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Matcha green tea, or powdered tea, is a type of green tea famous in ancient China and Japan which is now taking the world by storm. People have been drinking it for centuries now. If you take a look on various social media platforms nowadays, you’ll see many concoctions inspired by matcha green tea and about drinking matcha green tea itself.
Overall, tea is the second most consumed beverage (Source) throughout the world next to water. Various studies suggest that there are many health benefits of drinking tea.
What is Matcha Tea?
Matcha green tea is a special, finely ground powder green tea that has its roots in China but plays a major role in the Japanese tea ceremony and culture. Today, matcha green tea is synonymous with Japan.
Matcha farmers cover the plants that produce the tea with bamboo tarp or mats for three weeks before it is harvested to reduce the amount of sunlight the plant gets. Covering it is crucial to increase the chlorophyll content of the plant which gives matcha its vibrant dark green leaves, better texture, and unique matcha tea taste. These leaves are hand-selected, steamed for a while to prevent them from fermenting before they are taken to a cold storage to be dried and aged to enhance the flavor. Then the dried leaves are stone-ground using classic stones wheels to make the fine powder.
Green Tea Description
All real tea originates from the “Camellia Sinensis” tea plant. It is a shrub commonly found in Southern China. (1)
There are three main classifications of tea. They are green, black and oolong. Green tea comes from unfermented leaves and is a rich source of a powerful antioxidant known as polyphenol. Antioxidants fight off free-radicals and destroy body toxins that change and damage the DNA and may even result in cell death.
Scientists believe that free-radicals speed up the aging process, cause heart disease, cancer and other deadly health conditions. The polyphenol found in green tea neutralizes free radicals and minimizes the damage caused.
Green tea is considered one the “healthiest” types of tea because of its very high nutrient content since it did not go through any processing method. Ever since matcha green tea became a part of the Japanese way of tea, it has also been dubbed as the most potent green tea ever and continually consumed during traditional tea ceremonies for several centuries now.
Matcha vs. Green Tea
When you drink a typical green tea, the leaves are infused in hot water, strained, and then discarded. You drink the components left in the water, but this is not the case with matcha green tea. With matcha, you consume the actual leaves that were made into a fine powder. The solution is made using half teaspoon of matcha powder with 1/3 cup of hot water. A special bamboo brush is used to make the tea frothy.
History of Matcha Green Tea
Where did the matcha green tea originate?
The word “Ma” means powder in Japan and “Cha” means tea. Drinking tea was a Chinese custom during the reign of Emperor Shen Nong. In 2700 B.C., he introduced the tea plant to the Chinese people. Scholar Lu Yu wrote about his efforts to discover the effectiveness of the different types of grass, roots, and tree barks in Cha Jing or “The Book of Tea” in A.D. 760. The practice of Buddhism also gave way to the rise of tea drinking since religious teachings prohibit alcohol consumption.
Japanese Buddhist monks brought the very first seeds of the green tea plant to Japan from China after a trip during the Heian period (794-1185). The monks were Saicho, Kukai, and Eichu. The first recorded appearance of tea was noted on Nihon Koki (Notes on Japan) which was also compiled during the Heian period. It was said that the priest, Eichu, invited Emperor Saga to drink tea in his temple, which was a famous pastime during the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Back then, Yu Lu said that the people steamed tea leaves and converted them into tea bricks to be stored and traded. It was compressed into the form of a brick, so it was easily transported and survived the long trips from China. It is also the same kind of tea that reached the shores of Japan.
To make a tea drink, they would warm the brick over a flame and break it apart by hand or shave it off using a knife. The brick tea shavings are stone-ground into a powder with a mortar and then added to hot water for brewing before serving it in a bowl. Preparing and consuming this powdered tea became a ritual among Zen or Chan Buddhists.
The drinking of matcha green tea that started some 4,000 years ago eventually became the renowned Japanese Tea Ceremony in the 16th century. The celebrated father or patriarch of this famous ceremony is Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591), a Zen Buddhist monk. It was also the time when farmers realized that when they gave shade to protect the tea leaves from direct sunlight, it produced a more refined taste. It was the beginning of the practice of putting covers on sprouted tea plants using rice straw shades (Tana) and bamboo. At that time, only Japanese royalty, priests, samurai, and rich merchants drank matcha green tea because it was still processed in limited quantities.
