Matcha Green Tea 101 – Benefits and Review

Matcha green tea is one of the various types of teas claiming to provide health benefits. Oftentimes, tea is used for weight loss, but before choosing a tea, it makes sense to know how it is grown and produced. It is important to drink tea suitable to your needs.

What is Matcha?

Matcha is originally grown in Japan and local farmers have been using the traditional way of cultivating, growing as well as producing matcha green tea.

It is during Spring when the matcha leaves are harvested. But, several weeks before harvest time, the matcha plants were covered with a tarp or bamboo mats. This is to reduce the amount of sunlight, thus enhancing the green color and increasing the chlorophyll content.

The leaves are steamed before they are air-dried. Once the leaves were dried, they are sorted according to grade and the selected leaves were categorized as tencha. The ground tencha becomes matcha.

Matcha green tea can be included in smoothies or when baking. You can drink the matcha tea without straining that’s why you’re consuming the entire leaf. Matcha is more potent as compared to other types of teas. It is packed with antioxidants and other nutritional content than brewed green tea.

Little History of Matcha

The first known reference to Matcha tea specifically comes from a Zen monk named Eisai, who wrote a book called “Kissa Yojoki” or “How to Stay Healthy by Drinking Tea” in 1191. He praised the health benefits of matcha tea and encouraged its consumption as a means of staying awake and focused during long meditation sessions.

Over the centuries, matcha tea continued to gain popularity in Japan, especially among the samurai class during the Edo period (1603-1868). It became a symbol of refinement and culture, and tea ceremonies were developed to showcase its unique flavor and preparation methods.

Health Benefits of Matcha Green Tea

Before taking matcha green tea it’s important to know how your body will benefit from it. You should consider reading testimonies by previous and current users of this tea.

• An antioxidant powerhouse

Every sip of matcha green tea enables you to obtain a huge amount of antioxidants. According to research, it is packed with antioxidants as compared to other types of tea and any other superfoods. It also has a higher content of epigallocatechin gallate, a polyphenol that is known to prevent cancer.

Matcha green tea contains 7x the antioxidant content of dark chocolate and 60x the antioxidants of spinach. An ORAC test was conducted at Tufts University and it was discovered that matcha has 20x more than blueberries and pomegranates.

Antioxidants are essential to our bodies because they serve as defense agents. They prevent developing chronic diseases and aging. This means that having more antioxidants in your body will keep you away from diseases and infections.

Likewise, the catechins content in matcha green tea lessens the negative effects of pollution, chemicals, radiation, and UV rays, thus preventing DNA and cell damage. Therefore, drinking matcha green tea every day can help preserve and restore the balance and well-being of your body. (1, 2, 3)

• Improves mood and better focus

Matcha contains L-theanine which improves moods and better focus. L-theanine is an amino acid that promotes well-being and relaxation as it creates alpha waves that make you alert yet relaxed. Although L-theanine is present in all tea, there’s more than 5x amino acid present in matcha as compared to green and black teas (4, 5, 6, 7).

Likewise, L-theanine boosts learning ability and memory function and at the same time counteracts the adverse effects of caffeine. That’s why drinking matcha regularly promotes clarity of mind and concentration without the jitters (8).

• Support weight loss

Since matcha is nearly calorie-free, it can be a great help to your weight loss program. It improves metabolism, thus making the fat-burning process at par. A recent study showed that matcha has the ability to burn calories fast without putting stress on your body or raising your heart rate and blood pressure (9, 10, 11, 12).

• Great source of chlorophyll

Matcha is rich in chlorophyll which is known to help cleanse and eliminate the harmful elements inside your body. Chlorophyll is a powerful detoxifier that’s why drinking matcha green tea can remove the heavy metals and chemicals from your body.

• It boosts energy

The natural properties of matcha boost energy that can be used throughout the day. It can help to drink this tea when you work out or do a tedious job. Another study proved that matcha can increase physical endurance by 24%.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that drinking matcha green tea increases thermogenesis or the ability of the body to burn calories from 35% to 43% of the daily energy expenditure.

How to Make Matcha Green Tea

Although you can buy matcha green tea in a café, you can save money by making it at home. You need not follow elaborate practice just like in Japan’s tea ceremony because you can simplify the process at home.

