Today's phenomenon – matcha. Maybe you haven't had the chance to taste it yet, but you've certainly met it. It makes that beautiful deep green latte that you can see with knowledgeable guests in hipster cafes. But latte is not the only thing that is prepared from this special green powder. What exactly is it, what is its history and what are all the methods of its preparation? You will learn all this and much more in this article.
What is matcha?
There is matcha green tea from Japan. However, it differs from the classic green tea that we all know in many aspects, even though the plant is the same - Camellia sinensis. This is due to different cultivation, processing and subsequent preparation. Matcha is not just any drink. It has very beneficial effect on the human body and cognitive functions and because of this it is often used as dietary supplement. So let's look at it in more detail.
Source: matcha.com
Growing and processing matcha tea
Real matcha is cultivated exclusively in Japan, where it has more than a thousand years of tradition. If you ever come across this tea from another region, it will definitely not be as honest. The plantations where the matcha bushes grow are shaded all the time, from sowing to harvest. Deficiency of the sun then causes excessive formation of chlorophyll and amino acid L-theanine in leaves. They are then harvested while they are still very young and after drying they are ground into a fine powder, from which all kinds of drinks are made. And precisely because matcha leaves are eaten whole, not just their decoction, as is the case with other teas, provide our body with many more benefits.
TIP: You can also recognize high-quality matcha thanks to its deep green color and perfectly fine texture, with which you can paint on the paper after wetting your finger even when it is dry. Its taste should be mild and slightly bitter in higher concentrations. But if it is bitter or bitter even in normal proportions, there is definitely something wrong with your matcha.
The significance of matchi in Japanese history
Matcha began to be used more than a thousand years ago in ancient Japan by Buddhist monks for their ceremonies and meditations. More specifically, this discovery dates back to the 7th century. Over time, however, it spread throughout the country and became part of its culture. However, her original form did not resemble the current one at all. There really wasn't any matcha latte back then.
Health benefits of matcha tea
Matcha leaves are not only rich in chlorophyll and amino acids. They also contain high amounts of antioxidants, vitamin C, potassium and magnesium. Together, these substances create great benefits for the human body.
- Supports metabolism
- It supplies energy, which is released gradually and without fluctuations thanks to L-theanine
- It helps to detoxify the body
- Maintains liver health
- Contributes to normal concentration and memory
- It supports the normal state of the immune system
- Protects against free radicals
Interesting facts about antioxidants:
The special cultivation style and the fact that the matcha leaves are eaten whole ensure that you get a kick out of it up to 137x more antioxidants than when drinking normal green tea. And that is definitely not to be thrown away. Antioxidants are important for fight skin aging, have a favorable effect precisely on immunity, because our body protects against free radicals, which cause chronic diseases.
Did you know that…
Can one cup of matcha tea replace 10 cups of regular green tea with its benefits?
Matcha for weight loss
They exist researches, which suggest that matcha aids in weight reduction and boosts metabolism. Apparently it can speed up combustion by up to 17%. That is why all kinds of fat burners, pre-workouts and other stimulating supplements are made from matcha green tea, which are mainly used by visitors to fitness centers.
Can matcha replace coffee?
Absolutely, if you like it. Caffeine, which matcha contains (approx. 35 mg per half teaspoon), is highly influenced by the amino acid L-theanine, which ensures the gradual release of energy, and therefore they eliminate energy fluctuations. Therefore, you don't have to worry about feeling tired immediately after a matcha latte or getting a caffeine shock.
Storing matcha tea
Matcha is very susceptible to all environmental influences. So keep it in an airtight bag, ideally in the original packaging, which has a high-quality closure. Neither light nor high temperatures do it well. After opening, ideally use it as soon as possible. If you drink it only occasionally, we recommend watching its color. If it starts to brown, it is no longer fresh and you will definitely not enjoy it. Matcha packaging should therefore never be bulky. 2 g of powder is enough for one serving.
How to prepare a match?
Now we come to the more complicated part - the preparation. Matcha is so finely ground that it is difficult to mix it with a spoon. A special bamboo whisk (Chasen) is needed to prepare matcha lattes, various lemonades and the like. Its use is definitely recommended, because matcha it loses antioxidants when in contact with metal. It is therefore ideal to use wooden utensils.
Matcha latte
- One teaspoon matcha powder pour approx. 1 dcl of hot water (max. 80 degrees Celsius) into the cup.
- Using a Chasen whisk, whisk the powder together with the water in the cup until a fine whipped base is formed.
- Whip the milk so that it has a fine microfoam and pour it into a cup with a teapot, as when preparing a classic latte. Matcha can also be used to create latte art.
And this matcha latte is exactly what you see in equipped cafes. Its taste is very delicious, it has no bitter end compared to coffee, and if you whip the milk correctly, you will get a beautifully creamy texture.
However, you can have a matcha latte can also be prepared in an iced version. Instead of a cup, use a glass with a volume of approx. 200 ml, whisk the matcha powder in cold water, add ice and pour cold milk.
Source: perfectdailygrind.com
Matcha lemonade
- Put one teaspoon in a tea bowl or other container that will be convenient for you to work with matcha powder, pour a little cold water over it and process until smooth with a whisk.
- Pour the contents of the teacup into a tall glass with ice.
- Fill the glass with cold water, add squeezed lemon.
- Decorate the rim of the glass with a slice of lemon and serve.
Matcha lemonade is a great form of refreshment during hot summer days or you can prepare it at any other time and just regulate the amount of ice. Instead of lemon, you can also use juicy grapefruit, which gives the lemonade a completely different taste.
Dessert z matchi
You can also use matcha in the preparation of baked or unbaked desserts. But always beware of metal utensils, which destroy matcha's health benefits. But in what recipes can you use matcha?
- Matcha pancakes or fritters
- Matcha ice cream
- Matcha pudding with chia seeds
- Matcha tiramisu
- Matcha cookies
We could go on. There are really many options. Matcha is really malleable and can be added to many recipes. Therefore, try it in all possible variants and discover traditional Japanese tea with all its benefits.
And precisely because of the aforementioned benefits, we decided to include Matcha in our offer in the form of Royal matcha tea. This is genuine matcha tea originating from Kyoto, Japan. Its quality is really high, even has an BIO certificate, which is very important for green superfoods (as they bind harmful substances and help to remove them from the body, the BIO quality ensures that the superfood is 100% pure).
You can use Royal matcha tea for all the preparation methods we mentioned in this article. If you decide to do so and put the matcha in your basket, be sure to let us know, for example on social networks, what recipes you have prepared from it!
