Health Benefits of Drinking Matcha Tea
Tea drinking has a long and interesting history. Dating back to 2700 BC when Chinese
Emperor Shen Nong accidentally discovered tea drinking after a leaf from a shrub of
Camellia Sinensis dropped on his hot water. As a known herbalist, the Emperor had an
appreciation of this discovery and started introducing the tea plant. Tea first reached
Japan through the Buddhist monks who went to China to study, and the rest of the
world through trade and colonization.
All tea leaves come from Camellia Sinensis but differ in harvest time and preparation.
Green tea is among the most famous teas in the world because of its antioxidant
properties and metabolism boosting elements. Despite green tea’s popularity, there is
yet another tea variety that is believed to have more than 100 times more antioxidants
as a regular green tea – it is called matcha.
Matcha is derived from the same tree but is harvested and prepared differently. This tea
is from ground green tea leaves and originated in Japan. The tea plants are grown the
same way but are covered between 20 to 30 days before harvest. After harvesting the
leaves, these leaves are steamed, de-veined and stone-ground finely. The fine powder
will be stored and kept away from oxygen and light. These processes contribute to the
concentration and potency of chlorophyll, amino acids and antioxidants in matcha.
The following details the health benefits of matcha tea and why it is considered by some
people a”superfood”:
1. It’s good for your skin.
Matcha is rich in antioxidants and when we say rich, it tops all superfoods according to
a Brunswick Laboratories study. Superfoods are foods loaded with high levels of
vitamins, minerals and antioxidants known to help the body fight illnesses at the cellular
level. The study says that the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) units per
gram of Match are 1,573 beating the other superfoods like Goji Berries at 253 and
Pomegranate at 105. This high amount of antioxidants helps the body fight free radicals
that cause cell damage and chronic diseases, making matcha not just good for the skin
but for the whole well-being.
2. It’s good for your brain
Matcha contains L-Theanine that gives the body a relaxing effect without the
drowsiness. In fact, the Buddhist monks who brought and introduced green tea to Japan
drink matcha to meditate but remain alert during their prayer time. L-Theanine also
helps the body produce serotonin and dopamine also known as the “happy hormones”
which helps attain better mood, better memory and better concentration.
3. It’s good for your heart
Some studies show that drinking matcha helps to reduce the levels of LDL or the bad
cholesterol in the body, reducing the risk of heart diseases, high blood pressure and
stroke. Matcha drinkers also showed improvement of their good cholesterol levels.
4. It’s good for your cells
It is also rich in tea catechins, the most potent and most beneficial among all
antioxidants. 60% of matcha’s catechins are epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) which is
known to have cancer-fighting properties. In a study published at the National Institutes
of Health, it is stated that “green tea has the highest concentration of polyphenols
compared to other teas, including EGCG, which may be why green tea can induce
apoptotic cell death in cancer better than other tea”.
5. It’s good for your tummy
Matcha is also good for the digestive health. It is known to boost metabolism and
promote weight-loss in the healthy way. There have also been studies showing that liver
diseases caused by diabetes and high-level liver enzymes are significantly reduced
after taking green tea concentrate for several days and months. Further studies must be
done to prove the benefits of matcha to fight liver diseases.
6. It’s good for detox
The high concentration of chlorophyll in matcha due to its preparation and storage can
aid in detoxification in our body. Chlorophyll balances the acidity, delivers oxygen to the
blood and cells and flushes out chemical toxins out of the body.
Matcha Tea Preparation
Drinking matcha is as relaxing as preparing it. Enjoying this drink freshly prepared can
help relieve stress through its aroma and taste. These are the things you need to
prepare matcha at home:
• 1 teaspoon of matcha, sifted (Culinary or Ceremonial grade, but the latter is the
best and most premium)
• Bamboo whisk, softened in warm water
• 8 ounces of fresh water, boiled (Never use re-boiled water)
• Ceramic cup or bowl for matcha
1. Place sifted matcha powder in the cup. Add a little freshly boiled water to create
a paste
2. Slowly mix it using the bamboo whisk while adding the rest of the water
3. Stir vigorously from the top of the bowl until the top looks frothy and foamy.
Summary
There is now a wide variety of selection ready mix matcha drinks and desserts but
nothing comes close to the health benefits of the pure and premium matcha drink. Go
ahead and prepare your own for that authentic matcha experience.