Matcha Green Tea
Matcha vs Green Tea
Green tea and matcha share similar origin stories. Both teas are cultivated from the Camellia sinensis plant. Cultivation of this plant can be traced back nearly 5,000 years to ancient China, where it was considered a precious medicine and used for its health benefits by the elites of society.
One of the main differences between green tea and matcha powder is that green tea is sold in its leaf form, whereas matcha is the result of grinding specially treated green tea leaves into a powder.
The process for growing and processing Camellia sinensis leaves that will become matcha also differs slightly from their green tea counterparts. Leaves that will become matcha are grown in the shade during their final weeks before harvest. This shade growing technique leads to a buildup of chlorophyll in the leaves. Chlorophyll is what gives leaves their green color. This buildup of chlorophyll creates a dark emerald green hue in the leaves that will be ground into matcha powder. Once the shade-grown Camellia sinensis leaves are harvested, they are quickly destemmed, deveined and lightly steamed to halt oxidation. Finally, these leaves are stone ground into a fine powder. This powdered matcha tea is strikingly green due to the care taken in the growing, harvesting and processing of the Camellia sinensis leaves. Traditional powdered matcha preparation involves mixing the powder into hot water with a bamboo whisk to create a vibrant green beverage. Matcha prepared this way has a rich vegetal flavor.
In contrast, Camellia sinensis leaves that will be served as green tea go through slightly different harvesting and preparation methods. Green tea leaves are grown in the sun and then are processed using methods such as: sun-drying, basket firing, pan firing, oven drying or steaming. These processes preserve the delicate floral taste of green tea while banishing any bitter components. These leaves are then made into delicious green tea by steeping the leaves in hot water. The resulting steeped green tea is a light yellowish green color with a delightful floral and fresh flavor.
To learn more about the differences between Matcha and Green Tea please visit our Matcha vs. Green Tea: What Is the Difference? blog post.
What are The Health Benefits of Matcha?
1. Clean Energy Without the Caffeine Crash or Jitters
Many of our Citizens love matcha green tea powder because it helps them stay energized without the caffeine crash or jitters that coffee beverages can cause. Matcha lovers often say that the energy they get from a cup of matcha kicks in more slowly and smoothly than a coffee caffeine hit. Many report that the feeling of alertness and energy from drinking matcha gradually increases over three hours. This leaves people feeling less shaky than coffee, and many report matcha helps them avoid the "crash" feeling that can occur when the coffee has worn off. The prevailing theory for why the caffeine in matcha feels so different than the caffeine in coffee is that matcha green tea contains an abundance of the amino acid l-theanine. L-theanine is theorized to help the body absorb caffeine more gradually and is also noted to have a calming effect on the body and mind.
2. Matcha: Great for Boosting Focus and Memory
L-theanine is theorized to work with other components in the powdered green tea to improve focus and memory. The many health benefits of this plant are on scientists' radar and new discoveries are being made all the time. One exciting study showed that study participants drinking matcha showed improvements in attention, reaction time and memory over those study participants drinking a placebo.
Additionally, the interaction of the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and L-theanine in matcha green tea have been reported to enhance cognitive function and decrease neuroinflammation. Matcha green tea is currently being studied as a tool to use to prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. This is just one of many health benefits of matcha.
3. Matcha is a Natural Anti-Inflammatory
The benefits of matcha tea are continuously being studied. It is truly a special and powerful health tool. Perhaps this is because antioxidants associated with reducing inflammation that are present in green tea (catechins, rutin and chlorophyll) are even more concentrated in the shade grown leaves that are ground into matcha. This leads to matcha tea having even more anti-inflammatory properties than the already powerful green tea. These antioxidants help stabilize harmful free radicals that can cause inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a bodily process that can contribute to everything from muscle soreness, to acne, to arthritis, to heart disease, to neurodegenerative conditions and more. Matcha tea powder is so very full of anti-inflammatory antioxidant properties that it is being studied as a tool to assist with many of the health conditions caused by inflammation.
Matcha Flavors
The bright and vegetal taste of matcha green tea makes it a delightful component to blend with other flavors. Many people enjoy matcha lattes, which bring out the sweetness in matcha tea by combining it with warm frothed milk or milk substitute. The Republic of Tea's blend masters love pairing matcha with a variety of unique herbs and flavorings. If you want to spice up your mornings, try our U•Matcha® Chai, which is sweet, zingy and grassy. If you're looking for a matcha with some floral notes, Organic Serenity SuperGreen Tea Bags with lavender and holy basil will satisfy your craving. Feel a cold coming on? The Republic of Tea's Organic Immunity SuperGreen Tea Bags harness the health benefits of matcha and features echinacea, elderflower and a hint of orange for a flavorful immune boosting beverage.
