A Lesson in Matcha Green Tea
I discovered Matcha Green Tea Lattes last winter, when I decided to take a break from my usual Skinny Vanilla Latte. I was unfamiliar with “matcha,” but knew I liked green tea, so I ignored the first word and gave the new brew a try.
The drink was delicious—sweet and creamy with a hint of something fresh and unique—and it quickly became my new fave after just a few sips. I didn’t find out until months later that the part of the name I chose to ignore was in fact the most important part, in that it provides seemingly endless health benefits.
Matcha contains even more antioxidants than blueberries (which are known to be king of the anti-aging compounds) and spinach (without the icky taste)!
It also possesses the catechin EGCg, notorious for its cancer-fighting properties. Catechins are only found in green tea, but matcha contains ten times (!) the amount as regular green tea. Although the above benefits should be reason enough to add matcha tea into your daily routine, it also detoxifies the body and can aid in weight loss (now who doesn’t want to lose a few pounds?!). Plus, Buddhist monks used to drink the magical tea to relax their minds for meditative purposes.
Not into spiritual practices? The same amino acids play a role in enhancing your mood and relieving stress. Drink up before a long day, and reap the benefits!
