If you have seen any Japanese anime or visited a cafe lately, you
must have seen a frothy green drink being served, that drink is nothing
but Matcha Tea. A
variant of the traditional tea – Matcha Tea never
fails to delight the taste buds with its exquisite taste. Matcha green tea powder is so popular that it is not limited to the boundaries of
a teacup anymore. From ice cream to baked products, Matcha green tea has gained a strong foothold in everyone’s heart. So what's
the secret behind this popularity? Keep reading, and we’ll tell you everything
you need to know about Matcha Tea.
What
is Matcha Green Tea?
Mostly popular in Japan, Matchatea has broken all geographical barriers. Though Matcha Tea comes
from the same plant Camellia Sinensis, it is different from the other variants.
The reason behind this difference is the process of its production.
Matchatea is a type of Green Tea produced by following a specific set of procedures. It’s
shaded before the harvest by shading the shrubs from sunlight. As a result, the
growth rate becomes slower, and the level of chlorophyll in the leaves
increase. This is the reason why Matcha has a darker green colour than regular
green tea. For Matcha Tea,
only the smaller and top buds are hand-plucked instead of the whole plant. The
plucked leaves are left to dry and after that deveined and destemmed. Then,
it’s slowly grounded with stone to ensure the leaves don’t lose its aroma due
to the fiction produced from the grinding. The result is a talcum like powder
of emerald green colour. This is why Matcha Green Tea is so exquisite.
Going forward, the Matcha powder is packed in tight containers to avoid any kind of oxidation,
resulting in the colour's browning. Not only is the exquisite Matcha Tea prepared
differently, but the method of its consumption is also different. Unlike other
teas, where the tea leaves are steeped while brewing, the Matcha green tea powder is directly mixed with the water or milk. Many also like
to whisk the tea in a zig-zag motion with a bamboo whisk. The result is a
frothy green drink.
History
of Matcha Green Tea
The name of Matchatea comes from two words: the Japanese word ‘Ma’ meaning ground or
rubbed and ‘cha’ meaning tea. The Chinese Zen monks have been drinking Matchatea for over 900 years.
Gradually, it reached the Japanese mainlands in the 11th century
and has been a significant part of their culture ever since. The traditional
way of preparing Matcha green tea Powder requires various customary tools. It a slow step-by-step
process and regarded as a meditative ritual. Due to the increasing trend of an
organic lifestyle, Matcha Green Tea has regained its popularity in China and other parts of the
world.
Buy Tea online on Teacurry.com
Is
drinking Matcha Green Tea Good for you? What are the Health Benefits of Matcha
Tea Powder?
Yes, drinking Matcha Tea regularly
is a very healthy practice. As the leaves are harvested by shedding the leaves,
the nutrients' content is higher than other types of tea. Also, unlike other
tea, where the leaves are discarded after brewing, in Matchatea, the whole leaves are consumed in the form of Matcha green tea Powder. Thus, we get the benefits in a fuller way. Also, it
doesn't lose any nutrients during the preparation as it is grounded into Matcha green tea powder instead of being processed by machines.
Here are some other health benefits of the Matcha powder:
- Matchatea
has a high amount of Epigallocatechingallate. It is a kind of antioxidant
that prevents diseases like cancer.
- It
helps in weight loss.
- Matcha green
tea Powder reduces the risk of Type-2 diabetes.
- Studies
claim Matcha green
tea Powder helps in reducing LDL cholesterol and
blood pressure.
- Drinking Matcha Tea reduces
anxiety and dementia. Matchatea
considerably controls liver damage.
- It
helps improve concentration and memory.
- Matcha
tea has more caffeine than other teas, so it improves the body's energy
level. Also, the presence of L-Theanine reduces the ill effects of caffeine.
- It
prevents the body from cardiovascular diseases.
- In
terms of nutritional value, a cup of Matcha Tea is
equivalent to 10 cups of regular green tea.
When
Should I Drink Matcha Green Tea?
Though it’s subjective, there are a few particular moments when
You can drink Matchatea to reap maximum benefits. They are -
- Before
exercising.
- Before
starting to work.
- During
the afternoon break.
Also, we would suggest you avoid Matcha Tea:
- Early
in the morning.
- On
an empty stomach.
- Before
sleep.
How
Much Matcha Green Tea Should I Drink Every Day?
Anything should be done in moderation no matter how good it is.
Though, you can have up to 5 cups of Matcha Tea in
a single day. It is recommended not to have more 1 to 2 cups in a single day. 1
– 2 cups are enough to enrich your body with all the nutrients.
How
to Prepare Matcha Green Tea?
Matcha green tea can be prepared both in a teacup or a tea bowl using the Matcha
Green Tea Powder. Let us look at the steps for each of the recipes.
Matcha tea in a teacup –
- Step
1: Put the water to boil. Use filtered water for better taste.
- Step
2: Put some Matcha green
tea Powder in the cup and pour a few drops of
water.
- Step
3: Mix the Matcha
powder until it becomes a paste.
- Step
4: Add more water to the paste and stir nicely.
- Step
5: The Matcha Tea is
ready to serve.
Matcha Tea in a Tea Bowl –
- Step
1: Using a sifter, sift some Matcha Green Tea Powder into the bowl.
- Step
2: Add the boiled water into it.
- Step
3: Use a whisker to whisk it vigorously. Traditionally, bamboo whiskers
are used to prepare it.
- Step
4: After the drink becomes frothy, it is ready to serve. You can
use Teacurrymatcha green tea for
both the recipes.
Does
Matcha Green Tea Help in Weight Loss?
Matcha Tea has magical effects on weight loss programs. It’s because -
- The
EGCG catechin present in the Matcha Tea is
a fat blocker. As a result, it increases the metabolism rate and reduces
the growth of fatty cells in the body.
- The
caffeine content in the best Matchatea
is more than all other types. This helps in reducing the Body Mass Index
or B.M.I. and body weight.
Both these points have been proved by two studies published
in The American Journal of Clinical
Nutrition.
What
are the Side Effects of Matcha Green Tea?
Though the best Matcha tea is regarded to be a natural wonder for
its health benefits, it is best to maintain moderation and avoid complicacy
that may arise due to overconsumption. Here are some of the possible side
effects of Matcha Green Tea -
- Matcha
tea can cause stomach problems like indigestion and diarrhoea.
- It
may lead to allergies in pregnant women.
- As
it contains an increased amount of caffeine, it may cause sleep-related
problems like insomnia.
- Having
too much of Matcha Tea may
cause heartburn and dehydration.
These side effects may vary from person to person. Also, they can
be avoided with moderate usage of Matchatea. Judging by its popularity and surging popularity as a healthy
organic drink, Matchatea can be termed as a gem of a drink. It is a better choice than
coffee because of the presence of theanine. And thus, it can be a good
alternative for people who don’t prefer coffee. Matcha Tea is also more
nutritious than coffee and other forms of tea.
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