I am obsessed with drinking tea especially green tea. And matcha might just be my new favorite thing.

Matcha means “powdered tea” and you’re literally drinking the leaves, rather than an infusion of them.

Here are some facts about matcha:

It is nutrient richer than regular green tea. As mentioned before, you ingest tea leaves in full, rather than an infusion of them.

It contains small amounts of vitamins and minerals as well as antioxidants polyphenols, which are tied to the prevention of heart diseases and cancer.

It boosts blood sugar regulation.

It leads to blood pressure reduction.

It lowers inflammation, leading to more limber cells which age more slowly. Because of it, they also work preventively from various diseases.

It also boosts the metabolism.

Matcha is known to create an “alert calm” as it contains caffeine, but also the natural substance l-theanine which induces relaxation.

The effects I get from matcha tea is more hours of clear thinking without getting fidgety or overly sleepy. Both of which I would get whenever drinking coffee.

Matcha has a tradition of being tightly connected to meditation. It helps you to calm down, but also get in the moment. But there are everyday situations, which outright call for matcha – such as deadlines at work, stress situations, preparing or taking an exam. All those situations that take a toll on our mental ability to keep calm and in turn on our bodies. Good things come in pairs, so it might be a good time to start switching coffee breaks for matcha breaks with a minute or two of meditation. See and note the results it brings.

Also, if you’re looking to cut down some weight but the thought of a sweaty gym traumatizes you, here is a combination that you might enjoy immensely and see powerful results from it. Research on matcha has shown that it reduces cortisol which is the stress hormone increasing your appetite and in turn also belly fat. You’ll not only be able to handle tough situations more calmly, but you’ll also tend to eat less impulsively.

However, with all the benefits said, stay mindful that not every matcha is the real deal. Make sure to check the labels for exact ingredients and avoid those that contain sugars. Before you get overly excited, I would recommend trying it at a coffee shop or from a friend that you trust, as it can be costly.

The good thing is that you should and hopefully would not need more than one cup daily, as it is much stronger then steeped tea. Some might even oppose its health benefits because green tea is known to absorb high quantities of lead. But with steeped tea, 90% of them stays in the leaves themselves, which are discarded regardless. With matcha, most of the tea stay and you ingest them.

Other Uses of Matcha

Matcha can also be used as an ingredient in different types of dishes, but as with any other superfood, it is safest to enjoy it in moderation.

Another remark I would emphasize is to make sure that the water is not boiled, but rather a couple of degrees less as you don’t want to overheat the nutrients which would then lose the intensity of their health potentials.

As the summer is in full swing, you could even make these mouthwatering matcha popsicles that will not only cool you down but boost you up also. They are perfect for the afternoon affairs when your sugar levels usually start to drop.

Here’s a Simple Recipe 
Prepare your matcha as you would usually do. When cooled, add some mashed up fresh fruit like peaches, pineapple, berries, or whatever you might find suiting. Pour them in cups, but don’t forget to add a holding stick on top and freeze.

Enjoy and let matcha inspire your new ventures.