Dear Reader,
We are a few days away from concluding January; I hope your year has kicked off with a healthy start? Let's bolster it by talking about the superfood called matcha. If you are a wellness enthusiast or slowly getting into a healthy lifestyle, I am sure you have heard about the ‘Matcha Madness’ and if you haven't, keep reading :)
Matcha is a high-grade green tea grounded to produce a fine, bright green powder. In simple terms, matcha is green tea but in powder form and it is ten times more nutritious than green tea because the minerals and antioxidants remain persevered in the powder. Instead of steeping green tea leaves in hot water then disposing of the leaves, matcha utilizes the whole leaf, retaining 100% of the valuable nutrition within it.
Matcha originated from Japan, and because the entire leaf is ingested in powder form, it is the most potent green tea in the world! Studies indicate that it has more antioxidants than blueberries, pomegranates, orange juice and spinach! The method of how the tea-leaves are cultivated and processed is completely different than any other tea.
Green tea is known as the healthiest form of tea due to its lack of processing, resulting in extremely high nutrient levels. When you brew your usual green tea, you are actually throwing away the nutrients because water can only extract a small fraction of its benefits. The good stuff filled with antioxidants and minerals remain unused in the tea-leaves.
According to Cosmopolitan, Matcha is the perfect supplement to coffee because it contains caffeine but instead of the jitters it gives you a ‘clean high’. A matcha hit provides 34mg of caffeine, which is the same as a cup of brewed coffee and half the amount of an espresso, however, the tea's buzz is much more energising and longer-lasting. It has the amino acid called L-Theanine, which slows the release of caffeine and has a calming, relaxing effect.- Major Key Alert
Matcha can also be used in so many ways! It can be baked into cookies, muffins or granola, infused into raw cheesecake fillings, overnight oats, chia puddings, ice cream, blended into smoothie bowls, and of course - made into creamy, picture perfect lattes. Not all matcha is created equally, so be sure to choose the grade that is best suited for your intended use.You are recommended to use the 'food-grade' if you want to use it in recipes and save the more expensive, delicate traditional Japanese tea-grade for your tea rituals and lattes. Slurp! Check out these lovely ideas from amazing wellness accounts on instagram.
Mango and Matcha Cupcake by @datesandavocados
Coconut Matcha Energy Bars by @changechai101
Matcha Oreos by @changechai01
Matcha Macarons by @changechai101
Matcha Strawberry Cupcakes by @historiasdelciervo
Matcha Peppermint Cheescakes by @the_smallseed_
Matcha Chocolate Truffles by @matcha_maiden
Matcha Lime Cheescakes by @matcha_maiden
Matcha White Chocolate Cookies by @justonecookbook
Matcha has a wide range of benefits that I will delve into in a separate article; make sure to look out for it! I am yet to identify a shop that sells organic and food grade matcha in Kenya, but when I do, be sure to hear back from me with a review article! Catch you next time on Tizi Bar; the new nutrition- based segment.
Yours in Wellness,
References
TeaTulia
Wellness Mama
Zen Matcha Tea
Thoughts By Natalie
Raw Guru
Cosmopolitan
Natural Living Ideas
Tropeaka
MizubaTea
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