How Matcha Tea Is Making The World A
Better Place
Nikki Fotheringham 01/20/2016
HUFFPOST Canada
Matcha powdered green tea is so hot right now. If it weren't green,
it would be the new black. From Hollywood stars to Starbucks,
everyone is going gaga about matcha. But just what is all the fuss
about anyway?
Far from being a new food fad, matcha tea has been
around for centuries. It has formed the cornerstone of Japanese tea
ceremonies for over 900 years. It is being touted as a wonderfully
nutritious brew with a ton of health benefits and the kind of calm
focus that puts the jitters of a caffeine high to shame.
Get all the things!
It's estimated that you lose around 90 per cent of the benefits of
other herbal teas because you strain the leaves. Matcha is a
concentrated, powdered green tea so you consume the actual leaves
and get far greater health benefits.
Matcha's got anti-oxidants up the Ying-Yang
with 137 times more than regular green
tea.
If you suffer from diabetes, matcha tea can help
maintain a healthy metabolism.Studies show that matcha inhibits the
renal and hepatic damage that many diabetic patients
suffer.
Matcha tea contains antioxidants catechin and EGCg,
so you get all the perks of caffeine without the jitters. Because
matcha is shade-grown, it is packed with amino acids like
L-theanine which relaxes the
body and
allows for sharp
concentration. This is why the Zen
Buddhist monks have used it for centuries to augment
meditation.
Antioxidants like polyphenols EGCg, and
L-theanine boost the immune
system and help to combat bacterial,
viral and fungal infections and gastrointestinal
disorders. The EGCg in
matcha tea helps to promote cardiovascular
health and keeps cholesterol levels
low. It also has chemopreventitive properties which prevent the
proliferation of cancer cells in bladder and colorectal cancers.
OK, so what does it taste
like?
If this is sounding too good to be true, then surely there must be
a catch. My first reaction was that it probably tastes like
medicine, but it is reminiscent of strong green tea with a sweet
aftertaste. If you like green tea, you'll love this. Matcha is also
whipped to make a froth which I know all you cappuccino drinkers
will enjoy.
The only caveat is that those with sensitive
stomachs or IBS may experience adverse effects thanks to the
caffeine content. While the caffeine in matcha doesn't leave you
jittery, it may cause diarrhea and cardiac arrhythmia in those with
a sensitivity to caffeine.
If you can drink coffee, you're probably going to
enjoy the benefits and taste of drinking matcha tea. Ensure that
you get a good
quality matcha tea, and you don't need
all the bamboo accessories, you can just use your kitchen whisk to
get that frothy goodness!