​Matcha Green Tea: The Superlative Superfood

​Matcha Green Tea: The Superlative Superfood

6th May 2015

Matcha Green Tea: The Superlative Superfood

You have probably already heard about the health benefits of green tea generally, but are you familiar with Matcha Green Tea? Many green tea drinkers are not aware of the existence and health advantages of Matcha Green Tea over the green tea they are used to.

Over the course of two decades we’ve increasingly become ever more health conscious; and it seems that not a day goes by without one new wonder food emerging as the next essential element to be worked into our ever busier lives. Yet few truly deliver upon all that they promise, and even fewer become part of our ongoing health routines.

Matcha Green tea is truly a drink to buck this trend – as a Tea with thousands of years of heritage this is no one hit wonder, nor a passing trend. Delivering a boat load of nutrition and more taste than you could ever ask for, here we take a look at just why this Japanese delicacy is so well regarded the world over.

What Is Matcha Tea?

Matcha Green Tea has an ancient history stretching back for thousands of years in China, Japan, and other Eastern countries. It has been continually popular in Japan right up to the present day. It’s created from seriously good-for-you Camellia silences leaves – which are grown in the shade and harvested only for their tips. Once collected through a painstaking process of stemming and de-vining the leaves then go through a processes of stone-grounding, being worked into an incredibly fluffy pewter.

Once in power format this tea is diligently cared for – and is placed away from both light and oxygen so that the dark colour is maintained and the rich source of antioxidants protected.

For hundreds of years, Buddhist monks would use Matcha Green Tea to heighten their concentration as well as make their metabolism more efficient. They often referred to it as the "Health Elixir".

The tea leaves for Matcha must be grown in a very specific way, in order to ensure that they have very particular nutritional characteristics. While regular green tea has only the nutrients that have managed to escape from the tea leaves, Matcha Green Tea allows you to consume the tea leaves in their entirety, and therefore all, instead of just some, of the nutrients that green tea offers. It is even believed that Matcha Tea is up to ten times as powerful as regular green tea.

Matcha Green Tea powder is extremely finely ground and concentrated. Once it is ground, it must be stored in a way in which it will not be exposed to oxygen and light. These conditions are necessary for the powder to maintain all of its incredible antioxidant properties and strikingly vivid green colour.

Health Benefits Of Matcha GreenTea

If you thought that you’re typical, shop bought green tea was powerful stuff, then just wait until you read about Matcha Green tea – this is truly a superfood to be reckoned with.

A delicious source of calmness

Chinese Daoist’s and Japanese Zen Buddhist Monks are all firm fans of the calm that Matcha tea provides – and in actuality, they each use this drink as a tool in reaching higher Consciousness. Yoga loves take note, this is one superfood to pop down on your shopping list from now on.

An excellent way to improve memory and consternation

Matcha green tea is rich source of L-Theanine acid, which is well known as a producer of dopamine and serotonin. For these who don’t know these brain chemicals are responsible for everything from mood, to memory.

A supply of energy and endurance in a drink

Who couldn’t do with a little more energy? And there may be no better a group of people to take lessons from than Samurai Warriors – who needed staggering amount soft energy before doing battel. So, what did they drink? Yup – you guessed it – Matcha Green Tea.
The energy that this tea features is thought to be provided by the array of nutrients within it, however the L-Theanine amino acids are equally as well regarded as they provide for endurance that lasts as long as 6 hours, whilst overcoming the side effects of using stimulating drinks (such as caffeine).

The ultimate calorie burner

Thought Matcha green tea couldn’t get any better? Think again. This drink is known to increase metabolism and burn fat as much as four times faster than when working out without it. Incredible, right?
A wonderful route to detoxing
The high levels of chlorophyll within this tea are the ideal partner for those who are detoxing – even able to work on the heavy metals and chemical toxins that can be found within our systems.

A rich source of antioxidants

We hardly need to wax lyrical about why anti-oxidants are important (as they are great for everything from youthful skin, to radiant looking hair); however what may surprise you is that Katha green Tea is unpanelled when it comes to these sources of body-loving goodliness – featuring five times as many antioxidants as any other food or drink on the planet!

A friend to the immune system

Matcha Green tea is stuffed to the rafters with immune system fronded, including Potassium, Vitamins A & C, Iron, Protein, and Calcium.

A great way to improve cholesterol levels

Whilst the link between Matcha Green Tea and lower cholesterol elves remains poorly understood, studies have unequivocally shown that those who indulge in Matcha to have lower cholesterol, and be less at risk to common conditions such as heart disease as when compared to those who do drink Matcha.
Phew! Those are some pretty extensive health benefits right there, and quite honestly we’re struggling to think of a superfood that even comes close to offering body loving pluses as Mathai Green tea does, and…

Last but not least…

It tastes great! Think of sharp vegetable flavours – when coupled with the savoury acids that feature in this tea you get a drink sensation unlike any other – wonderful cool on a summer’s day, or warmed on the coldest of wintry Mondays.

Matcha Green Tea : Inspirational Recipes

Matcha green tea energy drink

Ingredients
Matcha green tea powder
Liquid stevia
1 Bottle of water

Method

1. Ensure that your water bottle is filled to the brim
2. Stir in ¼ teaspoon of math powder for every 15 ounces of water, then add in your liquid stevia to taste.
3. Pop on the top to the water bottle and shake for a good few minutes until it’s well mixed.
4. Sit back, relax and enjoy!

Matcha green iced tea

Ingredients
2 cups of water
2 teaspoons of cooking Matcha
Ice
1 sliced lime, sliced
A dash of mint

Method
1. Begin by shaking the water and Matcha together – be sure to shake until the moisture is completely free from lumps.
2. Add the once to the mix, and a little mint.
3. Pour, add your lime and some more mint to taste, and savour!

Matcha green tea coconut ice cream

Ingredients
1 cup So Delicious dairy free-cultured coconut milk yogurt
1 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk
½ Cup Ice
1 tsp Matcha Powder
1/2 tsp Stevia Extract
1/2 tsp Almond Flavouring
1/2 tsp Vanilla Paste

Method
1. Blend all of the ingredients in a blender until it’s of smooth, lump free consistency
2. Taste your efforts so far, and add more yogurt or Matcha to your taste.
3. Allow the mixture a little rest time, and then pour into your glass to serve. You can add on some whipping cream for a little naughtiness (and let’s face it, with all of those health benefits you’d be completely forgiven for doing so!).

To get the Highest Quality, Ceremonial Grade Organic Matcha Green Tea from Japan, shop here – www.hybridherbs.co.uk/matcha

References:

  1. http://food.allwomenstalk.com/vegan-yogurts-to-try
  2. http://wellnessmama.com/37430/matcha-green-tea-benefits/
  3. http://www.naturallivingideas.com/matcha-green-tea-recipes/
  4. http://minimalistbaker.com/green-tea-coconut-ice-cream/
  5. http://www.naturallivingideas.com/10-amazing-benefits-of-matcha-green-tea/

To get the Highest Quality, Ceremonial Grade Matcha Green Tea from Japan, visit here - www.hybridherbs.co.uk/matcha