The Amazing Matcha and Its Benefits

Everybody loves matcha – from show business stars and nutritionists to avid tea lovers. Its incomparably bright green color, its fresh taste, health benefits and easy preparation made it a worldwide hit.

Fresh, bright green color that some compare to green peas and others to malachite, reminds us of spring, when everything blooms with a renewed energy. This is the color of the amazing matcha, which also has an incredibly fresh, single taste among teas. It also comes with perhaps as many benefits as there are particles that make up the powder of the finely ground green tea leaves that is matcha. In other words, innumerable.

When and where the amazing matcha was born

During the Tang Dynasty in China (7th-10th centuries), it was common practice to press tea leaves into various shapes thus making them easier to transport. For tea preparation, these pressed leaves were heated to dry completely and then pulverized into powder. The resulting powder was then mixed with water and salt.

Matcha translates as tea powder.

Matcha became more popular during the Song Dynasty (10th-13th centuries). It was exactly during that time, in the 12th century, that the Japanese Buddhist monk Eisai fell in love with this tea. He spent many years in China studying Buddhism and found that when he drank matcha, he meditated in a state of calm and concentration.

Today we know that this is due to the combination of caffeine and L-theanine in all Camellia sinensis teas.

Eisai brought matcha seeds to Japan and the first ones were planted in some Buddhist temples in Kyoto. Initially, matcha was produced in very limited quantities. As a result, only the richest could afford this luxury drink. Gradually, matcha became the basis of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony chado, inspired by the Chinese tea ceremony.

Matcha is green tea. However, unlike traditional teas, in which we brew the leaves, with matcha we enjoy them in the form of a ground powder. That is why the matcha benefits for our health are much stronger than those of other teas – because we consume the whole leaves.

How is matcha produced

Matcha is usually harvested from early to mid-May. About 20 days before the harvest, the tea trees are covered so that they are in the shade. With some varieties and in some tea plantations this process takes more than 20 days. As theday of picking approaches, more layers of covers are placed above the tea trees so that the shade becomes really dense. As they continue to grow slowly under the shade, the leaves accumulate not only large amounts of chlorophyll, but also many beneficial nutrients. Thanks to the thick shade, for example, L-theanine is retained in high amounts because it does not break down as quickly into other substances as tannins. Because of its high chlorophyll content matcha is great for detox.

This is the main difference between growing matcha and other green teas.

There is also a difference in the leaves processing. A really high quality green matcha powder requires the stems, the main middle vein and the other veins to be removed from the leaves. Only after this, the leaves are further dried, sorted by size and very slowly ground between stone plates at low temperature. Thanks to the slow grinding process and maintaining low temperature, the beneficial ingredients in the leaves are preserved.

What are the health benefits of the amazing matcha

When we drink green matcha tea, we swallow the whole leaf, and with it all of its beneficial nutrients. When we prepare any other high-quality tea leaves (not ground to a powder like matcha), we absorb up to 40% of their beneficial ingredients. In matcha there are between 10 to 20 times more antioxidants than in other green tea leaves. This means that if you drink 1 cup of matcha, you have received the benefits of 10 to 20 cups of other green tea – depending on the quality of green tea you use for comparison.

There is also more caffeine in matcha than in regular green tea. So be careful if you are sensitive to it. In a 70 ml cup of our Matcha Bio there is up to 40 mg of caffeine. L-theanine is also in much larger quantities. Thanks to it, matcha has a savoury refreshing green taste that ends with rich sweet notes.

Matcha reduces stress levels, increases mood, energizes and enhances concentration

We have already told you about the amazing combination of caffeine and L-theanine in tea. We cannot find L-theanine in any other drink. You can read again about all the benefits of L-theanine in combination with caffeine in our special article.

The amazing matcha boosts immunity

Matcha strengthens the immune system and not only limits the invasion of various viruses and bacteria in the body, but also inhibits the growth of many of them. Matcha contains the antioxidant catechin EGCg, which function is to protect the body against various bacterial and viral infections. It binds to body cells and inhibits the growth of many pathogens, including influenza A virus, hepatitis virus, herpes virus and bacteria that cause streptococcal infections in the throat.

Matcha helps us loose weight

Yes, we know, it is spring time and most of us feel the weight of the accumulated in winter a little (or a lot) extra pounds. Why not include matcha in your weight loss program then!? The combination of catechin EGCg and caffeine naturally boosts metabolism and increases the number of calories we burn on a daily base. Matcha uses body fat as an energy source. Catechins activate the thermogenic activity of the body, ie. its ability to burn fat.

A 12-week study in Japan found that participants’ consumption of green tea led to a significant reduction in body mass index, body fat and subcutaneous fat.

