For those who have not explored this new health trend, Matcha is a unique green tea from Japan. The plants are grown under shade, hand-picked early in the spring, and stone-ground to preserve the powerful antioxidants and chlorophyll. Matcha has about 10 times the antioxidants of regular green tea. It has a sweeter, milder flavor than full sun varieties of this green superfood, especially ceremonial grades. Matcha also boosts focus and concentration, making it uniquely helpful. Keep reading to learn about matcha tea.

What Is Matcha?

A few years ago, Matcha started popping up everywhere – in lattes, ice cream, smoothies, icing, and more. Matcha is a popular powdered green tea. It has unique, non-bitter taste and vibrant green color and is well-known as the most aromatic form of green tea. If you’re not familiar with matcha, it’s a Japanese green tea powder made from finely powdered dried tea leaves. It has a slightly bitter, vegetal taste and a vibrant green color that results from the leaves’ high chlorophyll levels.

It’s been the cornerstone of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies for centuries, but it recently became popular in the US because of its health benefits. While matcha’s origins are ceremonial, the green tea powder is widely popular around the world in beverages like tea lattes or boba tea, and as a cooking ingredient in everything from ice cream to salad dressing.

The practice of brewing matcha tea is Japanese in origin and the word matcha means “ground tea” in the Japanese language. The powder is whisked into hot water to form an earthy tea often enjoyed in Japanese tea ceremonies, but interest and consumption of matcha is now increasing around the world.

Matcha is popular in health stores and coffee shops, available as matcha shots, lattes, teas, and desserts.

Like green tea, matcha comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. However, it’s grown differently and has a unique nutrient profile.

Farmers shade the plants used for matcha for most of the growth period. This lack of direct sunlight increases chlorophyll production, boosts the amino acid content, and gives the plant a darker green hue (1Trusted Source).

After harvesting the leaves, producers remove the stems and veins and grind the leaves into a fine powder. This is matcha.

Matcha contains the nutrients from the entire tea leaf and contains more caffeine and antioxidants than are typically present in green tea.

Studies of matcha and its components have unearthed a variety of benefits, showing that it can help protect the liver, promote heart health, and even aid in weight loss.

What Does Matcha Taste Like?

Matcha has a vegetal flavor with some nuttiness, slight sweetness, and minor bitterness. The flavor of matcha may be impacted by the grade and quality of the matcha. Ceremonial grade matcha will typically have a smoother sweeter flavor with less bitterness while culinary grade matcha is less sweet but features a nuttier flavor. The flavor of matcha can also grow more bitter over time when exposed to oxygen.

Diverse Application of Matcha

Matcha For the Outside Applications

Bath Time – Add a sprinkle of matcha to your tub, along with Epsom salt, for a soothing, relaxing, and energizing bath. Antioxidants protect skin from damage, chlorophyll detoxes and deodorizes, caffeine invigorates, and L-Theanine calms body and mind. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or light a candle to make it even more enjoyable.

Body Scrub – Get the benefits of matcha with exfoliation. Mix matcha with sugar and a little water to rub and revitalize skin. Try using your culinary matcha on your exterior. It is perfect for this.

Foot Soak – Add matcha to your foot soak. You will enjoy the earthy scent of it while softening callouses, easing pain, and rejuvenating skin.

Foot Scrub – Like the body scrub, mix matcha with sugar to scour away dead skin, callouses, and soreness. Add coconut oil to make it extra special to moisturize, soften, revitalize, and heal.

Face Mask – Matcha makes an amazing addition to any face mask recipe. Try it with honey, yogurt, coconut oil, oatmeal, bananas, and more. Let the antioxidants go to work where you need it most while the caffeine burns fat and revitalizes cells.

Wrinkle Cream – Mix a small amount of matcha into your wrinkle cream. Homemade or store-bought both work well. You get extra antioxidants to protect and repair damage. Catechins and tannins tighten skin. Caffeine invigorates.

