There are many kinds of beverages you can drink on a given day. Many health experts have written about the advantages of matcha tea, which will be described in detail below.
Considering there are so many drinks that are packed with sugar and definitely do not have known benefits, your decision to make a change in your drinking habits could change your life for the better, especially in terms of dietary habits.
What Is Matcha Tea And How Is It Prepared?
Although this tea has a fancy name, it’s really just green tea that has been processed in a special way and finely ground up. In fact, the preparation for this tea begins before the tea leaves are even harvested. Specifically, the leaves are covered up with special cloths that create a shady environment. This practice causes the leaves to have a better flavor and texture. This point is significant because, unlike traditional forms of green tea, you actually drink the leaves when consuming matcha tea instead of simply throwing them away.
When the leaves are ready to be harvested, people select them by hand and then steam them briefly. The steaming process stops fermentation. Next, the leaves are dried and allowed to age in a cold storage area. That results in a deeper flavor. Finally, the leaves are ground up into a powder so the resulting particles are vivid green in color and slightly larger in size than particles of sugar.
When a person wants to drink a cup of matcha tea, they will usually take about a teaspoon of the fine powder and mix it with a third-cup of hot water. It is important that the water is very hot, but not boiling. This is another characteristic that makes matcha tea preparation different from what you may be familiar with. Finally, the beverage is whisked with a bamboo brush. This action makes the tea have a frothy consistency which may remind you a bit of your favorite latte.
It Could Be A Good Coffee Alternative
Interestingly, some people drink this tea as an alternative to coffee. Many people switch to tea when they are trying to wean themselves off coffee. That’s because, usually, tea does have a lower caffeine content than coffee, but that is not the case with matcha. You may be surprised to learn that matcha has about three times the amount of caffeine as tea that has been steeped in the traditional way.
Furthermore, it has about the same amount of caffeine as brewed coffee. However, if you are someone who generally does not like drinking coffee because you feel it makes you jittery, matcha may be a good beverage to rely on when making a healthy switch. People who drink it regularly often praise the tea for giving them a feeling of being calm yet alert. This is probably because it contains a naturally occurring substance called l-theanine, which is said to help people relax without making them feel drowsy.
It Gives You An Antioxidant Boost
Ordinarily, you probably wouldn’t think of tea as being an excellent source of nutrients. Although you shouldn’t swap drinking tea with consuming fruits and vegetables, matcha does offer more nutrients than you may expect. However, more importantly, it is rich in antioxidants that are called polyphenols. Some people believe these can be safeguards against ailments such as cancer and heart disease. Furthermore, these kinds of antioxidants are thought to promote overall better health by doing things such as regulating the blood sugar and lowering blood pressure. There is also a specific type of polyphenol present in matcha tea called EGCG. Scientists have found it a may play a role in boosting metabolism. Furthermore, in cancer patients it may help reduce or stop cancer cell growth. Many people are particularly interested in antioxidants because they help protect against environmental stress and positively impact the natural aging process. Because of these potential perks, you may want to add matcha to your usual anti-aging regimen.
It May Help With Memory And Concentration
You’ve already learned about l-theanine, the ingredient that helps people feel alert, but calm. Some heath experts also believe that same ingredient has a positive effect in helping people remember things and making it easier for them to concentrate. Therefore, if you find you’re often distracted by the happenings of everyday life to the point where it is difficult to stay focused on the things that matter, matcha may be a good match for you. Specifically, l-theanine promotes the production of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. Besides boosting memory and concentration, it may help you have a better mood.
You May Notice Long-lasting Energy
Some of the benefits of this tea have been widely known in some parts of the world for generations. For example, before going into battle, samurai warriors would be given the tea to help with energy levels. After drinking a cup, you may find you feel more energetic for up to six hours later. Also, as explained previously, you can expect that energy to help you feel ready for whatever lies ahead, rather than overly anxious in the way you might feel after drinking a cup of coffee.
Enjoy It Without Worrying About Calories
Many of the most popular beverages don’t score well in terms of health benefits because they are so high in calories. Fortunately, that is not the case with matcha. It has practically no calories, but offers a significant amount of dietary fiber plus the antioxidants and l-theanine benefits you’ve already learned about. Choose matcha if you want a drink that has numerous benefits, but doesn’t have the downside of excessive calories.
You Can Use It As A Meal Ingredient
Matcha is very versatile. Some people find the taste to be quite strong, almost as if drinking liquid spinach. Therefore, you may find it is an acquired taste, rather than one you adore right away. However, if you still want to enjoy the benefits of matcha without sipping it, take inspiration from some people in the culinary world. Chefs often use it in savory and sweet dishes alike. Whether you want to make muffins, guacamole or even pudding, matcha makes it possible. Recipes are readily available on the Internet; some of them should be well within your ability leve
l, even if you are not an accomplished chef. Keep that in mind if you are trying to add some variety to your diet but dealing with the challenges of trying to cook for a picky household or at least one where the members may not be agreeable to the idea of drinking the tea.
Now that you know many advantages of matcha, consider adding it to your diet and seeing if you notice a positive link between drinking it and feeling better. At the very least, even if you do not drink it regularly, you still have a healthier beverage option to try from time to time.