Matcha is beneficial for our heart’s health

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. This means that approximately one third of all deaths in people over the age of 35 are due to heart disease. Studies on the benefits of green tea have concluded that it can help prevent heart disease. And as we have already said, matcha is green tea ground to a fine powder.

Green tea has already been shown to reduce levels of total and “bad” LDL cholesterol, as well as triglycerides. It can also help prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol and thus protect against heart disease. It also reduces the risk of stroke.

The amazing matcha is number one in terms of antioxidant content

Among all major superfoods, matcha has the highest antioxidant content. According to the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) test, which measures the levels of antioxidants in food, the content in matcha is 1384 units per gram of tea. This is 13 times more than the antioxidants in pomegranate, 15 times more than the antioxidants in blueberries and 125 times more than those in spinach.

Matcha for good oral hygiene

90% of bad breath comes from bacteria in the mouth. Here, bacteria break down sulfur-containing amino acids into foul-smelling volatile sulfur compounds. If the bacterial colonies in your mouth get out of control, you will suffer from bad breath. The antibacterial properties of green tea kill most of the bacteria in the oral cavity. German scientists have recently found that green tea significantly reduces the risk of infection with the new coronavirus Covid-19 because of its potential to kill bacteria in the mouth.

Matcha improves liver function

The liver is vital for our health as it is the main organ that expels toxins from our body and helps in the processing of medicines and nutrients.

Some studies have found that matcha can help maintain liver health. A study of diabetic rats that consumed matcha for 16 weeks, concluded that it was the tea intake that prevented damage to both the kidneys and the liver.

In a different study, a certain number of 80 people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease took placebo and another part of them took 500 mg of green tea extract daily for 90 days. After 12 weeks, green tea extract was observed to significantly reduce liver enzyme levels. Elevated levels of these enzymes are a marker of liver damage.

The amazing matcha against arthritis

When we talk about the benefits of matcha against arthritis, you should know that in this respect it is one of the most researched beverages. Green, black and white teas are rich in polyphenols – plant compounds that have strong anti-inflammatory effects. Various studies show that green tea helps preserve cartilage and bones thanks to the polyphenols in it. Studies also show that the antioxidant catechin EGCg in green tea blocks the production of molecules that cause joint damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Matcha can help prevent cancer

Although there is no specific research proving the anti-cancer benefits of matcha powder, scientists have been researching green tea for years. Some studies have suggested that the powerful antioxidant EGCg can prevent cancer and the growth of colon cancer. One study shows that green tea can be effective in preventing cancer when combined with appropriate anti-cancer drugs. EGCg is the magic compound that can inhibit the growth of cancer cells by killing malignant cells.

Matcha for skin glow

If you have problematic skin, replace your morning coffee with matcha for a week and see the results. The beneficial effect of matcha on the skin is due to the fact that it is extremely rich in vitamins. Vitamin C, for example, stimulates collagen production, and vitamin B can promote healthy skin cell metabolism. Matcha is great for prevention of skin aging. Against acne and rosacea, you can make a mask with matcha. And soon we will tell you how!

What vitamins and minerals we can find in the amazing matcha

Vitamin A (carotene)
Tea leaves contain several types of carotenoids, but Beta-carotene is the most common. When body absorbs Beta-carotene, it is converted to vitamin A. As an antioxidant, it has been shown to improve vision and eliminate free radicals.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
Thiamine is an essential nutrient for our body because our body cannot produce it. It is necessary for the healthy metabolism of sugar, amino acids and lipids. Thiamine is especially important for those whose main diet food is rice.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Riboflavin helps cells use oxygen most efficiently. Cells also need it for their normal growth, e.g. red blood cell formation and antibody production. It also helps the skin, hair, nails and hair tissues to absorb oxygen more efficiently.

Vitamin B3 (niacin)
Niacin helps body break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins to release energy. It can also be beneficial for skin, digestive system and nervous system health. Various studies have shown that niacin can raise the good HDL cholesterol level and lower triglycerides. There is evidence that it helps reduce the hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) and can reduce the risk of heart attack.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an antioxidant vitamin that eliminates free radicals from the body. As an essential nutrient, it helps tissue repair and the production of specific neurotransmitters. Vitamin C also has antiviral and antibacterial properties that help prevent disease. It is among the main factors in maintaining a strong immune system. Fermented teas (such as black and oolong) contain much less vitamin C, as it is broken down during fermentation.

Vitamin F (fluoride)
Camellia sinensis teas are especially rich in fluoride. It sticks to the surface of the teeth and produces an antioxidant coating that helps fight tooth decay.