Toothpaste – This is kind of in between the outside and inside, but we’ll include it in the outside list. Matcha toothpaste helps deodorize the mouth thanks to the chlorophyll, but it also invigorates gums, combats bacteria, and repairs cellular damage. Try adding a half teaspoon of matcha to 2 parts baking soda and 4 parts coconut oil. Add a two drops of peppermint essential oil for flavor. Add a tiny amount of charcoal for extra deodorizing, whitening, and detoxifying power. One last tip, use a ceremonial blend or a high culinary for this. You will taste it.

Matcha For the Inside Applications

Matcha Pops – Matcha makes for a deliciously beneficial popsicle. It plays well with most fruits. Try it with lemonade, strawberries, or mango. Mix it with yogurt for a creamier pop. This hot summer is begging for them, whether you use ceremonial or culinary matcha to whip them up.

Oatmeal – Start your day with a slow-burning carb and the sustained energy of matcha combined. Mix a half teaspoon in your oatmeal. Add fresh fruit for even more antioxidants. You will notice the difference in how you feel. This same trick works with granola, quinoa, and other ancient grains.

Yogurt – Just like oatmeal, this food gets a boost with a small half teaspoon of matcha. As a protein-rich snack, breakfast, or afternoon pick-me-up, matcha infused yogurt will help you get going.

Baking – Matcha works very well in cupcakes, donuts, pastries, pancakes, and more. Baking lets you use culinary grades of matcha, which is usually stronger, slightly more bitter, and less expensive. This just means the earthy flavor comes through well in baked goods, you get all the same benefits, and you save a bit.

Cooking – Matcha lends its unique flavors to cooking too. Try adding it to marinades, dry rubs, injections, and more. Dissolve a teaspoon in your favorite cooking oil. It plays well with olive, coconut, and even butter.

Smoothies – Smoothies are a health-food staple, but you can boost your smoothies with matcha for a ton of antioxidants, energizing caffeine, and the focus enhancing benefits of L-Theanine. This is another great way to use culinary matcha.

Popcorn – Sprinkle a little matcha over your popcorn. You can go savory or sweet with it too. Try white chocolate and matcha. Or go with sea salt, lime, and matcha. These are all winners.

Cocktails – Matcha was designed to be a powerful tea, but do not forget all the other beverages it can enhance. Lattes, lemonades, and even cocktails. Try bubbly spritzers, margaritas, or even a matcha mule. We have recipes to explore.

Benefits

Numerous studies on green tea reveal several science-backed health benefits. While much of the research has been done with green tea, the perks extend to matcha since matcha is made from whole green tea leaves.

Help Prevent Cancer

Green tea has long been studied as a cancer prevention tool. In a 2018 study, participants who drank more than 10 4-ounce portions of green tea per day developed cancer 7.3 years later than those who drank fewer than three 4-ounce portions per day.

Another 2018 study among people with stage 1 and 2 breast cancer found that those who drank an average of eight cups of green tea per day had a lower risk of cancer returning and a longer disease-free period compared with those who consumed a daily average of two cups.

Help with Depression

Though its limited, research has suggested a potential link between green tea and reduced depression. For example, one study investigated the connection between green tea consumption, postmenopausal people, and depression.

The researchers found that the participants who were assigned to the green tea group ended up with lower depression levels. However, they also said that factors such as how the tea was brewed and its concentration could have played a role.

Help Protect Brain Function

An analysis of 36 studies found that green tea reduces the risk of cognitive disorders. These brain problems, which are more common after age 65, typically affect learning, memory, movement, language, attention, and problem-solving.

They range from mild cognitive impairment to disorders such as dementia, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. The data showed that the green tea consumed, the greater the protection against such disorders.

Improve Male Fertility

A 2022 study of healthy Chinese men found that those who drank tea had a higher total sperm count and greater sperm concentration—indicators of fertility—than those who never drank tea. The increase in sperm count was seen among those who drank tea at least three days a week.

After a review of already-published research, scientists noted that green tea contains high quantities of polyphenol antioxidants. These antioxidants counter compounds that attack healthy cells, including those in testicular tissue. Green tea may also increase the movement of semen and its capacity to survive.

