There are many known benefits of green tea for health and weight loss, but could you imagine having all those benefits multiplied? Well, it is exactly what happens when you consume Matcha, a powdered green tea, but much more powerful.
Common green tea and matcha come from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis, native to China and Southeast Asia, despite its popularity coming from Japan. The harvest is completely different for green tea and matcha. The bushes that are used to obtain the matcha are completely covered for about 20 or 30 days before the end of the harvest, thus avoiding direct sunlight. What happen? Chlorophyll levels are concentrated, giving the leaves a dark green color, as well as increasing the production of amino acids.
Thus, the leaves of these bushes are taken and ground in their entirety, obtaining matcha powder as a final result. Due to the fact that in the matcha the leaf is consumed in its entirety, it is much richer in some substances such as antioxidants.
The popularity of matcha tea comes thanks to the Zen monks of Japan, despite the fact that the origin of the ground tea originates from China. Thanks to its relaxing properties, the monks drank matcha tea during their long meditation days to stay in a constant state of relaxation, thus promoting concentration without the nervous state caused by caffeine.
Matcha tea properties
Matcha tea has many beneficial health properties (Unsplash)
There are many benefits that are attributed to Matcha and that have become very popular over the years and the different studies that have been carried out. In fact, a study conducted by the University of Geneva in 1999 concluded that, “Oral administration of green tea extract stimulated thermogenesis and fat oxidation and therefore has the potential to influence body weight and body composition through changes in both EE and in the use of the substrate “
Thus, matcha tea provides the following benefits:
• Contains 5 times more L-theanine, an amino acid that stimulates Alpha waves in the brain, helping with concentration, and inducing a state of calm and relaxation.
• It is rich in a healthy form of caffeine called theophylline that helps keep energy levels in the body high.
• Its great supply of antioxidants strengthens the immune system, especially catechins, a type of phenolic compound, which have been shown to be much more powerful than vitamin C and E in stopping oxidative stress in cells.
• Helps with heart health lowering cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and high blood pressure.
• Contains 137 times more polyphenols than regular green tea protecting the body from oxidative stress and inflammation
• Reduces the risk of diabetes type 2 and can prevent prostate cancer, bladder breasts and rectal colon.
• Its antioxidant power fights the premature aging process and protects us from free radicals, as well as its high levels of chlorophyll promote detoxification. 1 single cup of matcha tea, equivalent in antioxidants to 10 cups of green tea infusion
• Accelerates metabolism thanks to its high fiber content
Do not miss the opportunity to get the best matcha tea available for you
How to prepare matcha tea?
To make matcha tea in the traditional way it is necessary to have the utensils for its preparation (Unsplash)
Knowing how to prepare matcha tea the right way is almost an art. Specific implements are necessary to obtain a good matcha.
The traditional way is by placing one to two measures of matcha tea with a chashaku, a traditional Japanese spoon, in a small bowl. Then you should place hot water no higher than 80 degrees centigrade, and mix with a chasen, a traditional bamboo whisk. The tea is completely ready when there are no lumps left and a layer of foam forms on top.
As its taste is somewhat bitter, you can add sweetener to sweeten it, it can also be served with ice or with cream on top.
To preserve it, it is best to keep it in the refrigerator so that it stays fresh, that is, it is important to remove it in advance before drinking it, so that it reaches room temperature
Matcha tea contraindications
For some people, matcha tea can cause some side effects that can be mild or serious depending on each organism
• One of the contraindications most attributed to the consumption of matcha tea is that the level of caffeine it contains can cause insomnia, increased heart rate, irritability, headaches, among others. Likewise, caffeine could interfere with the intake of medications to control blood pressure.
• The best thing is to drink matcha tea that is of ecological or organic origin, since the quality of this will depend on the type of crop and it could contain chemical residues of fertilizers.
• Matcha tea may also cause constipation and abdominal pain because green tea can reduce the absorption of iron from food.
If you like matcha tea, you may also be interested in knowing the green tea contraindications.
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