There is no doubt, Matcha Green Tea has become super mainstream this past year for its taste, health benefits and how damn pretty it looks. Especially, when you are looking to pin that aesthetically pleasing picture on your feed. What we drink and eat does not need to be dull at all, right? You will find this bad boy versatile and able to mix it up to be used in lattes, smoothies, ice cream-and even cakes!
They are even saying that it is a contender for the benefits that green tea brings to the table, and here is us thinking, did we ever really even actually like the taste of green tea? We do not know about you, but for us it is a no-brainer and we would trade for it in a heartbeat! Of course, before you make the decision on which of the green stuff takes your heart, it is only fair to get as much information about Matcha, and how easily it can be integrated within your everyday life. Is it easy, you ask? Absolutely! By the time we are done here, you will have wished to have known about Matcha so much sooner.
What actually is Matcha Green Tea?
Matcha has Japanese origins, in short. It is made from dried tea leaves, and is grounded until it’s a fine powder. Every batch of Matcha will have its own unique taste, some far more bitter than others. However, it is usually recognised for its vibrancy and illuminating green colour, which is often the same in every batch due to the chlorophyll levels which are presented within the plant. While it has been a must in Japanese traditions for many centuries, it is still a very new concept for those outside cultural ties.
You probably may be aware since our comparison to green tea earlier on, that the plant is an antioxidant too, however the benefits Matcha possess are in surplus when compared to green tea. Why? Because when you drink tea, you dispose of the leaves, meaning you only get a fraction of the benefits. Matcha tea is something you consume whole; so, you get all the benefits when you drink it!
What are the health benefits of Matcha Green Tea?
The Matcha leaves in its raw form actually grow under shade, meaning they retain the nutrients within their leaves. Even when it is made into powder via grinding, the process is done in the dark to ensure the nutrient capacity is contained.
So, like all the other teas that we hear of being great antioxidants, Matcha has high EGCG Catechins antioxidant content, which is considered to be anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antiviral. [1] While it seems rather crazy to insinuate that a fine green powder can have so many benefits, so many health studies have proven it. In addition to this, it can actually promote your weight loss and fat loss, as EGCG has powerful effects on the metabolism. The antioxidant actually increases the norepinephrine hormone within your body, which promotes fat loss. [2] Subsequently, it makes complete sense how many of the best fat burners these days actually use substituents of the antioxidant EGCG, as it helps your fat loss diets excel if you intuitively use them within your everyday diet and lifestyle.
When it comes to understanding the health benefits, we are still scientifically on the cusp of understanding its maximum effects. Nevertheless, it is most definitely a convincing start when we read that those who had drunk Matcha green tea within a 12-week controlled clinical study, reported lower blood pressure and LDL’s concentrated within their blood plasma. [3] So, we most definitely will take that up within our diet, wouldn’t you?
Tips for when you use it
First thing is first, you need to know a few things to make sure you maximise its usage. Matcha varies in quality and concentration. Obviously, the concentration correlates to its benefits, as that means it has retained more of its nutrients within the manufacturing process. However, that will usually mean it is going to be more bitter, so you can totally neutralise that taste by adding honey or any sweetener derivative. A great option out there on the market is the Aiya range which alternates its Matcha concentration products depending on the usage you are aiming for i.e. lattes, baking, tea alternatives.
Once you have opened your Matcha, make sure you do not leave it past its shelf life. Word on the street is, you have to consume it within two weeks of opening, as its quality and half-life in terms of active ingredients, will diminish quite quickly. So, act fast!
How to Make Matcha Green Tea
Learn how to make Matcha Green Tea with or without sweeteners of your choice. Because Matcha varies due to personal preferences, some like it bitter with no additional sweeteners, while others can get super creative by adding vanilla syrup, white chocolate mocha sauce or honey. Add whichever you prefer and sweeten to your own taste!
Prep Time: 5 mins
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Japanese
Equipment: Kettle
Ingredients
- 1/4 tbsp Matcha green tea powder
- 2 ounces hot water – 80 Degree Celsius
- 6 ounces additional hot water or steamed milk – Dairy alternatives are up to you
Instructions
- Sift the Matcha powder into a bowl or your mug to prevent lumps
- Pour the 2 ounces of water incrementally, while making sure to whisk vigorously sideways, until the Matcha merges with the water to form a paste.
- Add the rest of the hot water or steamed milk to your paste and continue whisking until it forms a foam-like appearance.
- Add your sweetener of choice like Maple or Vanilla syrup or try honey
What’s the secret to making it?
This is the part where you actually learn how to make it, so listen up closely, and get your notebook out to take some notes down.
Sift away
You will need to avoid clumps when making your mixture, so it is often advised to sift it into a bowl, which will help prevent you from drinking a lumpy Matcha tea later on. The optimal amount will of course alter with time and your taste preferences, however we suggest you start off with ¼ of a teaspoon.
Pour hot water and whisk again
In total, you will need around 2 ounces of hot water that is at an optimal temperature of 80 degrees Celsius. But you will need to add it in increments and make sure you vigorously whisk it from side to side, to avoid any clump formations. The harder you whisk, the better a paste it will be for when you add your milk later. If you are not adding milk, (ignore the next step too) and want a tea alternative, keep adding more hot water alongside whisking to reach your preferred serving
FYI – You should not drink your Matcha tea at higher temperatures than what we have stated, as it can kill the benefits of the leaf substance.
Add steamed milk
Once you have made your paste, top it up with some steamed milk of your choice. From our experience, dairy alternatives like oat milk, give the Matcha latte that subtle sweetness that works perfectly. If you are trying to avoid sugary sweeteners like syrups and honey this will be an ideal alternative. Do keep whisking until you have a foamy texture, that signifies it is all ready for you.
Voila! You have your perfect Matcha tea or latte companion to relish!
Where can you buy Matcha?
There are plenty of supplement suppliers of Matcha but we recommend searching sites like Amazon in the UK for the best Matcha deals.
References:
- Kochman, J., Jakubczyk, K., Antoniewicz, J., Mruk, H. and Janda, K., 2020. Health Benefits and Chemical Composition of Matcha Green Tea: A Review. Molecules, 26(1), p.85.
- Gunnars, K., 2021. How Green Tea Can Help You Lose Weight. [online] Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/green-tea-and-weight-loss [Accessed 1 March 2021].
- Oaklander, M., 2014. This Kind of Tea Lowers Blood Pressure Naturally, [online] Time. Available at: https://time.com/3517842/this-kind-of-tea-lowers-blood-pressure-naturally/ [Accessed 27 February 2021].
