Matcha – why you should be drinking it now!

CS-matcha-powder_mediumYou’ve probably heard about it, possibly seen it on the shelves but do you know why it’s so good for you, and how you can try it?

I’m a huge fan, so thought I’d share with you the lowdown on why Matcha is so great, and some delicious ways to try it too.  Get ready to ditch your morning coffee and swap it for something just as energising, but natural and flood your body with powerful antioxidants!

What is it?

Matcha is finely ground powder of specially grown green tea, and just one serving (1/2 teaspoon) is equivalent to 10 cups of brewed green tea.

Why is it great?

You’ve probably all heard about the wonderful properties of green tea, well given Matcha’s potency, these benefits are even more amazing in just one serving.  I think if I’m honest, like most people, I would struggle to drink 10 cups of green tea a day, but with Matcha I know I only need to have one serving to be reaping the benefits.  Here are just some of them: –

– Immunity boosting & boosts mental awareness

– Helps control stress

– May help in weight loss due to it helping to boost the metabolism

– As energising as an expresso but without the rise in your cortisol levels (our stress hormone)

– Caffeine creates an instant boost for around 1 hour, but you will crash as the caffeine leaves your system, leaving you with an energy dip

– Although Matcha contains caffeine, it’s only around half the amount of a regular coffee

– Matcha is absorbed much slower too over a period of about 5-6 hours, giving a much preferred slow release of energy

– No impact is given to insulin levels, in fact Matcha helps to stabilise blood sugar levels, and contains I-theanine (an amino acid that aids relaxation)

– Helps the body get more oxygen and nutrients to cells, and can help with anti-ageing and producing radiant skin

What are the different types?

There are two main different types of Matcha.  Food grade contains slightly less antioxidants and is used for flavouring foods with Matcha.  Ceremonial grade Matcha has a much higher concentration of antioxidants, and is therefore far more potent and good for your health.

Like most things you do get what you pay for, so I would suggest you always look for organic and the best ceremonial grade Matcha you can afford.

How to drink it?

Matcha powder is quite versatile and can easily be drunk is many ways.  My favourite is as a Matcha Almond Milk Latte: –

Gently heat a cup or mug of Almond Milk (preferably home made) in a pan

Place 1/2 tsp of Matcha powder into a cup or mug

Add a little water and mix into a paste

When the milk is warmed through, add it to the Matcha paste and whisk with a spoon until combined

I like to then just add some cinnamon and turmeric, or some natural vanilla extract, but you can just drink it plain or add a little coconut nectar or raw honey to sweeten if you prefer

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Alternatively you can add Matcha to smoothies and juices to give them a boost of antioxidants!

So, the next time you feel like you need a coffee, have a think about switching to the wonders of Matcha……….

Enjoy

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