Health Benefits of Matcha Tea

The world seems to be going crazy for matcha tea, incorporating it into various recipes from lattes to even brownies. Matcha tea, made from matcha powder, has been praised by Zen Buddhists for centuries. The tea bush is grown only in Japan, where local farmers cultivate the leaves and use stone grinding techniques to produce a powder substance. The health benefits of matcha tea include:

ANTIOXIDANT POWER

One serving of matcha tea is the nutritional equivalent of 10 cups of regularly brewed green tea. It is packed with antioxidants called polyphenols, which have been linked to better blood sugar regulation, blood pressure reduction and anti-aging. Matcha tea also helps you relax and boosts your immune system with its antibiotic properties.

AN ENERGY BOOST

Matcha tea contains about the same amount of caffeine as brewed coffee. However, matcha contains a healthy form of caffeine that sustains energy levels without any adverse effects like jitteriness or a caffeine crash. This allows for a more alert state of mind, but with a more profound feeling of mental clarity.

BODY DETOX

Matcha tea is grown in the shade, which causes a tremendous increase in chlorophyll production. The high levels of chlorophyll give matcha tea its deep green color and its ability to remove toxins and heavy metals from the body.

HOW TO PREPARE MATCHA TEA

Matcha tea is not prepared by brewing or steeping, like other teas. Instead, matcha tea is made by whisking the powder into a frothy beverage and consuming the ground matcha leaves along with the liquid. It can also be an ingredient in lattes and smoothies. Check out our Matcha Recipes board on Pinterest to find all of the other possibilities using matcha as an ingredient – popsicles, shortbreads, ice cream and many more!