What Is Matcha?

Did you know that Matcha is used as a natural green food dye?

What is matcha?

Matcha is the tea prepared in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. For over 800 years, it has been used by Zen monks during meditation. Matcha is the only green tea where the leaves are dried and turned into a powder, so the entire leaf is consumed.

Matcha green tea leaves are shade grown for several weeks during the spring. The bushes are covered before the harvest in order to prevent exposure to direct sunlight. This slows the growth of the leaves and turns them into a darker shade of green, increasing the production of amino acids. Only the finest leaf buds are hand picked. Harvested leaves are laid out in the sun to dry. As they crumble they become what is known as tencha. The tencha is then de-veined, de-stemmed and stone ground into a fine powder, called matcha.

Health Benefits

Energy Booster

One of the benefits matcha provides is a boost of energy through the day. This is due to the combination of matchas natural properties. One recent study found that matcha vastly improved physical endurance. Matcha can help you maintain energy throughout your busy day.

Calorie Burner

Already nearly calorie free, matcha is a superb addition to a cleanse and weight loss program. It simultaneously boosts metabolism and burns fat. One recent study suggested that matcha may help burn calories by four times. At the same time, matcha places no stress on the body, nor does it increase blood pressure or raise heart rate.

Detox Deluxe

Matcha helps to safely cleanse and purge the body of harmful elements. Chlorophyll, the element that gives green tea its signature verdant color, is also a powerful detoxifier. It helps eliminate both chemicals and heavy metals from the body. Because matcha is shade-grown, it is substantially richer in chlorophyll than other green teas, making it a superior daily detox.

You can purchase matcha at your local health food store, or online.

In the days to come, I will provide several recipes for matcha smoothies and desserts. I look forward to hearing from you about how you use matcha in your kitchen!