Matcha: if we asked you to name one distinctive characteristic of this tea, even without knowing much about it, itâd probably be its vibrant green colour right?
Matcha is known for its bright green colouring, and if youâve never tasted this drink for yourself, youâd be forgiven for being put off by that fact alone.
If youâre picky with your food and drink, the thought of consuming something bright green might send your taste budâs alarm bells ringing - but before you throw in the towel, weâll remind you of the age-old adage: donât knock it till you try it.
To give you an idea of what to expect, weâre going to explain what this traditional tea tastes like, where it comes from, and how it compares to your regular cup of joe. You never know, you might become a loyal convert!
CONTENTS:
- Where Does Matcha Come From?
- What Does A Matcha Tea or Latte Taste Like?
- Coffee Vs. Matcha: How Do They Compare?
- The Key Health Benefits Of Matcha
- The Bottom Line
Where Does Matcha Come From?
Matcha, in the form that we know it, is a stone-ground tea powder. Matcha has a rich history spanning over 1000 years, and it originates from the infamous Japanese tea farms.
Matcha began its journey into culture when Buddhist monks would use it to aid their meditation practice - hence why matcha is known to produce clarity, peace, and focus.
Why is matcha green, you ask? Well, this stone-ground powder is the result of powdered young green tea leaves.
The tea leaves selected for matcha also come from shade-grown tea which increases the chlorophyll content of the leaves, giving it the classic and distinctive bright green colour.
Growing leaves in the shade also encourages the concentration of the amino acid -theanine. This amino acid promotes a greater sense of relaxation in the body which is why many people use matcha for meditation, relaxation and better sleep.
What Does A Matcha Tea or Latte Taste Like?
If youâre making your matcha the traditional way, youâll simply add hot water to your stone-ground ceremonial matcha powder and froth it up with a bamboo whisk. This is whatâs called matcha tea.
Another popular and more modern way to use matcha make it into a latte by swapping the majority of your hot water with milk to create a creamy, velvety drink.
If youâre a cafe goer or frequent your local Starbucks, youâve probably seen these on the menu as a matcha latte or matcha milk tea - but take it from me, you can make a better one at home!
However you make your matcha, its main flavour profile stays the same - you can expect to taste rich tones of earthiness, grassiness, and even nuttiness.
If youâre not mixing your matcha with milk, this flavour will be more pronounced, and your matcha will taste notably more vegetal.
Matcha is an acquired taste for most as itâs quite strong and unique, however, people who like matcha LOVE the flavour. If youâve ever drunk green tea, youâll have an idea of what these vegetal, grassy tones taste like - itâs just concentrated and more intense.
Itâs important to note that the taste of matcha varies from brand to brand depending on the origin, purity and general quality as well. If youâve been put off by the flavour before - try another brand before you walk away from it completely.
Adding Syrups And Flavourings
As with any hot drink, you can experiment with different flavours and make the end-result taste different from its original form.
For example, adding flavoured syrups or even spices such as cinnamon to your drink can balance out some of the earthiness and add some sweetness to your drink. Maple syrup, honey and vanilla are also popular additions to matcha.
Adding Milk
Matcha tastes the most vegetal when it's made with just hot water. Simply swapping most of your water for milk, and making a matcha latte instead, can significantly change the taste of your matcha.
If you donât want to be reliant on syrups or flavourings, you could even use sweetened vegan milk for extra flavour or add a dash of syrup or spice with your milk to change the taste even more.
Iced matcha lattes also have a different flavour profile than hot matcha as the ice changes the consistency of the powder and mixes with it in a different way.
Play around in the kitchen, and have fun!
Coffee Vs. Matcha: How Do They Compare?
Many loyal coffee drinkers are swapping their morning pick-me-up for matcha. But why?
Just half a teaspoon of matcha contains 35 mg of caffeine. Research has found that matcha also contains L-theanine, an amino acid that can change the effects of caffeine and promote a more sustained level of energy and alertness throughout the day.
In other words, you wonât get that mid-morning caffeine crash as you do with coffee.
Although the average serving of coffee contains significantly more caffeine (180mg, to be precise), it doesnât contain L-theanine, so you wonât get that synergistic effect of sustained energy and alertness like you would with matcha.
The Key Health Benefits Of Matcha
Another significant reason matcha is becoming more popular with traditional coffee drinkers is the various health benefits it possesses.
As researchers continue to dig into the benefits of matcha, emerging evidence suggests itâs great for our health in a number of ways.
Here are just a few science-backed health benefits of matcha.
1.) Antioxidants
Matcha is naturally rich in antioxidants, which can prevent cell damage caused by free radicals in the body.
Catechins are a specific type of antioxidant and are one of the main compounds found in matcha, and matcha alone has more than 137x times the amount found in regular green tea.
The antioxidants from green tea and matcha have numerous skin and anti-aging benefits and there is mounting evidence to suggest that adding matcha to your diet could reduce your risk of many different chronic diseases.
2.) Could Help To Prevent Cancer
Green tea extracts such as matcha could potentially also have some anti-cancer benefits. One animal study discovered that green tea extracts were able to slow the development of breast cancer and decrease tumour size in rats.
Additional studies have discovered that EGCG, a catechin found in matcha, could also offer protection against liver, lung, and skin cancer.
3.) Could Help Maintain Good Heart Health
Drinking green tea, which has an almost identical profile to matcha, has long been indicated to possibly help prevent heart disease and maintain heart health.
Studies have found that green teas like matcha can reduce the amount of LDL cholesterol in the body, which is a leading cause of heart disease.
The Bottom Line
If youâre looking for a healthier and more level alternative to your usual morning coffee, matcha is an excellent place to start.
Although it has a unique and somewhat required taste, its vegetal notes can be complemented with milk and flavouring to make matcha more palatable for your individual taste preference.
The science suggests that the benefits are worth it, and your body will thank you!
So, the next time you find yourself reaching for another cup of coffee and thinking it might be a bad idea- try a matcha tea or latte instead and see if you feel the difference!
Just keep in mind that matcha can come in many grades, qualities and purities based on all manner of different sourcing, production and growing practices. Choose a manufacturer that is reputable and experienced to make sure youâre not only getting the best-tasting matcha, but also the healthiest.