Matcha green tea is a type of powdered green tea that has grown in popularity over the last few years. It can be used in cooking, baking, and it has been used in Japanese cuisine for centuries and as an ingredient for traditional Japanese tea ceremonies.
Matcha green tea powder comes from high-quality whole leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant, that are ground into a fine powder. This makes it more potent than regular green tea and it’s also higher in nutrients and antioxidants than other types of green teas.
When it comes to healthy lifestyles, matcha green tea is a popular choice. But buying matcha green tea powder can be difficult because there are so many options out there and it can be hard to know what you should look for when buying it. In this blog post, we will discuss cover what matcha green tea is, how to find the best matcha green tea powder based on your needs, and what you should look for when purchasing the best quality powder!
What Is Matcha Green Tea Powder?
Matcha green tea powder is a green tea that has been ground up into a fine powder. It’s made from the whole leaves of the Camellia Sinensis plant, which makes it high in nutrients and antioxidants. These leaves are then de-stemmed, de-veined, and dried before being stone-ground into a very fine powder using granite stones. This is why matcha is sometimes called “stone-ground” or “ceremony” matcha.
Where Does Matcha Green Tea Powder Come From?
Matcha green tea traditionally comes from Japan, but it is also grown in China and some other Eastern countries. It was a large part of Japanese culture and was often drank by emperors, monks, and samurai.
These days, it has risen in popularity, and you can now purchase ceremonial-grade matcha powder on Amazon, or order it from a number of online tea stores; this type has the best flavor profile and highest quality.
How Do You Consume Matcha Green Tea Powder?
Matcha is usually prepared in a bowl with hot water to make the traditional Japanese matcha green tea. It can also be added to recipes or shakes for an easy boost of antioxidants – it can also be used to make desserts like green tea ice cream and cake.
Traditionally there are several pieces of equipment used to prepare matcha. This includes a chawan (bowl), a chasen (bamboo whisk), and a bamboo scoop.
The chawan is used to hold the matcha powder, which is then whisked with hot water in a bowl to dissolve it. This process usually takes place in front of guests so that they can enjoy watching this important part of Japanese tradition.
A number of online tea shops sell their own versions of these tools – you do not need them for preparing your own cup though. It’s also possible to purchase matcha sets that come with these items, though they’re usually pricier than buying them separately.
What Are the Different Types of Matcha Green Tea Powder?
There are a few different types of matcha green tea powder: ceremonial grade and culinary grade.
Ceremonial Grade Matcha
The most potent and best type of matcha green tea powder available on the market is called “ceremonial grade” matcha. This type of matcha usually has the best flavor and coloration when prepared with hot water in a chawan. It’s also great for making desserts and cooking.
However, ceremonial grade matcha is usually more expensive than other types of matcha, though it is lower in caffeine than culinary grade matcha.
Culinary Grade Matcha
The next grade of matcha is called “culinary”, or “cooking” grade. This type doesn’t mix as well in water because the particles are too large to dissolve properly. Culinary-grade matcha can be used for cooking or baking – you can even add a spoonful to your smoothies. It’s also very affordable compared to ceremonial-grade powder.
This type of green tea has been processed with heat, so it’s not as nice when it’s steeped in water like ceremonial grade matcha powder. However, culinary-grade green tea is usually fine to drink – there are no reported adverse effects of drinking daily culinary-grade matcha (unlike other types of tea). It’s just not quite as fine or as delicate.
What Are Some of the Health Benefits of Matcha Green Tea Powder?
There have been many reported health benefits associated with drinking matcha green tea. Some of these include increased concentration, improved cardiovascular well-being, weight loss support, lowered cancer risk, healthier skin, and a stronger immune system.
Here are some of the top health benefits of matcha green tea powder:
Source of Antioxidants
Matcha is a great source of antioxidants. In fact, it’s so rich in antioxidants that a single serving is the equivalent of drinking 4 cups of regular green tea. Antioxidants help slow down aging, keep skin healthy and young-looking, reduce stress levels to prevent depression, support cognitive function for better brain health, and protect from many types of cancer.
Source of L-theanine
Matcha powder also contains the amino acid L-theanine, which is known to promote relaxation and improve mood.
Source of Caffeine
This type of green tea has less caffeine than coffee but more than black or oolong teas – this means that matcha gives you a milder energy boost compared to other types of caffeinated beverages.
Source of Fiber and Iron
This type of green tea is a great source of soluble dietary fiber, which promotes healthy digestion by keeping the colon clean and free from toxins that can cause cancer or digestive disorders. It also contains more than your daily recommended intake for iron – one cup (240 ml) has about 20% of the RDI for iron.
