Have you tasted matcha tea? The new superfood …
I have and if you are fond of green tea, I think you will love it.
Matcha is a Japanese word meaning powdered tea. Ever since the 13th century, matcha tea has been a constituent part of the Japanese tea tradition.
Superfood covers a variety of foods that have a particularly beneficial effect on our health due to a high content of a number of important nutrients and antioxidants.
That means if you drink a cup of matcha tea, you get all the healthy substances from the tea leaves equivalent to 12 cups of normal green tea. And don’t forget that matcha tea also seems to have an impact on your metabolism and on your weight ……
What is matcha
Matcha tea comes from the tea plant Camellia Sinensis just like green tea, black tea and white tea . The best leaves of the plant are harvested in the beginning of May in order to make the ‘green gold’. These leaves are used for the production of matcha tea.
The tea leaves in the field will be covered in the final phase before harvest to avoid the sun rays, as this ensures that the leaves get a very concentrated content of the healthy substances chlorophyll and L-theanine.
After harvest the tea leaves are steamed and dried. Then kept refrigerated for a minimum of 9 months for the tea leaves to rest and mature – this process helps creating an intense taste.
When the 9 months have passed, the tea leaves are ready. The last step is to grind the tea leaves on a handmade granite stone for a very fine powder. Then there is Matcha. The finer powder, the finer the quality.
Why is matcha tea so healthy?
Matcha is healthy because it has a high content of L-theanine, antioxidants and chlorophyll.
L-theanine reduces the number of stress hormones in the body and increases brain production of the signal substances dopamine and serotonin, two of the brain’s own happiness pills. L-theanine also improves your ability to remember, concentrate and learn new stuff.
Antioxidants are naturally occurring or synthetically produced substances that prevent or counteract harmful processes and help maintain the health of the cells and the body.
Chlorophyll is naturally antiseptic – it means that chlorophyll has the ability to kill unwanted bacteria. It is known to help with cleansing the body, combating infection, supporting wound healing, increasing the number of red blood cells and thereby the ability to absorb oxygen in the body.
Matcha and weight?
The antioxidant ‘EGCG’ is the active ingredient in Matcha (and green tea for that matter), which is interesting in relation to weight loss.
The animal tests and clinical tests conducted with EGCG more than suggest that these substances have fat burning properties. Many small tests have been performed in groups of 10-15 people confirming EGCG’s effect, but more research has to be done with a larger population of people. These tests should also help to determine the optimal daily dose.
Matcha workshop at Sing Tehus
If you are in Copenhagen, try a Matcha workshop at Sing Tehus.
I have participated and think it’s really nice to meet others who share the passion for tea. None of my friends are as enthusiastic about tea as I am. They almost all drink coffee…
The matcha workshop is both fun and informative. You get a little talk first, and afterwards you are allowed to whip the green powder.
For joining the matcha workshop at Sing Tehus, Copenhagen, click here.
Enjoy ♥