Matcha or Matcha tea is an important part of the Japanese tea ceremony, although this unique drink arrived in Japan from China. Matcha is a colloquial name for drinking that is often found in Russian speech; In fact, it’s called Matcha, with the emphasis on the second syllable. In this article, we are going to read about Matcha tea, whose benefits and damages are discussed heatedly in the forums not the first day.
A little history
In 1191 Eisai brought home from China an unusual matcha powder tea, which became a beautiful and bright green color when preparing. This was Matcha tea. Over time, he was almost forgotten in China, but in Japan became incredibly popular.
The Matcha was especially popular in the fifteenth century, when tea plantations improved the cultivation and harvesting technology of the best qualities of the precious Matcha.
Matcha varieties
There are several varieties of matcha, each with different characteristics: density, tone and aftertaste.
The lighter variety is the Dakota. It has an astringent flavor. His darkest hue is Kama, which we recommend to consume with sweets. The Matcha “Gotcha” combines well with other vigorizing and sweet drinks.
The Japanese drink their pure morning tea, but many add milk and cream.
How is the matcha
Matcha tea is collected from the most delicate leaves of the tea tree. About three weeks before reaping tea, shrubs are covered so that they are in the shade. Low light favors the accumulation of more nutrients in the tea leaf. The leaves darken and increase their content in amino acids. Thanks to this process, the matcha has such a rich chemical composition.
Tea leaves are collected by hand and steamed, which slows fermentation. After steamed cooking, the raw material dries and moves until a fine dust is obtained, which obtains the matcha.
A little later the ceremonial matcha, a top quality matcha with a bitter and subtle taste.
The culinary matcha is harvested last. It has an ideal acid flavor for baked products, cocktails and ice cream.
The matcha is the leaf of the Sinensis camellia, which is also used to produce common green tea. The tea tree grows in Japan.
The leaves for the matcha begin to collect exactly three months after the start of spring. The first harvest corresponds to the younger leaves. With them the most expensive matcha is prepared. Because of its flavor and aroma, connoisseurs in tea can recognize it.
Matcha’s chemical composition
The matcha has medicinal properties precisely because of the vitamin cocktail it contains. Tea contains proteins, iodine, group B vitamins, iron, calcium and other trace elements, caffeine, fiber and amino acids.
It is rich in vitamin A, which reinforces the immune system, improves the view and condition of the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A is also essential for skeleton strength. For women, this vitamin is especially important, since it helps to gestate and give birth to a healthy baby.
There is also a lot of vitamin P in the matcha. It helps normalize cholesterol levels, serves as a preventive agent against cancer and helps deal with body and skin inflammation. Vitamin P helps normalize blood pressure and has a positive effect on hormonal and thyroid function.
How to elaborate it correctly
Really yogurt is a matter. It can be prepared in the classical and traditional way, whether koitya (strong drink) or usutya (weaker). The elaboration utensil must be heated.
The Matthya is taken with a special bamboo spoon (Tyasya) and placed in a cup. The dust is poured into hot water (80 degrees), but never with boiling water – it is a strict rule for the elaboration of the Matthya.
The mixture obtained is hit until it is homogeneous and soft using a traditional matcha whistle, which must also be bamboo.
The ready matcha must contain small lumps and powdered pulp on the surface. According to the classic recipe, the Matcha is drinking with sweets and milk is not added.
To prepare a soft drink, it is enough with 2 g of tea prepared by 70 ml of water. The matcha drinks with or without foam.
There are two ways to consume matcha. If you prepare with Usutya, you have to drink it very slowly and only after dissolving it, without observing the ceremony. It usually serves friends and drink in beautiful cups.
The strong drink, of sticky consistency and sweet and acid taste, is taken in the mouth and is retained before swallowing it. This reveals the exquisite taste of the koicha, which allows to appreciate the identity of this traditional Japanese drink.
You can prepare mätä at home without a traditional whistle. First, use a fine strainer to sift dust. Next, it is poured into a temperate cup and hot water is poured on top. Then, the dough is beaten with a teaspoon, the mixture is poured into a large cup and hot water is poured, about 120 ml.
Mattia with milk recipe
Mattia with milk is a very popular drink today in many parts of the world. To prepare it, you need
- 250 ml of water
- 250 ml of milk
- 2 tablespoons of mattia powder
- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
- 1 spoon of vanilla
- 2 tablespoons of honey
Water is boiled first and boil for 5 minutes. The milk is heated apart. With a blender, matcha tea, coconut oil and vanilla are mixed. Milk and water are poured into the mixture and beat a little again. Finally, honey is added to tea. Once done, you have to pour the Matcha Latte in a pretty cup and drink it with pleasure.
Chocolate Matcha
In stores you can find baked products or flavored ice cream with matcha powder tea. Matcha dust chocolate is extremely popular. It is made with natural white chocolate and first quality Japanese matcha. Matcha chocolate is a green chocolate tablet.
This sweet is delicious with traditional green tea, as well as with Matcha Latte and natural coffee drinks.
Some reasons why you should drink matcha every day
Traditional Japanese tea has insurmountable healing qualities for other teas. Its health benefits are huge.
