
How Best Can You Enjoy Matcha Green Tea?
The best and most common way to enjoy all of the benefits of the best matcha green tea is by making a matcha latte. A matcha latte is made with our Power Matcha mix. The good thing is that this mix includes matcha, which we source from Japan, four other brain-boosting superfoods, and a serving of greens!
But, of course, asides from taking matcha green tea as a warm beverage, there are a number of ways you can enjoy the green tea. Here are some of our favorite matcha recipes:
Matcha Oatmeal — Instead of a latte, get your morning matcha fix with a bowl of Matcha Overnight Oats.
Matcha Pancakes — This is a mix of the sweetness of biting into a pancake and eating healthy. It serves as an amazing brunch that will keep you energized and focused throughout the day.
