There is no doubt that the popularity of green tea has reached the sky in the past few years. The amazing health benefits of this beverage is what pulling people towards it. The ability to help in weight loss and keeping the cardiovascular system in good order is really something why people try to have at least one cup of green tea everyday. In the world of green tea, matcha is one variety which is a bit different from the rest.
Why Is Matcha Different?
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Green tea is manufactured from the leaves of the plant Camellia sinensis. This plant is mainly found in China. As the leaves are boiled or soaked in hot water, the nutrients of it gets infused in the water. Matcha tea uses the whole leaf with the stems and veins removed before being grounded to a fine powder. The resulting powder is bright green in colour. Matcha tea has a high level of amino acid and chlorophyll. Before harvesting, the plants are covered for about 20-30 days, resulting in the increase of the chlorophyll. Besides, anti-oxidant and caffeine contents are also high.
Health Benefits Of Matcha
There are a number of health benefits of consuming matcha everyday. A consistent drinking of the beverage has shown signs of a better functioning of heart, reduce risk of liver and kidney damages, decreased blood sugar and cholesterol. Matcha also fights fungi, viruses and bacteria. The high anti-oxidants of matcha ensures better protection against free radicals that can cause damage to the cells and tissues. Matcha also boosts metabolism of your body and helps in weight loss, and also combats fatigue.
How To Prepare Matcha
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There is more than one way of preparing matcha based on your preference.
- Koicha: To make koicha, you need two teaspoons of matcha powder, with an ounce of hot water. Whisk the powder gently into the water, so that no foam is formed. This is used a lot in different Japanese ceremonies.
- Usucha: This is a thinner version of the beverage. The making of usucha requires only half a teaspoon of matcha whisked into 3-4 ounces of hot water. The flavour will also be mind in this version of the beverage.
- Standard: Apart from the ways mentioned above, the standard way of making matcha green tea is mixing a teaspoon of the powder with two ounces of hot water.
Uses In Confectionary
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A lot of bakers are inclined towards using matcha in their baked goods. Some are also adding it in smoothies. The health benefits of the matcha leaves is encouraging people to add this ingredients in their recipe. However, since the taste of matcha is a bit on the bitter side, the flavour is mellowed with milk and sweeteners.
With all the benefits of matcha, do not be tempted to consume more of the product. Experts suggests that you limit consuming the matcha tea to two cups a day. You might want to remember that the nutrients of three cups of high quality green tea can be obtained from just one cup of matcha.
