Hello Everyone, this is Sarah - Lisa's daughter. You get to hear from me today for the first time. Mom wanted me to talk with you all about my love my Japanese Matcha Tea!

I love Matcha and drink it every day. So, yesterday I decided to check out this new Cafe called "Matcha Me" in Columbus while in town. It was honestly one of the best quality Matcha's I've found around this area. Definitely recommend you check this little place out. They also have coffee drinks if you wanna go with a friend who prefers coffee. 

 

What is Matcha?

Matcha is a unique form of green tea that originates from the Camellia sinensis plant. Unlike traditional green tea leaves, matcha's whole leaves are finely ground into a vibrant green powder, which is then whisked into water.

 

How is it made: 

What makes matcha different from other green tea types is the fact that it comes from finely ground tea leaves of the highest quality. In the production of matcha, the entire leaf is used, and the youngest and finest tea leaves are chosen (first harvest). 

After being harvested, the leaves are steamed and dried. Then the stems are removed and the remaining part of the leaves are ground into a fine powder using a stone mortar. The authentic tradition of matcha making involves using granite stones to grind down each individual leaf until it resembles fine flour. After being ground into a powder, the leaves are sifted through a fine-mesh strainer to ensure an even finer texture. This step prevents larger pieces, stems, and leaf veins from polluting the matcha powder, but it also ensures that the particles are well separated and aerated. This process is one reason high quality Matcha can get more expensive. 

 

Flavor: Matcha’s unique umami flavor, or savory taste, is a distinguishing trait that makes it stand out. This distinct taste is largely due to an amino acid known as L-theanine, present abundantly in matcha. This amino acid is renowned for its stress-relieving properties. Some people say it tastes like grass, but that is largely due to a lower grade matcha. The higher the quality, the smoother the texture and more distinct the taste. The lower the quality, the larger grind and a more grassy taste some people don't care for.

 

Benefits: this powerful Japanese tea powder...

- An excellent source of antioxidants, specifically Catechins and Polyphenols. These natural compounds are abundant in matcha and are said to help your body combat free radicals and help to improve heart health. 

 

- Is blessed with L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and alertness without the jitters often associated with caffeine. L-theanine is also known to enhance brain function.

 

- Helps protect your liver. Antioxidants, specifically EGCG, can help shield the liver from the damage. Studies have shown that matcha may help decrease the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. EGCG have been shown to boost metabolism and increase fat burning.

 

- Helps to regulate blood sugar levels by slowing sugar absorption. Matcha has a low glycemic index. Therefore, it takes longer to digest, slowing down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. The EGCG also helps to improve insulin sensitivity.

 

- Helps boosts immune health and fight bacteria. 

 

- Helps with improving dental health. 

 

- Improves Skin and helps the body detox

 

- High in Vitamins, minerals and fiber

 

Matcha is a wonderful thing to add to your diet. They recommend no more than 2 cups a day to keep you from getting too much caffeine. Matcha has twice as much caffeine as regular steeped green tea, but not as much as coffee. 

 

It's known mostly for drinking, but can also be used to cook or bake with it or add it to smoothies. The higher ceremonial grade matcha is best for drinking, while the lower grade culinary matcha is great for cooking with. 

 

Matcha isn't for everyone, but I personally love it and think it's delicious. I highly recommend you try it for yourself and see if you like it and want to add it into your diet. Then let me know what you think.