Written by Mia Davis
I have only recently discovered matcha when I tried the Sirtfood Diet for a few days. The green juice the diet is based on has matcha powder as one of the ingredients. Well, discovered is too strong a word, I was not too fond of the taste. So I soon switched to the salad version, where matcha wasn’t mandatory. But I kept reading about this magic powder, and the more I read, the more convinced I became to give it another try. I gave up on the green powder way too soon, considering all the benefits it seems to have.
Of course, I had heard of matcha green tea before, and the truth is it looks very appealing. I think the color green sets up a particular sensor in my brain, and I am attracted to anything wearing this color. Except for broccoli, obviously! No shade of green is strong enough to make me like broccoli. But going back to matcha powder, everything I saw done using matcha looked spectacular. From matcha latte and other drinks to cakes and even matcha popsicles, they all looked like something I would enjoy.
While my initial contact with the green powder was a bit discouraging, after seeing how much I could improve my health with just some simple additions to my diet, I decided to try it again. I want to discover the real benefits of matcha powder. And, of course, to see if it’s more to it than just something cool to show on your Instagram.
What Is Matcha?
Matcha powder is made of finely ground tea leaves. Instead of using the actual leaves to make a tea, you can opt for the powder and use it in many forms, from drinks to desserts. It’s the pumped-up version of the green tea if we consider its effects and benefits. But before going any further, there is one important aspect to mention: if you want to use green matcha, go for an organic one, to make sure you don’t have any unwanted side effects (we’ll talk about those a bit later).
I may have just recently discovered matcha, but it has been popular in Japan for centuries. The green powder frenzy has only recently taken over the rest of the planet. The tea plants used to make this popular powder are grown in two regions in Japan: Uji in Kyoto, and Nishio in Aichi.
In Japanese, ‘matcha’ stands for grounded tea, and while the idea of using powdered tea appeared in China, it’s the Japanese culture that took the use of matcha to the next level. Used initially as a ceremonial tea, it soon merged the luxurious side of this tea with the advantages of mass production.
The green powder had quite a long journey from the ceremonial matcha used with delicacy and symbolism during the Japanese tea ceremonies to the lattés served at Starbucks today. But somewhere in between those two examples is the everyday use any of us can try; it would boost our immunity while adding a new flavor to our taste palate.
The Benefits of Matcha Powder
Matcha powder offers all the benefits of tea leaves in an extra-concentrated dose. It’s rich in antioxidants, but also amino acids, chlorophyll (hence the beautiful green color), and a wide variety of minerals and vitamins. Matcha drinks speed up your metabolism, without irritating your stomach, and they help you feel energized and concentrated.
The health benefits of consuming matcha go even further; it helps to prevent many diseases, including heart problems, diabetes, and it seems even to be efficient in keeping cancer away. It’s also extremely efficient in face masks and other cosmetic remedies, as it has great benefits for the health and aspect of the skin.
Of course, that’s valid for people who use it regularly. Apart from all that, matcha weightloss effects are also intriguing. Even if you’re not crazy about the taste, like me, there are so many ways to use matcha powder, that it’s hard to believe you cannot find an acceptable one.
Which Is better, Matcha Powder, or Green Tea?
The benefits of tea leaves are the same, but the way you use them makes a huge difference. Brewing a cup of tea doesn’t release all the minerals and antioxidants; most of them go to waste. Matcha powder, on the other side, is a strong infusion of those awesome elements, allowing antioxidants & co to flood our organism.
As for the caffeine, a cup of matcha tea has half the caffeine in a cup of espresso, for instance, but its effect is much more reliable and longer-lasting. The fact is most of us have grown addicted to caffeine to make it through the demanding daily schedule. A cup of regular green tea remains a relaxing drink and has its share of benefits. But when it comes to keeping us energized, matcha is a clear winner.
Matcha vs. Coffee
Caffeine is an essential fuel for many people every day. Coffee has been the dominant player in the caffeine market for a long time, but lately, it seems matcha has gained a lot of ground. One of the biggest reasons why matcha has become so popular is that it doesn’t cause the same acidity in your stomach as coffee.
I read an article that explained that the L-theanine in matcha creates an extended-release of caffeine but doesn’t agitate us, which means we feel more energetic but also focused for a more extended period.
Of course, it’s not all about getting the caffeine dose; the taste is another important aspect. Many of us, myself included, drink coffee because we like the taste. Even if I get used to the flavor of matcha, it will never give me the joy I get from a huge cup of hot black coffee. Don’t even get me started on the smell; I cannot imagine my mornings without that fantastic aroma of good coffee.
How to Make Matcha Green Tea
The best way to turn the matcha powder into a delicious drink is to follow the example of the Japanese tea ceremony. They used a whisk made of bamboo, called a ‘chasen,’ to turn the powder into a frothy drink. I think that’s where my first experience with matcha went wrong. When I added it to my green juice, I didn’t have a whisk, nor did I make any special effort to help it dissolve efficiently.
I may have also added a bit too much, out of enthusiasm, and desire to become skinny sooner, and the result wasn’t very nice. So don’t let my experience discourage you, you cannot know if you like it unless you prepare it the right way.
You can also use this healthy green powder to make the famous green juice in the Sirtfood diet. Read more about it in this article: Is the Sirtfood Diet Efficient?
Does It Have Unwanted Side Effects?
To know precisely the effects of matcha powder on the human body, we would need more extended studies. But from the ones that have already been conducted, the main side effects we should consider are those of ingesting too much caffeine, like elevated heartbeat and sleeping disorders. Depending on the person drinking it and the quantity they ingest, it can also cause irritability, headaches, or diarrhea.
One of the reasons some people are worried about the effects of frequent consumption of matcha powder is that it contains lead. When you have matcha drinks, you are basically consuming whole tea leaves, so you get a higher dose of lead than you would from a cup of regular green tea. But any lead-related unwanted effects can be avoided if you drink it with moderation and only use organic matcha powder of the best quality.
It’s Matcha Time!
Even for the passionate coffee lovers, finding a healthier way to get our caffeine dose is a great idea. And matcha is an excellent option. The benefits it offers are so numerous, and there are so many ways you can use it, it would be a shame not to give it a try. I will probably never give up the pleasure of a cup of strong coffee, as long as my health allows me to drink it. But I may trade the second coffee of the day for a green latte or a matcha smoothie if that helps me get healthier and have even a small boosting effect on weight loss.