Health Benefits of Matcha Green Tea!
Updated: Feb 21, 2021
Here’s a video providing a brief overview of matcha, its health benefits, and a step-by-step guide to preparing a delicious cup of matcha green tea!
Who would have thought that ingesting leaves would have so many health benefits? I know I didn’t!
A few years ago, I didn’t even know what matcha was. It wasn't until a DAVIDsTEA Sales Associate recommended matcha to me as I was feeling pretty low in energy. After learning more about matcha and its health benefits, I was sold!
What is Matcha?
Matcha means “powdered tea” that is made from green tea leaves. It is a very fine green tea powder (as shown in the picture below).
For steeped teas, the flavor and nutrients from the leaves get infused in the hot water.
For matcha, you ingest the actual leaf (minus the spine and the stem of the leaf).
By ingesting the actual leaf, the body receives more nutrients, vitamins and minerals than drinking a steeped tea.
This brings me to the amazing health benefits of matcha green tea!
Health Benefits of Matcha:
1) Matcha green tea powder is loaded in antioxidants! In particular, polyphenols are micronutrients that have antioxidant properties. Polyphenols are important chemical compounds that can help protect the cells in our body from damage.
To put things into perspective, ONE cup of matcha has as many antioxidants as TEN cups of steeped green tea!
Matcha has more antioxidants than various “superfoods,” such as blueberries, spinach, broccoli and even goji berries!
2) Matcha is a caffeinated beverage. With that being said, it does not affect your mind and body the same way that a cup of coffee would.
Both matcha and coffee can bring an alertness to the mind and body. However, coffee may leave you feeling anxious, wired or buzzed after consumption. You may begin to experience a crash in energy about an hour or so after drinking a cup of coffee.
Matcha can leave us feeling calm and alert. This is because matcha contains a natural substance called L-theanine. L-theanine encourages the body to relax without causing drowsiness. Therefore, matcha can boost mental focus and promote relaxation at the same time!
3) Matcha helps reduce cortisol levels. Cortisol is the stress hormone. Cortisol plays an important role in our body, as this hormone is required for our “fight or flight” response.
Cortisol manages inflammation, the sleep/wake cycle, blood sugar, blood pressure, and so much more! Cortisol is essential for many bodily functions. However, high cortisol levels can lead to a number of health issues. This can include: anxiety, headaches, weight gain, problems with sleep, heart disease, and more.
Matcha plays a prominent role in lessening the effects of an increase in cortisol levels. This in turn, can have a positive impact on how you feel physically, mentally and emotionally!
4) Matcha tea is nutrient dense! Its composition includes magnesium, zinc, B-complex, as well as vitamins A, C, E and K. Each vitamin and mineral listed here has a myriad of benefits!
5) Matcha can boost mood, energy, concentration and cognition!
This is exactly why matcha and yoga work so well together! Matcha can provide that boost in energy required for a physical yoga practice. In addition, matcha can offer the concentration and relaxation piece that is useful before a meditation practice.
These are just a few of the many health benefits of matcha green tea!
How to Prepare a Cup of Matcha Green Tea:
I buy matcha green tea from DAVIDsTEA. I appreciate that DAVIDsTEA has a wide range of matcha to choose from, including both traditional and flavored matcha.
I personally gravitate towards the traditional matcha, such as Grand Cru and Matcha Matsu as I prefer to drink tea without any added sweeteners.
DAVIDsTEA has a variety of fruity and sweet matcha tea flavors, such as peach, strawberry, blueberry, vanilla, maple, mocha, gingerbread, and so much more!
Tea products from DAVIDsTEA includes easy-to-follow instructions on the packaging.
Here’s how to prepare a cup of Grand Cru Matcha!
1. Put 2 to 3 matcha spoonfuls of matcha green tea powder into a bowl. If a matcha spoon is not available, I recommend 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of the powder.
Note: for the fruity and sweet teas, you will need to add at least double this amount!
2. Boil some water until it is at least 75 degrees Celsius or 170 degrees Fahrenheit (recommended temperature).
3. Pour 475ml (16oz) of hot water into the bowl with the matcha powder.
4. It is recommended to use a bamboo whisk to mix the water and the matcha together. This can help break apart any clumps and can create a beautiful frothy layer on top.
Note: if a whisk is not available, feel free to make your matcha beverage in a blender or in a matcha shaker!
5. Serve and enjoy!
Feel free to explore iced matcha beverages as well! I personally prefer iced matcha during the summer months.
If you don't enjoy the taste of matcha, but you would like to receive the amazing health benefits, I recommend adding a teaspoon or two of matcha powder to your smoothie, oatmeal or yogurt.
You can also make a matcha face mask!
Add to a bowl:
3 teaspoons of matcha powder
2 teaspoons of raw honey
1 teaspoon of coconut oil
1 teaspoon of water.
Mix these ingredients together and apply the mixture to your face. Let the mixture sit for about 10 to 15 minutes. Use a wet cloth to wipe away the matcha mixture, and then gently pat your face dry with a towel.
Matcha green tea powder is extremely versatile. Feel free to explore and experiment!
It is my hope that this article provided you with a comprehensive overview of the health benefits of matcha green tea!
Have you tried matcha before? Let me know in the comments!
I invite you to visit Yoga with Rachel for more amazing wellness discussions!
https://www.youtube.com/c/YogawithRachel
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Resources:
“DAVIDsMatcha.” DAVIDsTea. 2021, https://www.davidstea.com/ca_en/matcha/
“Health Benefits of Matcha Green Tea.” Matcha.com, https://matcha.com/pages/matcha-health-benefits
“Health Benefits of Matcha Tea.” Matcha Source. 2021. https://matchasource.com/health-benefits-of-matcha-tea