Source of Magnesium and Potassium
Matcha powder is a great source of minerals like magnesium and potassium, which promote heart health by preventing hypertension (high blood pressure). It also contains vitamins A, C, B-complex (including folate), manganese, niacin (B-vitamin), and riboflavin (vitamin B-12).
Only Contains Organic Substances
This type of green tea powder is organic, which means it only contains natural substances. There are no pesticides or chemicals added to the leaves during production – this makes matcha a healthy additive for your food and beverages. Of course, this does only apply to ceremonial grade powders.
Boosts Energy
Matcha powder contains caffeine, which boosts your energy levels and increases the rate of your metabolism. It can help promote relaxation without the drowsiness or dulling effects on cognitive function like other types of tea may have.
Increases Libido and Fertility
It’s known to boost libido and fertility in both men and women. This can mean a healthier sex life and the potential for a happier family.
Increases Mental Focus
Matcha powder can promote concentration while promoting a relaxed state of mind – this makes it great for studying or working on projects that require attention to detail without being easily distracted.
Stabilizes Blood Sugar Levels
This type of green tea powder has been shown to help reduce glucose absorption into your bloodstream and stabilize insulin resistance – this helps prevent diabetes as well as other health problems caused by ongoing hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). This can also help your body use insulin effectively.
Boosts Metabolism and Energy Levels
Since matcha is a natural source of caffeine, it has been shown to boost the rate at which you burn calories – this can lead to weight loss support when combined with healthy diet choices. It’s also known to promote mental focus without being overstimulating like other types of caffeine, which can lead to a boost in energy levels.
Provides Relaxtion and Can Promote Better Sleep
This type of green tea powder can promote relaxation without drowsiness – this makes it great for unwinding after a long day at work or school. It’s also known to improve mood, which means better mental health and the potential for happier days ahead.
Can Help Ease Withdrawal Symptoms
If you’re struggling with quitting smoking, drinking matcha green tea powder can be a great alternative to help relieve withdrawal symptoms like anxiety or mood swings. This is because the L-theanine in this type of green tea helps promote relaxation.
Promotes Dental Health and Fresh Breath
Matcha can also help to prevent dental problems by protecting your teeth from plaque and bacterial infections – it also promotes fresh breath by inhibiting bacteria growth. Drinking matcha tea is also known to prevent the buildup of plaque that leads to tooth decay – this makes it great for oral health as well as general health support.
It’s Rich in Vitamins
Matcha green tea powder is also a source for several important substances like omega-three fatty acids (ALA), tryptophan, thiamin (B-vitamin) and vitamin E. These promote healthy brain activity by increasing blood flow to the brain or protecting
What Should You Look For When Buying Matcha Green Tea Powder?
But, as with any product, there are certain things you should look for to make sure you are purchasing the absolute best matcha green tea powder for your needs.
Here’s what you need to know:
Type of Matcha
Matcha is available in either loose leaf tea or powder form as well as the different grades of powder that we have already discussed. Keep this in mind when purchasing – if you have a preferred method of making your matcha green tea, choose the product that best fits your needs and preference.
Where Is It Grown
It’s also important to remember where it was grown since different types of soil can affect its flavor. Look for 100 percent organic matcha made in Japan to get the best product possible. Don’t forget that these products should also be shade-grown and not sun-grown since this will affect their nutrient content and flavor as well.
The Consistency
Make sure to take into consideration the consistency of the powder. If it’s quite fine, it’s best to use a whisk when making the tea. A coarser powder can be used in an electric mixer or with hot water added without needing a whisk before drinking.
The Color
Matcha powder can vary in color from bright green to deep forest green. The lighter the shade of matcha, the more delicate it will be and therefore the higher the quality. You’ll want to determine which one is best for your needs or personal preference.
The Import Label
Matcha is more expensive than other types of green tea – make sure your product has an import label to ensure its authenticity. If it’s grown in the U.S. or another country, be aware that you may not get as high-quality matcha powder since growing conditions vary by location and are different from those found in Japan.
The Smell
You can also tell the quality of matcha green tea powder by its smell. Make sure it has a fresh smell when you open the container – if there’s no scent or it smells musty, this is an indication that the product may not be high-quality.
The Packaging Quality
This may sound superficial, but the packaging quality does matter as well. Ensure the container is airtight to keep out humidity and ensure freshness – this will affect how long it stays fresh after being opened. You can usually tell how much care a brand puts into its products by the package it comes in. With matcha, it is sometimes best to judge a book by its cover!
The Price
Finally, you’ll want to consider the price of your matcha green tea powder since there’s generally a direct relationship between cost and value. The price of matcha green tea powder varies depending on where you are purchasing from and what type is being purchased – make sure to compare several different brands.
