Should You Drink Matcha Tea?

What is matcha tea?

Matcha is a character of greens tea made by taking young tea leaves and grinding them into a bright green gunpowder. The powder is then whisked with hot water. This is different from regular park tea, where the leaves are infused in water, then removed. Drinking brewed green tea “ is a bite like boiling spinach, throwing aside the spinach and merely drinking the water, ” says Louise Cheadle, co-author of The Book of Matcha and co-owner of the tea company teapigs. “ You will get some of the nutrients, but you ’ ra throwing away the best bit. ” With matcha, you ’ re drinking the whole tea leaves .

Matcha leaves are grown on green tea bushes kept under shade. The shade increases the measure of chlorophyll contented in the leaves, which is what makes them bright park and full of nutrients. The leaves are picked by hand and the stems and veins are removed. According to Cheadle, the leaves are traditionally ground by granite stones into a superintendent fine powder. “ It takes an hour to grind the leaves, and it ’ south done in the dark to protect the nutrients, ” she says. “ The finest matcha comes from Japan, where it has been grown for centuries and forms function of the traditional japanese tea ceremony, ” she adds.

What are matcha tea benefits?

Matcha, like other green teas, contains a class of antioxidants called catechins. Matcha is high in a catechin called EGCG ( epigallocatechin gallate ), which is believed to have cancer-fighting effects on the body. Studies have linked park tea to a kind of health benefits, like helping to prevent heart disease, character 2 diabetes and cancer, and flush promote weight unit loss. however, it ’ mho important to note that much of this research international relations and security network ’ thyroxine from clinical trials that show fleeceable tea causes a benefit. rather, it ’ sulfur largely from population-based studies, where researchers look at groups of people who drink green tea and compare their health outcomes to groups that don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate drink it. Studies have shown associations between tea and better health, but causing is not however proven. Matcha is even less analyze than brewed green tea. hush, there have been some interesting findings. A 2014 discipline looked at 25 randomized controlled trials on the connection between tea and blood pressure and reported that when people drank tea—especially green tea—for 12 weeks, their lineage pressure dropped importantly. A 2011 study reported that drink green tea appeared to be linked with lower levels of regretful LDL cholesterol, but more research is needed. Because matcha is a type of green tea, they may parcel exchangeable benefits, but there ’ s not adequate inquiry to make that title.

How does matcha compare to green tea?

Both even brewed green tea and matcha check caffeine, but less than coffee or black tea. Matcha appears to contain more caffeine that regular brewed green tea .

It besides appears to contain more EGCG. ConsumerLab.com, an freelancer test group, tested matcha products in 2015 and found that matcha provided 17 milligram to 109 milligram of EGCG per serving. By comparison, the average brewed green tea provides 25 to 86 mg per serving. While matcha powders contained more catechins per gram than brewed k tea, it was well more expensive : The lowest cost matcha powder was available at the time for $ 2.31 for 200mg of EGCG, compared to 27 cents for the same sum from brewed green tea. Compared to the powders, matcha in tea bags provides significantly less EGCG. “ Part of the whole aura [ of drink matcha ] is that it ’ s an experience, ” says Dr. Tod Cooperman, the president of ConsumerLab.com. “ But you are paying a agio for that nice experience. ”

What does matcha taste like?

“ A effective timbre matcha is bright greens and smooth. An average matcha will be scandalmongering and farinaceous to touch—the tougher leaves of the tea bush, ” says Cheadle. The quality of leaves impacts the taste. “ A well matcha will not taste bitter at all ; there will be a slenderly gratifying taste. ”

Should you be concerned about lead in matcha tea?

go in greens tea has been a concern. “ green tea is like a sponge for lead, ” says Cooperman. “ It ’ s not surprising we have found over the years sanely high levels in greens tea. ” But ConsumerLab.com ’ randomness test has found that even if lead is found in the leaves used in green tea bags, it doesn ’ thyroxine appear to be absorbed into the water system. Cooperman says his team was concerned about contribute content in matcha, because people consume the ground green tea leaves immediately preferably than in pocket. however, their quiz showed that among the six popular matcha brands they tested—DoMatcha, Encha Organic Matcha, Rishi Teahouse Matcha, Teavana Imperial Matcha, Kirkland Signature Green Tea and The Republic of Tea Double Green Matcha Tea—the powders were not contaminated by leash or other metals, and besides did not contain pesticides. As of now, Cooperman says he doesn ’ t believe lead exposure is a risk in the matcha presently sold in the United States. “ You can ingest without worrying, ” says Cooperman. “ We haven ’ metric ton tested every trade name out there, but the bounty brands we have tested have been clean. ”

How do you make matcha tea?

Matcha powder and hot urine should be whisked together. It ’ south recommended that you use a tea strainer to sift the matcha into a roll to avoid clumps. then, add warm water and whisk it. ( traditionally this is done with a called a bamboo whisk called a chasen. ) The whisking creates a foaming tea that can be poured into your cup. Some people add the powder to early hot liquids, like milk, to make a bright green caffe latte. here ’ s a video of how to make traditional matcha tea. Cheadle says she brings powders with her so she can shake it into a drink in like water or a smoothie. It can besides be added to other foods, like breads and pastries, for its color and flavor.

Are there side effects from matcha tea?

Drinking green tea and matcha are considered healthy and safe, but people sensitive to caffeine should be aware that both contain decent amounts of the stimulant. In 2016, the World Health Organization besides linked the consumption of hot drinks, like coffee and tea, to a higher risk of cancer of the esophagus. however, the hazard is much lower than the risk of cancer from other causes, like smoke. Contact us at letters @ time.com. share THIS STORY