THE GREEN TEA THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Matcha is the ‘new’ trend making waves in the food world for its incredible health benefits and its delicious flavor, but this ancient drink has been enhancing lives in Japan for over 1000 years, where it is revered for its mental & medical remedies. It may have taken a while, but the power of matcha is finally becoming known all across the world and is changing the way people fuel their lives.

WHAT IS MATCHA?

Matcha is a fine powder of ground whole green tea leaves. Unique from other teas, it is the only tea where the entire leaf is consumed. Only the strongest growing green tea leaves are selected for matcha production. They are then shade grown for the last three weeks before harvesting and the stems are removed before the leaves are ground into a fine powder. Matcha is traditionally prepared by whisking a scoop of powder with hot water until frothy. Smooth and vegetal with a pleasant nutty bitterness, matcha has a grassy and sweet flavor.

MATCHA BENEFITS

Before tea was considered a casual beverage, it was considered a medicine.
Of all the teas on earth, matcha is the ultimate medicine.

With such a vast array of physical & mental benefits, matcha is so much more than a drink. Matcha is a way of living. It nurtures the body & calms the mind- a retreat from the hectic, grounding us during our over-stimulated modern lives. Energizing yet relaxing, nourishing & protecting matcha is the drink that keeps on giving.

The shade growing of matcha elevates the L-theanine content, an amino acid that induces alpha frequency brain waves, resulting in mental calmness, improved concentration & memory, and relaxed alertness.

The catechin EGCG in matcha has been found to raise the body’s thermogenesis (the body’s rate of burning calories) from 8-10% of daily expenditure to between 35-43% of daily expenditure. At the same time, it oxidates fat & limits intestinal absorption of fat, all while not raising blood pressure or heart rate.

With its incredibly high levels of chlorophyll, matcha provides oxygen to the tissues, detoxifying & creating a healthy alkaline pH in the body.

It naturally contains only 1/2 the caffeine of coffee. The unique properties of matcha result in calm energy that lasts for 5.5 hours on average, with no jitters, crash, or nervous energy.

Matcha is the highest source of antioxidants per gram (ORAC=1573) with the next highest source being goji berries (ORAC=253). One serving of matcha has the equivalent amount of antioxidants contained in 10 cups of normal brewed green tea Matcha is bursting with catechins, particularly EGCG, which is the most potent & beneficial antioxidant- known to prevent cancer & heart disease and is effective in reducing inflammation & slowing cartilage breakdown.

EGCG is proven to fight skin aging, reduce inflammation caused by UV radiation & suppress acne.

HOW TO SELECT & PREPARE MATCHA

SELECTING MATCHA

We choose matcha that is organically grown in Uji, Kyoto, Japan. Our matcha goes through extensive testing for quality, to make sure you can enjoy only top quality tea every day.

VIBRANT HUE

Quality matcha should be a beautiful vibrant green, matcha oxidizes when exposed to air, turning an unpleasant brown shade, so purchasing matcha direct from the farm that packages it is best.

SMOOTH SWEET FLAVOR

Matcha should taste grassy and sweet, with a pleasant, non-astringent bitterness that is smooth and vegetal.

JAPANESE MATCHA VS. CHINESE MATCHA

Generally speaking, “matcha” is not shade-grown in China, which leads to a dull and bitter “matcha” product. In Japan, matcha is shade-grown, which produces the most vibrant, best-tasting matcha.

WHY WE CHOOSE ORGANIC MATCHA

The reason is very simple, tea leaves have no protection. Since matcha is made from ground de-stemmed green tea leaves, we don’t want to ingest any harmful residues from pesticides and synthetic chemical fertilizers which are used in conventional farming. Less than 1% of teas sold in the U.S. are organic, so the more we support organic farmers, the stronger the signal we are sending to other farmers and the entire world to go organic.

HOW TO PREPARE IT

Matcha can be used in all kinds of applications, but when it comes to drinking, there are two primary ways.

Ceremonial: 1 tsp ceremonial grade matcha + 8 oz hot (not boiling, water)
Latte: 1 tsp latte grade matcha + 2 oz hot (not boiling, water) + 6 oz. steamed milk of choice + 1-2 tsp sweetener of choice.

WHICH MILK IS BEST?

WHICH SWEETENER IS BEST?

While many people enjoy ceremonial style matcha with no sweetener added, we recommend your tea to be gently sweetened. The possibilities are endless when it comes to flavoring & sweetening your matcha latte, but here are our top choices for sweeteners:

WHAT TOOLS DO YOU NEED?

There are many ways to prepare matcha, but the following tools are what we use to make the best matcha drinks:

bamboo whisk

Traditional bamboo whisk & holder – using a bamboo whisk produces the smoothest matcha – a holder helps the whisk keep its shape.

bamboo scoop

Fine sieve & bamboo scoop – we use a traditional bamboo scoop to portion our matcha & sift it through a fine sieve before whisking with hot water (sifting ensures there will be no clumps of matcha).

Bowl

Wide matcha bowl or mug – you want to use a bowl or mug that is at least 3.5″-4″ in diameter to allow for optimal whisking action.

Aerolatte

Aerolatte or milk frother – while not necessary, frothing your hot milk with an Aerolatte or milk frother will allow you to create cafe-style lattes at home.

HOW TO STORE MATCHA

As mentioned earlier, matcha will oxidize and spoil if exposed to air, so it is best to store it in an airtight package or container in the refrigerator. Unopened, a package will last about one year if stored in the refrigerator. If you have matcha that has ‘expired‘ I would recommend using it in smoothies or baking with it. Once opened, matcha should ideally be used up within 1 – 2 months to ensure optimum freshness, color, and taste.