Today, matcha green tea has gone through a Matcha renaissance where our modern world is starting to appreciate some of the centuries-old green tea secrets.
Japanese Tea Ceremony
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The terms “Chanoyu” (hot water for tea), “Sado” (the way of tea), and “Ocha” all refer to the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. It is the preparation and the serving of Matcha, a Japanese green tea, in a choreographic ritual along with other traditional Japanese desserts to neutralize the tea’s bitter taste. The focus of this ceremony is not drinking the tea itself, but the aesthetics and movements involved in the preparation of tea. They call the main guests the Shokyaku.
This ceremony is an artistic Japanese pastime first practiced by the society’s elite. The Japanese consider tea drinking as both an art and a spiritual discipline. It is an art because it enables the drinker to absorb the simplicity of the design of the tea room and the company of good friends. It is a science because it is an aesthetic contemplation of calligraphy, ceramics, flower arranging, and even of the tea ceremony itself. The host of the tea party must be able to cook a special dish, make flower arrangements, choose and arrange the utensils, among others to establish a relaxed environment and communicate with one another.
The ultimate aim of this ceremony is to contemplate in silence to achieve a deep spiritual satisfaction.
Tea Philosophy – Wa, Kei, Sei, Jaku
- “Wa” stands for harmony.
- “Kei” stands for respect.
- “Sei” stands for purity.
- “Jaku” stands for tranquility.
- “Wabi” means to appreciate the beauty of simple and natural things.
- “Kokoroire” stands for devotion to the tea ceremony.
What is Matcha Tea made of?
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An overview of the different components found in the matcha green tea:
L-Theanine – A special amino acid common prevalent tea plants and the primary component among green teas. By covering the plant before harvesting, the L-Theanine level increases resulting in the unique matcha tea taste that is earthy, pleasant and sweet.
It boosts alpha wave production which promotes relaxed mental clarity, calmness, alertness, and it calms the nervous system.
Antioxidants – Catechin is a powerful antioxidant that is present in green tea. It is up to 100x more potent than Vitamin C, 25x stronger than Vitamin E, 70x more than that of orange juice, and nine times that of spinach’s beta carotene.
- Goji berries – 6.2x
- Dark chocolate – 7x
- Wild blueberries – 17x
Polyphenols – Recognized as the most potent and richest anti-cancer substance known to man abundant in matcha green tea.
Thermogenics – Studies about matcha’s weight loss potential reveal that drinking green tea can speed up metabolism by 35% up to 40%, which increases fat burning capacity minus the harmful side effects.
Chlorophyll – Matcha is rich in chlorophyll which gives it its vivid emerald green color. It is a powerful blood detoxifier and promotes normal alkaline levels in the bloodstream.
Adaptogenics – It is an “adaptogen” that helps the adrenal glands by lowering the cortisol levels or stress hormone levels.
Cholesterol Lowering Agents – Lowers LDL or bad cholesterol levels without affecting the HDL or good cholesterol levels
Blood Pressure Lowering Catechins – It has specific catechins that inhibit Angiotensin, and thus prevent blood vessel contraction resulting in normal blood pressure.
Blood Sugar Stabilizer – Green tea’s polysaccharides protect against insulin spikes, resulting in normal blood sugar levels.
Anti-microbial – Rich in potent antiviral and antibiotics properties, it helps prevent and treat many common illnesses like the common cold, flu, food poisoning, tooth decay, gum disease, etc.
Matcha Green Tea Grades
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The following factors determine the “grades” of a matcha green tea powder:
- Tea’s color
- Quality, texture, and density
- Product’s quality (leaves or stem)
- The powders fineness
- How long it was exposed to oxygen
- Grinding process
- Treatment before processing
Ceremonial Grade
The highest quality matcha green tea powder. Taken from the youngest leaves of the plant, it is a rich green color, has a very fine texture, is stone-ground, and does not contain any sweeteners.
Culinary Grade
Used in cooking and baking, it is specially blended with different ingredients for food and beverage recipes.
Premium Grade
Cheaper and best for daily use. You can make a matcha green tea smoothie or blend of your choice.