Reduce Cholesterol

A 2020 research analysis concluded that, in general, green tea drinkers who are at a healthy weight had significantly lower levels of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. LDL is considered the "bad" cholesterol because it leads to a buildup of cholesterol in arteries, which ups the risk of heart disease.

Reduce Blood Pressure

Green tea consumption has been shown to significantly reduce both systolic—the upper number—and diastolic—the lower number—blood pressure. The effects were even greater in people with existing high blood pressure or other heart disease risk factors. The outcome is partly due to green tea's ability to relax blood vessels, which improves blood flow and reduces inflammation.

Protect Bone Health

Research in postmenopausal people in Korea found that those who did not consume any green tea or consumed less than one cup daily during the previous year were more likely to have reduced bone mass in their spine or thigh compared to those who drank green tea three times a day.

Other research shows that drinking tea is tied to a reduced risk of osteoporosis. The effect is likely due to the drink's antioxidants, which help prevent bone loss and enhance bone formation.

Matcha tea is easy to prepare

There are many ways to enjoy matcha.

You can make traditional matcha tea by sifting 1–2 teaspoons (2–4 grams) of matcha powder into your cup, adding 2 ounces (59 ml) of hot water, and mixing it together with a bamboo whisk.

You can also adjust the ratio of matcha powder to water based on your preferred consistency.

For a thinner tea, reduce the powder to a half teaspoon (1 g) and mix with 3–4 ounces (89–118 ml) of hot water.

For a more concentrated version, combine 2 teaspoons (4 g) of powder with just 1 ounce (30 ml) of water.

You can also:

combine matcha with turmeric in a tea or latte

stir it into milk-based foods and drinks, such as lattes or rice pudding

try it in desserts, such as matcha ice cream or cookies

If you’re feeling creative, try whipping up protein smoothies to boost the nutrient content of your favorite recipes.

 

Nutrition of Matcha

Matcha is low in calories, macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals but rich in a variety of antioxidants.¹ One teaspoon, or 4 grams (g), of matcha powder—the amount used in many recipes to make a single matcha latte—provides:

Calories: 12

Fat: 0g

Sodium: 0g

Carbohydrates: 0g

Fiber: 4g

Protein: 0g

The antioxidants in matcha—a key aspect of its nutritional value—support detoxification, reduce inflammation, and protect cells from damage that can lead to aging and disease.

Matcha also has a higher caffeine content compared to steeped green tea. Matcha's caffeine content can range from 18.9 to 44.4 mg/g.¹ One teaspoon of matcha is 4g, so the caffeine level is anywhere from 75.6 to 177.6mg. In comparison, one cup of brewed green tea contains 29.4mg of caffeine.

How Is Matcha Made?

Matcha powder is made by stone grinding specialty green tea leaves into a fine green powder that is vibrant green in color. This powder is then used to make matcha tea. Because the tea leaves are consumed while drinking matcha tea, they need to be grown and picked following very particular specifications. These are the steps that green tea farmers need to take to grow green tea leaves for matcha:

The green tea bushes must be shaded from the sun and light must be filtered to force the leaves to produce more chlorophyll in each leaf, providing a rich green color and a boost in nutrients.

The newest spring buds and leaves are handpicked and the stems are removed.

The leaves need to be steamed within a few hours of picking to prevent oxidation and to bring out the green color.

The leaves must be allowed to dry in a cool location.

Once dry, the leaves are slowly stone-ground into a fine powder for matcha tea.

Where to Buy Organic Matcha Powder?

 

At yanggebiotech.com, we understand the importance of choosing the right Matcha powder for your Business needs. Contact us at info@yanggebiotech.com to discuss your specific needs and explore our range of high-quality Matcha powder.

 

Conclusion

In closing, matcha is not just a tea; it's an example of tradition, health, and connections around the world. Matcha's bright colors, which ranges rich flavour, and array of health benefits have drawn in people since its ancient beginnings and continue to do so right now. In our busy lives, matcha provides a moment of calm and sustenance, whether it is savoured in a traditional tea ceremony or added to modern dishes. So let's toast to the balance of nature and culture with every sip and enjoy the classic beauty of matcha.