The Major Differences Between Matcha And Regular Green Tea
There are several differences between matcha and regular green tea – most notably, it is more potent due to being made from whole leaves of the plant rather than just steeping loose leaf green tea in hot water. It also doesn’t go through a process of fermentation like other green teas.
What Is Matcha?
Matcha is a finely ground powder made from whole tea leaves, which goes through a special steaming and handling process to preserve the freshness of its nutrients. It’s also grown in the shade rather than out in the full sun, which affects how much caffeine it contains as well as other health benefits.
What Is Regular Green Tea?
Regular brewed green tea is made from steeping loose-leaf or bagged leaves in hot water, while matcha is a finely ground powder that can be whisked into hot or cold liquids to make an iced or hot tea drink. It’s also more potent due to the whole leaves being used rather than just steeped for infusion – this affects its nutrient content and antioxidant levels as well.
Matcha Green Tea Powder Best Use Tips
Here are some top tips for using matcha green tea powder:
- Matcha goes bad a lot faster than regular tea – it has been reported that traditional ceremonial-grade matcha will lose its flavor within one month of opening, while culinary-grade matcha will lose its flavor within three months.
- Matcha green tea powder is meant to be consumed simply with water or milk. However, it can also go well with fruit like strawberries and bananas as a smoothie addition.
- Be aware that adding lemon juice can affect the taste significantly since this citrus acid cuts through some of the natural sweetness found in matcha.
- Matcha has many health benefits due to its containing more antioxidants than regular brewed green tea. It contains caffeine but less than coffee so you’ll still get energy boosts without jittery side effects if you don’t drink too much at once.
- Make sure the container that you store your matcha in is airtight so that humidity doesn’t affect its freshness after opening. You’ll also want to find an opaque package rather than clear glass since this will prevent loss of nutrients and freshness over time.
- If you’re new to matcha green tea, then it can be quite an acquired taste. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself overwhelmed by the taste initially. You may want to add a few drops of maple syrup, honey, or sugar to sweeten the drink.
- If you make a lot of matcha, I recommend buying a traditional matcha whisk and bowl set. This will help you mix and match your way to a healthier lifestyle in no time.
- Top-grade matcha powder will begin to lose its quality after about 2 months, so be sure to check the date of manufacture and expiration before you purchase it.
Our Top Matcha Green Tea Powder Recommendations
Encha Latte Grade Pure Organic Matcha
Encha considers itself the first business to offer a latte grade with exclusively organic and pure first harvest matcha powder. Basically, other latte mixes include later-season matcha made from stronger, more pungent leaves, resulting in a more earthy flavor. But Encha prides themselves on the fact that they do not.
It’s great for creamy, silky smoothies and its natural sweetness and simple mixing make it ideal for cooking with. Encha is so certain in its matcha that it gives a 100 percent money-back guarantee on the mix.
If you’re looking for a way to add matcha to your diet, Encha is a great way to go. It’s simple enough to make; all you need is some matcha and milk. Matcha bags come in two quantities, 30 grams and 60 grams (both of which have handy recipes on them). Then, all you have to do is shake, whisk, or blend it. It only takes a few minutes to make a yummy matcha latte.
Pros:
- All-organic, pure first harvest matcha powder
- Simple to mix with milk or water
- Money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied
Cons:
- Taste is slightly more earthy than other top-of-the-line matcha mixes
Soar Organics
2017 marked the debut of Soar Organics. Both the quality and value of Soar Organics are comparable to those of other matcha companies on this list. The ceremonial matcha was made the old-fashioned way, and it was bright and smooth with a pleasant flavor. Their matcha is produced from the first flush harvest in Kyoto, Japan, and stone-ground carefully.
Organic matcha is a must-have for many people, and it’s good to know that their matcha has been certified by the Canadian Organic Regime and the Japanese Agricultural Organic Standard. It’s also subjected to radiometry, heavy metals testing, and arsenic testing.
Soar Organics contributes a portion of every matcha sale to Canadian Feed the Children (CFTC), too. So, you get to do some good while getting yourself a beautiful cup of high-quality matcha.
Pros:
- Organic matcha powder for both hot and cold beverages
- Helps children in need and is ethically sourced
- Produced in Japan
Cons:
- Expensive
Conclusion…
Overall, finding the best matcha green tea powder can be a bit difficult due to all of the options out there, but if you use these guidelines then it will become much easier.
I hope you have enjoyed learning more about matcha green tea powder. If you are ready to try some for yourself, just go grab a canister of it from your local grocery store or health food store. We hope this guide helped you understand the health benefits and deliciousness of matcha green tea powder and you’re ready to get brewing!