What is Matcha ?

The Holy Mighty Matcha! 抹茶

Matcha is a fine powdered green tea commonly used in sadou (the tea ceremony). The young tea leaves, are shaded from the direct sunlight, steamed in the same way as gyokuro, then turned into tencha (non-ground leaves) by being left to dry without being rolled, and finally their ground in a stone mill.

It's elegant aroma and concentrated sweetness, make matcha a sheer pleasure to drink, and as the powder is dissolved in hot water, all of the tea's beneficial nutrients can be taken in.

The traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony centers around the preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha in the form of hot tea and embodies a meditative spiritual style. It can also be dissolved in cold water, smoothies and used in many other beverages.

Matcha Tea Health Benefits:

Matcha Green Tea is the only tea that is known for it's unique characteristic, which is that the whole leaf is ingested. That means that you absorb all the nutrients of the green tea. The above reason, combined with it's super health benefits, make it a superfood.

Further more, it also has the following health benefits:

  • 3x times more antioxidants than the highest quality green tea.
  • One cup of matcha green tea is equal to 10 cups of the finest green tea on the nutrients it contains.
  • Anti-cancerous properties, due to the high levels of catechin and chlorophyll it contains.
  • Anti-aging properties due to the high content of antioxidants.
  • It helps with weight loss by increasing metabolism levels.
  • It helps to clear the skin and keep it more smooth and tight.
  • Cleansing and detoxifying properties due to the high levels of chlorophyll.
  • Boosts energy and helps muscles repair, due to the high levels of L-Theanine.
  • It provides protection to the skin from the harmful effects of UV radiation.
  • It boosts the immune system, due to the catechins that enhance body’s defenses against infection and disease.
  • It prevents heart attack, since it contains flavonoids.
  • Boosts focus and soothes headaches.
  • Spiritual properties, by encouraging relaxation and mental clarity.
  • Helps to de-stress.

*SCIENTIFIC REFERENCE: 2003 Determination of catechins in matcha green tea, Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.