You can brew matcha in either way such as koicha or usucha. The former is a thicker tea while the latter is a thin tea. But, you can’t make usucha from koicha matcha. That’s why you should ensure what you really want before preparing it.

Step 1.

Preheat the matcha bowl by pouring hot water making it about 1/3 full. Place the whisk downward so that the tips of the prongs become wet. Remove the water once the bowl was preheated and dry it out using a cloth.

If you will make koicha, you should use about 40 ml of hot water, while 70 ml for usucha and let it cool.

Step 2.

Measure 3-4 scoops of matcha powder for koicha and 2 scoops for usucha. Use a bamboo scoop and sift the matcha powder to remove clumps.

Step 3.

Once the hot water cools down to 70 degrees Celsius, you can pour it into the matcha bowl.

Step 4.

If you will make usucha, you should whisk briskly in a W motion to achieve a thin and frothy matcha tea with many bubbles on top. On the other hand, slower and gentle, yet kneading and rotating whisking action should be done if you’ll make koicha. The koicha should be smooth without a froth.

The flavor and texture of the matcha tea are affected by the whisking action. You can achieve a poor flavor if you have whisked incorrectly. The matcha may not froth well if the whisking wasn’t done thoroughly or due to using too much water or an inadequate amount of powder.

Why Matcha is Good For Weight Loss?

Matcha has gained popularity in recent years as a weight loss aid, and there are several reasons why it may be beneficial for weight loss:

• Low-calorie content: Matcha is a low-calorie beverage, which means you can enjoy it without worrying about consuming too many calories.
• Boosts metabolism: Matcha contains catechins, which are natural antioxidants that have been shown to increase metabolism and help the body burn fat more efficiently.
• Reduces appetite: Some studies have suggested that the catechins in matcha may help reduce cravings and suppress appetite, making it easier to stick to a healthy diet.
• Enhances exercise performance: The caffeine in matcha can provide an energy boost, which may improve exercise performance and help you burn more calories during workouts.
• Promotes relaxation: Stress can contribute to weight gain, but matcha contains an amino acid called L-theanine that promotes relaxation and reduces stress levels, which could help prevent overeating due to stress.

Difference Between Matcha and Green Tea

Green tea and matcha are both derived from the same plant species, Camellia sinensis, but they differ in how they are prepared and consumed.

Matcha is a type of green tea that is made by grinding high-quality tea leaves into a fine powder. The tea bushes are typically grown in the shade for several weeks before harvesting, which increases their chlorophyll content and creates a deeper green color. After the leaves are harvested, they are steamed, dried, and ground into a fine powder using a traditional stone mill. Because matcha is made from whole tea leaves, it is higher in caffeine and antioxidants than regular green tea.

Green tea, on the other hand, is made by steeping tea leaves in hot water. The leaves are typically picked, withered, and rolled before being dried and packaged for sale. Unlike matcha, green tea is not ground into a powder, so it has a more delicate flavor and lower caffeine content than matcha. However, it still contains beneficial antioxidants called catechins that are associated with numerous health benefits, including improved heart health and reduced risk of certain types of cancer.

In terms of taste, matcha has a strong, grassy flavor that can be slightly bitter if brewed too hot or too long. Some people enjoy the earthy taste of matcha on its own, while others prefer to mix it with milk or sweeteners to make lattes or smoothies. Green tea, on the other hand, has a milder, more subtle flavor that pairs well with honey, lemon, or other natural flavors.

So, in summary, while both matcha and green tea come from the same plant and offer numerous health benefits, there are some key differences to keep in mind. Matcha is higher in caffeine and antioxidants, has a stronger taste, and is typically consumed as a powder rather than steeped in hot water. Green tea has a more delicate flavor, contains lower levels of caffeine and antioxidants, and is traditionally brewed in hot water.

	Green Tea	Matcha
Processing	Steamed and dried leaves	Ground into a fine powder from shade-grown leaves
Caffeine Content	Moderate (30-50 mg per cup)	High (70 mg per teaspoon)
Antioxidants	High in catechins and EGCG	Higher in catechins and EGCG due to consuming the whole leaf
Flavor	Earthy, vegetal taste	Umami, has a slightly bitter taste
Preparation	Steeped in water for 1-3 minutes	Whisked into hot water until frothy
Culinary Uses	Can be used in cooking and baking	Mainly used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies and as a beverage

Where to Buy Matcha Green Tea

If you want to try matcha green tea, your priority consideration should be the quality. That’s why you should buy this tea from a reputable seller such as Amazon. You can buy matcha green tea online through Amazon. The good thing about buying from this store is that you can read customer reviews that will give you a good idea about the quality of the tea and compare it with other sellers.


