Weiii, machaaaaâŠ. Nope! Not this macha! đ
What we are talking about is⊠Matcha! The most talked about and can be made into (almost!) everything such as cakes, pastries and delicious beverages. But what is Matcha? Is it the same as green tea we drink everyday?
Yes⊠and no.
Matcha is a type of green tea made by grinding whole young leaves into powder form. And then the powder is mixed with hot water.
So, what is the difference?
Drinking brewed green tea âis a bit like boiling spinach, throwing away the spinach and just drinking the water,â says Louise Cheadle, co-author of The Book of Matcha and co-owner of the tea company teapigs. âYou will get some of the nutrients, but youâre throwing away the best bit.â With matcha, youâre drinking the whole tea leaves. - Time
Photo from Breakawaymatcha.com
Also, the way matcha tea leaves are grown and harvested is very unique! Farmers grow matcha by covering their tea plants at least 20 to 30 days before harvest. With no direct sunlight, this increases chlorophyll content in the leaves (which makes them bright green and full of nutrients!). The leaves are then hand-picked, ground traditionally by granite stones for an hour, and in the dark, until it turns into super fine powder.
How can matcha tea help you?
High in Antioxidants
Matcha is rich in antioxidants called catechins, and do you know what antioxidants can do? They help stabilize harmful free radicals (which damage cells and cause diseases)! Hence it is so much better to consume, than having steeping green tea leaves in water.
Cancer-fighting effects
It is believed that matcha can help you fight cancer due to the antioxidants. Some studies have linked this to prevention of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer, and even encouraging weight loss. Is this why the Japanese live so long into the old age??? đ± đ±
Liver Protection
If you are not aware (now, please do!), your liver function is to flush out toxins, metabolize drugs and process nutrients in your body. Scientists even tested this where in one study gave diabetic rats matcha for 16 weeks and found that it helped prevented damage to both the kidneys and liver.
Meditation
The preparation of matcha in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies has always been associated with Zen. If you have been part of, or watched these tea ceremonies, it has always been quiet, calm and focused, slowly preparing the tea. This ceremony is called sadĆ/chadĆ or âThe Way of Teaâ, and it represents purity, tranquillity, respect and harmony.
Can I try matcha at Tedboy?
Yes, you can! But not eat it on its own la...
Tedboy also uses matcha powder to create delicious concoction of beverages that will definitely delight you in many ways. If you are a green tea drinker (or lover!), youâll definitely enjoy our:
Tedboy's signature Green Tea Latte (no caffeine, and you get the thick taste of matcha~~~)
Green Zombie Latte (this one is a special, as we are only introducing it for limited time only for October in conjunction with Halloween! Itâs matcha with milk, and butterscotch! Youâll be surprised that it is a perfect combination that will perk up your day.)
Drop by Tedboy today to try them! :D
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-benefits-of-matcha-tea
https://www.health.com/nutrition/what-is-matcha