Café Grade
Best choice for recipes with milk and dairy products
Kitchen Grade
The most economical choice and contain delicate leaves, an excellent choice for cooking
Classic Grade
The most affordable and enjoyable blend with many uses
Benefits of Matcha Green Tea
Photo by Lindsay M Photography
Prevents Cancer – The catechin present in matcha green tea destroys toxic free-radicals in the body. Epigallocatechin (EGCG) is the most powerful catechin in green tea and is also a powerful anti-carcinogen. Moreover, green tea is rich in polyphenol, another potent anti-cancer substance that prevents and kills cancer cells. Also, the occurrence of cancer is low in Japan, the home of matcha. Nutrition and Cancer published a study on the anticancer effects of the polyphenols in green tea which may prevent colon, rectal, bladder, stomach, pancreatic, esophageal, and lung cancer. (2)
A 2003 study done at the University of Colorado revealed that drinking a cup of matcha green tea has 137x more EGCG than a cup of regular green tea. (3) Another study done on rats also revealed that green tea may prevent the growth of bladder tumors. (4)
Another study published in 2009 determined how well green tea can protect the human body from different types of cancer like stomach, colon, rectal, bladder, pancreatic, esophageal, and lung, and showed positive results on some cancer strains mentioned.
Anti-aging Properties – Those living in Okinawa Japan have the longest lifespans in the world, and they attribute it to the people’s favorite drink, matcha green tea. It is already a well-known favorite beverage in Japan, and it is gaining more prominence all over the world because of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-aging properties due to the high concentrations of catechins and polyphenols in matcha green tea.
Food Research International also published a study correlating the phenolic content of green tea and its antioxidant capacity. (5)
Lower LDL or Bad Cholesterol – The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition featured a study in 2011 revealing how green tea affected serum total LDL cholesterol levels.
There are many studies revealing that matcha green tea lowers both plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels according to a study published in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry. (6) In vivo studies show catechins prevent dietary lipids from being absorbed by the intestines. It also strongly suggests that matcha or catechins are safe and effective to lower lipid levels.
Weight Loss – The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition featured another 1999 study demonstrating the thermogenic and fat oxidation properties of catechins. By drinking matcha each day, thermogenesis can increase from 8-10% up to 35-43%.
Furthermore, another study revealed that you can burn 25% more fat during exercise by drinking green tea before working out.
Both of these scientific studies suggest that drinking matcha can boost both fat-burning and the body’s resting metabolic rate.
Detoxify the body – Since matcha grows in the shade, it is richer in chlorophyll than any other green teas.
Chlorophyll is said to detoxify the body of heavy metals, toxins, dioxins, poisons and hormone disrupters.
Improve the mind and boost brain power – Matcha green tea is up to 5x richer in L-Theanine than any other green tea. As already mentioned, the amino acid L-Theanine has psychoactive properties that can induce alpha wave activity in a person’s brain.
Beta wave activity in the brain increases when under stress, making a person feel agitated. Alpha wave activity promotes relaxation and lowers blood pressure.
Despite the presence of caffeine in matcha green tea, L-Theanine neutralizes its jittery effects. It is why drinking a cup of matcha can clear the mind and improves the ability to concentrate without experiencing coffee’s usual jitters.
Fiber source – Matcha is rich in easily absorbable dietary fiber to minimize constipation and maintain blood sugar levels.
Energy-booster – Drinking matcha is a great energy booster because it contains caffeine yet the other components in the tea prevent headaches and other side effects associated with coffee drinking.
Other Health Benefits of Matcha Green Tea
Natural Antibiotic – Catechins and several other matcha components have antibacterial properties.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease/Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Matcha green tea reduces inflammation in BID, in both Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease. The catechins and theaflavins in green tea also have other anti-inflammatory properties that may have anti-tumor effects. (7)
Diabetes – Matcha is known to regulate blood sugar levels, prevent Type 1 and 2 Diabetes, and slow its progression. Matcha green tea helps protect against renal and hepatic damage by suppressing the accumulation of renal AGE, decreasing hepatic glucose, and total cholesterol and triglyceride levels with its antioxidant properties according to a study published in The Journal of Medicinal Food. (8)
Liver Disease – Drinking at least 10 cups of matcha green tea daily can prevent liver diseases. Also, it protects the liver from the harmful effects of alcohol, viral hepatitis, and liver inflammation. However, you need to drink a minimum of 10 cups of green tea, which has caffeine, daily. There is no need to reason, though, since a cup of matcha is equivalent to 15 cups of regular green tea.