Because of the versatility and flexibility of matcha green tea, it becomes a popular ingredient in making beverages such as green tea lattes, morning smoothies, and many others.

FAQ

What is Decaf Matcha Green Tea?

Decaf matcha green tea is a type of green tea that has been decaffeinated. Matcha is a type of powdered green tea that is made from whole tea leaves, which are ground into a fine powder. This powder is then whisked with hot water to make a frothy, flavorful beverage. Like other types of green tea, matcha contains caffeine, but decaf matcha has had most or all of the caffeine removed through a decaffeination process. Decaf matcha can be a good option for people who are sensitive to caffeine or who want to enjoy the flavor and health benefits of matcha without the stimulating effects of caffeine. However, it’s worth noting that decaffeination processes can sometimes affect the flavor and nutritional content of the tea.

FGO organic matcha green tea powder

FGO organic matcha green tea powder is a high-quality, shade-grown powdered green tea from Japan that is rich in antioxidants and caffeine. It’s a good choice for people who want to enjoy the health benefits of matcha while supporting organic agriculture practices.

Does Matcha Break a Fast?

The answer to whether matcha breaks a fast is not entirely straightforward and depends on the specific type of fasting regimen you are following.

If you are practicing strict water fasting, then consuming anything other than water will break your fast, including matcha.

However, if you are following a less restrictive fasting regimen such as intermittent fasting, where you allow yourself to consume certain foods and beverages during your fasting window, then consuming matcha might be allowable.

Matcha contains caffeine and trace amounts of calories, so it may have a slight impact on your metabolism and therefore technically “break” your fast. However, some proponents of intermittent fasting argue that small amounts of low-calorie beverages like matcha are unlikely to significantly disrupt the benefits of fasting.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether or not to include matcha in your fasting regimen. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to consult with a healthcare professional to determine what approach is best for you.

Can I Drink Green Tea Matcha while Pregnant?

Drinking green tea matcha during pregnancy should be done in moderation, as it contains caffeine. While small to moderate amounts of caffeine are generally considered safe for pregnant women, excessive caffeine intake can increase the risk of complications such as miscarriage and low birth weight.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women consume no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine per day, which is roughly equivalent to one 12-ounce cup of coffee. Keep in mind that the caffeine content of green tea matcha can vary depending on the brand and brewing method, so it’s important to read labels and be mindful of how much you’re consuming.

Additionally, some studies suggest that the antioxidant properties of green tea may have potential health benefits during pregnancy, such as reducing the risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. However, more research is needed to fully understand the effects of green tea consumption during pregnancy.

As always, if you have any concerns or questions about drinking green tea matcha or any other aspect of your diet during pregnancy, it’s best to consult with a healthcare professional.

What are the benefits of matcha green tea with turmeric?

Matcha green tea and turmeric are both known for their health benefits and combining them may provide additional benefits. The potential benefits of consuming matcha green tea with turmeric include antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, improved brain function, boosted immune system, and potential weight loss benefits.

What does matcha green tea taste like?

Matcha green tea has a unique and distinctive taste that may be described as vegetal, earthy, and slightly bitter. It has a rich, smooth flavor with a slightly creamy texture and a sweet aftertaste. Some people also note a hint of umami or savory flavor in matcha.

The taste of matcha can vary depending on factors such as the quality of the tea leaves, the growing conditions, and how it is prepared. Matcha that is made from high-quality tea leaves and prepared correctly will generally have a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than lower-quality matcha.

How Many Calories Are In A Cup Of Matcha?

There are approximately 3-4 calories per gram of matcha green tea powder, which is about one teaspoon.

A typical cup of matcha, which is made by whisking 1 teaspoon (about 2 grams) of matcha powder with hot water, contains approximately 3-4 calories. However, if you add other ingredients like milk or sweeteners, the calorie count will increase accordingly.