I am @theessential

~Matcha~

Photo Credit: pexels.com royalty free- edited

Okay, so what is matcha anyway...

First off, if you’d never heard of matcha- you should definitely keep reading.

Matcha is essentially green tea powder. More specifically, it is ground, powered, green tea leaves from the camellia sinensis plant...but there is more to it.

The green tea used to make matcha, must be grown with the specific intent of becoming matcha. This is because matcha is grown to intentionally contain high levels of L-Theanine, Caffine and Antioxidants.

The farmers that grow matcha, actually shade the plants for a few weeks prior to harvesting. This is because it causes the plant to produce higher levels of chlorophyll (a green pigment found in plants and algae). The end result has a rich, deep green color.

Photo Credit- @theessential

Matcha is consumed as a beverage. It is sometimes made as a latte or mixed into smoothies.

I prefer to drink it in the traditional sense- without any additions other than water

*Photo Credit: pexels.com royalty free

L-Theanine?

Most traditional teas are typically made from the camellia sinensus plant. This includes your green tea, black tea and even those Lipton tea bags you can find at the grocery store. All of these teas contain some levels of L-Theanine. Drinking tea is one of the only ways of ingesting L-Theanine.

Photo Credit: burst.shopify.com royalty free image

L-Theanine or N5-ethyl-L-glutamine, is an amino acid that occurs naturally in nature. It is structurally and pharmacokinetically similar to Glutamate- hence its scientific nomenclature.

But enough with the scientific bit...

L-Theanine on its own, has a stress reducing, calming effect on the body, without causing sedation. It is also said to help promote focus and clarity.

What’s interesting, is that L-Theanine is partnered with caffeine in tea. These two have a somewhat synergistic effect by labeling each other out. Well, the L-Theanine actually helps to prevent the jitteriness and anxiety that can be brought on my caffeine alone. It also helps enhance the focus and clarity of caffeine.

I will be honest though, if I drink a cup of matcha in the morning, my eyes are hard to keep open

This combination has pleasant effects and is a great alternative to coffee. Where green tea (tea bags or loose leaf) only typically has a small percentage of the caffeine contained in coffee, matcha can contain just as much... plus like aforementioned, you get all the benefits of caffeine without the jitters!

Antioxidants?

Okay, a bit more science..

Antioxidants are molecules that are considered to be beneficial to certain cells inside that body. Antioxidants prevent oxidation. Oxidation leads to the formation of free-radicals. These free-radicals can cause chemical reactions that potentially damage bodily cells.

Inside matcha high levels of these Antioxidants occur. Compared to your typical cup of tea, there are over 100x more antioxidants in matcha. Berries also contain high levels of antioxidants.

Photo Credit: pexels.com royalty free image

The Antioxidants inside matcha are referred to as catechins. These are water soluble polyphenols that are consumed while drinking matcha.

Catechins are often considered to be beneficial to the heart, liver, arteries, pancreas and they might even help break down fat cells.

Catechins are also considered to have antimicrobial properties- especially in regards to cavity causing bacterium. Consuming matcha may have a positive effect on oral hygiene.

Grades of Matcha

Matcha is found in many grades. This means that not all matcha are created equal.

Food grade ( or culinary grade) matcha is used in cooking for a slight grassy, green tea flavor or dark green color- but would not be preferred for drinking. This grade of matcha is often much cheaper.

It is important to understand that even culinary grade matcha is absolutely fine for drinking and is still very high quality tea. When it comes down to it, it still contains the health- promoting effects of the high grade matchas.

The highest grade of matcha is called ceremonial grade. This is my absolute preference for buying matcha. I will occasionally buy whatever I can find but if I have the choice, I’ll always go with the ceremonial grade.

Ceremonial grade matcha had a rich green color. This is a good indicator of the matcha quality. Lower quality matcha may have some off colors or even shades of brown.

This grade of matcha has a natural sweetness and subtle grassy flavor. Matcha tastes very similar to green tea but more earthy and intense.

Its important to also note that matcha is very potent. Consuming too much or consuming it on an empty stomach can lead to some nausea or discomfort. I almost always consume matcha either with food or after eating something. Crackers and matcha work nicely.

How Do We Drink It?

There are many ways to drink or consume matcha. Like mentioned earlier, I prefer to keep it pure and simple.

There are traditions and rituals that are often used while drinking matcha. I plan to make a video of how to prepare ceremonial matcha the traditional way.

Here is a simple way to prepare it:

All you need is a way to warm the water, matcha and a small bowl or cup to drink from.

Start by heating the water to approximately 175-180 degrees Fahrenheit. This is slightly below boiling.

Do not use water that is too hot or boiling.

In your cup- without the water added yet..add about 1/2 to 1 tsp of matcha.

More can be used but I recommend to start with small amounts and work your way up to higher amounts.

Pour a small amount of water into the cup containing the matcha powder and whisk the matcha until no clumps are visible.

In the traditional matcha ceremony, a bamboo whisk is used

Then add a bit more water and continue to whisk until foamy. This creates a nice texture while drinking the matcha.

Now your ready to drink!!

Matcha should not be consumed in high amouts on a daily basis. The same things inside matcha that make it a healthy beverage , can be consumed in excess. Anything can loose it’s benefit when consuming it in excess.

If the natural taste of matcha is unappealing to you, feel free to add milk or to sweeten the drink with sugar or stevia. This is not my recommendation but I understand that the taste is not for everyone.

HOPE YOU ENJOYED LEARNING A BIT ABOUT MATCHA!

Thanks to everyone who read the post. Like I mentioned earlier, I will be posting a video in the future- showing how to properly prepare matcha.

If you enjoyed reading,

Disclaimer: This post is for entertainment purposes only. These are my opinions- I am not offering medical advice.

Thank you for stopping by Steemians

()

If you are brand new to Steemit and want some tips on how to gain a following, click here

Click here to learn how to earn free stuff with sweatcoins

click here to download the Sweatcoin app

Interested In purchasing bitcoin but don’t have a wallet? Click here to join Coinbase

Did you find this information useful? Want to support my blog?

Buy me a coffee for Monday morning!

Here is my Bitcoin Address: 19QGb9MYmqqECa1fZmkMqBYZEdFNfJLAeB