Matcha Recipes
Iced Fruity Matcha Latte
This Fruity Iced Matcha Latte Recipe is a perfect hot weather treat. Pick up some seasonal fruit and make this delightful twist on an iced matcha latte. Your taste buds will love the pairing of sweet fruit perfectly balanced by earthy matcha flavors.
Matcha Smoothie Bowl
Use our Organic Detox Greens™ Single Sips® to get your daily fix of cleansing and revitalizing greens. This Daily Greens Matcha Smoothie Bowl Recipe pairs the vegetal flavor of matcha with spinach, banana and avocado to start your day with a breakfast packed with health benefits.
Matcha Shortbread
Adding matcha powder to shortbread cookies makes them a fun bright green color. The buttery flavor of shortbread cookies really brings out the sweet and floral notes in organic matcha. You will have to share this Matcha Shortbread Recipe with all your friends once they taste your matcha shortbread cookies.
FAQ
How to Make Matcha Green Tea?
Fill your kettle with fresh, filtered water and heat just shy of boiling. Preheat your matcha bowl or cup by filling it with warm water then pouring it out. Add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of matcha powder to your bowl or cup. You may need to experiment with the amount of powder to find your desired matcha tea strength. Add 6 oz of steaming water (~175°) to your matcha powder. Use a bamboo matcha whisk or electric frother to whisk for one to two minutes until the blend forms a nice foam on top.
One popular way to serve matcha tea is as a tea latte. To make a hot matcha latte, follow the steps above and then add warm frothed milk or milk substitute to your whisked matcha blend.
For an iced matcha tea, whisk 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of matcha powder into 8 oz of cold water for one to two minutes until the blend is smooth. Pour over ice and savor sip by sip. If you would like an iced matcha latte, simply top your iced matcha tea with frothed cold milk or milk substitute.
How Much Caffeine is in Matcha Tea?
On average, The Republic of Tea matcha varieties contain less than half the amount of caffeine per cup than a similar sized cup of coffee. A 6 oz cup of coffee has approximately 125 milligrams of caffeine. Our matcha has about 60 milligrams. This is similar to 6oz of black tea in terms of caffeine content. Matcha tea has more caffeine than steeped green tea, which usually has about 25 milligrams of caffeine. Please note that differing preparation methods can change the amount of caffeine in a beverage.
Many people report that the caffeine in matcha results in a longer period of feeling energized and does not give people the same jitters as coffee products can. This is because matcha contains the amino acid L-theanine which is thought to slow down the body's absorption of caffeine and have an overall calming effect on the body. This same amino acid is thought to give matcha many of its other health benefits.
What Does Matcha Taste Like?
Matcha's flavor is similar to green tea, but is often described as a more intense or concentrated green tea taste. This is because rather than drinking the water that tea leaves have steeped in, you are drinking the whole powdered tea leaf. The complex flavor profile of matcha is often described as grassy, bright and verdant with notes of sweetness. If you would like the matcha flavor to be less intense for your first try, we recommend brewing a matcha latte. Adding a bit of frothed milk or a milk substitute to your matcha green tea really brings out the sweetness of the powdered green tea.
Where Does Matcha Come From?
Matcha has a long and rich history in Japan. Legend says that the first matcha tea was introduced to Japan by the Zen monk Eisai in 1191. Eisai was the first person to grind the Camellia sinensis leaves into a powder to be mixed into a hot drink. This delicious and verdant beverage quickly caught on and spread. By the 13th century, the famous Samurai warriors would drink matcha to focus, get energized and mentally prepare for battle. Matcha has been a historically significant part of Japanese tea ceremonies and is still included in many tea ceremonies in Japan today. Now matcha is enjoyed around the world as a beverage and as a flavoring in a variety of desserts.
How to Store Matcha?
To maintain the beautiful flavor, aroma, and nutrients of your matcha tea, it is important that you store it properly. You should always keep your matcha tea in an airtight container to prevent oxidation. The Republic of Tea packages our powdered matcha teas and our tea bag varieties of matcha in airtight tea tins to preserve quality and freshness. Be sure to store your matcha away from sources of heat such as the toaster or dishwasher.