Other health conditions – Preliminary studies on matcha green tea suggest that it can prevent:
- Dental cavities
- Arthritis
- Genital warts
- Colds and flu
- Parkinson’s disease
- Osteoporosis
- Cognitive decline
Benefits of Matcha Green Tea for the Skin:
Matcha is good for the skin in a lot of ways. First, polyphenol is a potent antioxidant and inhibits UV skin damage. EGCG also reduces inflammation and slow down skin aging by killing free radicals.
- Use it as a colorful and amazing skin mask – You can use either a matcha green tea face mask with dill and lemongrass or rose water to pamper your skin, detox, soothe, uplift, and rejuvenate facial skin.
- Matcha green tea-inspired beauty and bath products nurture the skin and cleanse it of any impurities.
- Matcha is great for acne since it decreases sebum production, boost the immune system and lower inflammation levels. Also, EGCG decreases the androgen levels, reducing the appearance of acne.
- Use green tea bags to soothe sunburn or puffiness of the eyes.
- EGCG kills Candida Albicans, so there is no need to buy expensive antifungal medications that cause bothersome side effects.
Matcha Green Tea Supplements
Many people are not fans of this drink because of its distinct matcha tea taste. Not everyone can tolerate its rich, initially vegetal, astringent flavor, with a lingering sweetness afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matcha Tea
Is Green Tea a Diuretic?
Green tea extract has high caffeine levels that makes the drinker urinate a lot. This diuretic effect means there is less water circulating in the bloodstream, which also lowers blood pressure.
Where to buy matcha green tea powder?
Matcha green tea powder is commonly available in many natural and health food stores. If you want a richer experience, opt to buy the organic matcha green tea variant because it does not contain any herbicides, fertilizers, or pesticides.
You can buy matcha green tea supplements in many online stores, natural or organic food stores, and tea shops. You can choose from matcha green tea powder, capsules, and oil variants, where oil is used for treating various skin irritations.
The best matcha green tea supplement is the pill. It offers all the benefits of matcha green tea without having to drink tea. The supplements are free of caffeine and contain dried and crushed matcha green tea leaves.
How much Organic Matcha Green Tea you should Drink in a Day?
It is recommended to drink about two to three cups of matcha green tea daily (a total of 240-320 mg. of polyphenol) or 100 to 750 mg. of the standard matcha green tea extract.
To enjoy it best, add the powder after the boiled water has somewhat cooled down to prevent it from having a grassy taste.
What are The Matcha Green Tea Precautions?
Avoid matcha green tea if you have or are:
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- Pregnant or lactating
- High blood pressure
- Stomach ulcers
- Liver problems
- Kidney problems
- Psychological disorders like an anxiety disorder
- Anemia
- Glaucoma
- Diabetes
- Osteoporosis
What Are Matcha Green Tea Possible Drug Interactions?
These are possible drug interactions:
- Adenosine
- Beta-lactam
- Benzodiazepines
- Beta-blockers, Metoprolol and Propanolol
- Blood thinning drugs
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Clozaphine (Clozaril)
- Ephedrine
- Lithium
- Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Birth control pills
- Phenylpropanolamine
- Quinolone antibiotics
- Other drugs like:
- Acetaminophen
- Carbamazepine
- Dipyridamole
- Estrogen
- Fluvoxamine
- Methotrexate
- Mexiletine
- Phenobarbital
- Theophylline
- Verapamil
What are Matcha Green Tea Side Effects?
- Diarrhea or loose stools/stomach upset
- Sleeping disorders or insomnia
- Cardiac arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms/heart palpitations
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Allergy/skin rash
- Restlessness and tremors
- Nausea
- Frequent urination
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability
How to Make Matcha green Tea?
1. Bring water to a boil.
2. Mix matcha with several drops of hot water using a spoon.
3. Add more water while stirring the paste mixture. Keep in mind 1/6 ratio, one teaspoon matcha and six ounces of water.
4. Enjoy a cup of organic matcha green tea.
There are two forms of matcha, the thick or Koicha and the thin or Usucha.
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It is no wonder why matcha green tea has remained a popular Japanese beverage for thousands of years and still has mass appeal up to this day. Despite its distinct and strong taste, many people still try all things matcha because of the health benefits it offers. Especially for coffee lovers which are in the billions, matcha green tea gives them their caffeine fix without suffering from the usual highs and lows or any of coffee’s associated side effects.
Enjoy the calm and relaxation offered by a cup of hot matcha green tea to soothe your mind and body without spending too much.
