Matcha tea is often talked about for its health benefits and virtues, but do you really know this tea?
Today, we're offering this article to shed some light on the subject! Learn more about what Matcha tea is, its origins, its health benefits, and where to find it…
Matcha tea: what is it?
Matcha tea originates from Japan and is a green tea produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis tea plant. Matcha tea is characterized by being very finely ground to obtain a green powder.
There are many ways to grow and process green tea leaves, yet some can negatively impact the quality of the tea.
Currently, even though it is becoming easier to obtain Matcha tea, be careful about its quality! Indeed, only an “elite” of Japanese tea growers is capable of producing Matcha tea of extremely high quality.
The Matcha tea plantation:
The cultivation of Matcha tea is quite different from that of other teas. Indeed, the plantations are covered with dark cloths 4 weeks before harvesting, which protects them from the sun (90% less sunlight).
To compensate for this lack of sun, tea plants produce more chlorophyll and the leaves more amino acids.
This allows us to obtain a bright green tea or a sweet and original taste!
This high-quality tea was reserved for the emperor and his elite. Later, it was brought to the Buddhists by the Chinese. The Buddhists adopted it as a remedy to prolong life, and it became the meditation tea of the samurai. The tea ceremony developed in Japan from this point onward.
Today, this drink is very popular and many of us consume it daily, but do you know its benefits?
Benefits and virtues of Matcha tea:
Matcha tea is considered a “superfood”, rich in vitamins A, C and E, and has exceptional nutritional qualities:
Stimulating
Invigorating
Calming
It strengthens the digestive system
Fighting cholesterol
Prevents cancer
Improves skin health
However, Matcha tea should not be consumed every day! In fact, to avoid overdoses of vitamins A, C, and E, opt for 2 to 3 cups per week.
Preparing Matcha tea:
Pour a few grams of matcha powder into a bowl or cup
Pour the boiling water
Mix everything together using a special matcha tea whisk.
Where can I find matcha tea?
Matcha tea is generally found in Japanese grocery stores. It is also possible to purchase it online.
Finally, matcha tea is also a great ingredient to incorporate into your healthy recipes! We'll be publishing an article on matcha tea recipes very soon!