The matcha contains record amounts of antioxidants compared to many other teas. He is the leader in antioxidant content even between berries and fruits. The matcha contains many more antioxidants than green tea. That is why it stops the aging process and decreases the negative effects of the environment.
A cup of matcha a day reinforces immunity and helps fight colds and many other much more serious ailments.
A cup of matcha helps improve brain function, increases concentration and helps to better absorb even a lot of information.
A matcha cup reduces bad cholesterol levels and is vigorizing and energizing. In addition, this tea has no adverse effects on the heart and blood vessels. The effect of 1 cup lasts up to 6 hours. The secret is that the matcha contains amino acids that give strength.
An excellent urolithiasis prevention is a cup of matcha a day. The drink also cleans the body of toxins and detoxifies.
In addition, the matcha relieves depression and improves mood.
How many matcha cups can be drink?
It is recommended to drink up to 2 matcha cups per day. It is allowed to consume up to 4 cups for pleasure. More of this can be harmful. And it is that 5 cups or more are an excessive amount of caffeine. In addition, a large volume of the drink is harmful to the liver.
Can the matcha help lose weight?
Matcha tea, like green tea, stimulates metabolism, and this allows to control body weight. But this does not mean that just taking this drink every day, excess weight can be lost. Matthya is just a help in the weight loss process, which will only work if you follow the advice of a nutritionist and exercise.
Therefore, do not believe the vendors who assure you that the Matcha is a magical drink that will quickly lose your body. However, it has been clinically demonstrated that if you replace your usual daily drinks – it black and coffee – by matcha, you can lose up to 1. 5 kg in a month. Weight loss is achieved by eliminating excess fluid and reducing the amount of sugar consumed, but not losing fat.
Matcha for hypertension
Hypertensive know that living with constant voltage increases is difficult. The matcha helps mitigate the course of the disease and slightly stabilize values. The beneficial effect is achieved thanks to the diuretic effect that the drink has. It is important to remember that with normal or low blood pressure, the matcha should be consumed in moderation.
Matcha for diabetics
Matcha also helps maintain healthy metabolism in diabetics. Rich in antioxidants, it helps reduce triglycerides and glucose levels in the liver. Studies have shown that diabetics who consumed matcha regularly felt better.
The matcha against hormonal acne
Studies conducted by Eastern Dermatology institutes have shown that the matcha contains active ingredients that normalize hormones. Specifically, the Matcha helps normalize male and female hormones, responsible for cutaneous eruptions and acne, specifically in women.
If you often get an eruption in the face in the area of the cheekbones and the chin, it is a hormonal imbalance. White acne is especially frequent during the menstrual cycle. In Asia, many doctors recommend women with these problems drinking a cup of matey every night to reduce male hormones. This helps solve the problem if you don’t neglect too much.
The Matcha in the fight against cancer
The Japanese Matcha even challenges cancer. Experiments performed on animals have shown that powder tea reduces the size of tumors and prevents cancer cells from dividing.
But these studies were conducted in laboratories. But it is already scientifically demonstrated that the matcha contains catechins, which help in the treatment of cancer and serve as an excellent prevention of the appearance of this dreaded disease.
Matcha during pregnancy
Doctors do not prohibit drinking green tea during pregnancy. But the drink contains caffeine, so you have to be careful with it.
It is recommended that pregnant women do not take more than three matcha cups a week.
Mätä for the hangover
You can also heal the hangover with matcha tea. A teaspoon of powdered tea should be mixed with a teaspoon of fine sea salt and add a glass of coconut water. The caffeine will help relieve headache and sea salt will satisfy thirst.
Matcha in home cosmetology
It is not crazy that the Japanese think that green tea is the best aestheticist. This drink has a surprising rejuvenating effect and is used to treat many skin imperfections.
The matcha helps
- Reduce inflammation and dermatitis.
- Reduce wrinkles
- Bleach age stains.
- Protect from the harmful UV rays.
Preparing a facial mask with matcha is very simple: take some dust and mix with yogurt or sour cream or egg. Leave the mask soak for 20 minutes and then clip it.
Antiarrugas mask with rejuvenating effect: Mix 1 tablespoon of matcha powder with 1 teaspoon of cocoa powder. Pour the mixture into a bowl with hot water, but not boiling. The mixture must form a thick mass. When it has cooled, 1 teaspoon of temperate honey is added.
The mixture is kneaded until it is homogeneous, then applied to the previously clean and vaporized skin, it is maintained for 20 minutes and washed with warm water. This type of masks are performed twice a week.
Contraindications
There are no strict contraindications for the use of yerba mate, but it is excluded from the diet of those who can damage caffeine:
- Children under 12 years
- Breastfeeding period
- Take contraceptive pills
- Take antidepressants
- Antibiotic treatment
Matcha tea is drunk along with the infusion, and contains many active ingredients. This greatly accelerates all the organism processes, which can be harmful.
Another “but” is that any infusion of tea leaves of any variety contains some lead. But when we drink classic tea, we throw elaborate tea. And most of this harmful element does not penetrate the body.
On the other hand, when it is taken, the infusion is drink and practically all the lead penetrates the body. Therefore, you don’t have to be too fond of matcha and buy only the highest quality varieties, which do not contain harmful components.
Is it possible to replace black coffee with matcha?
To know if the daily consumption of black coffee can be replaced by matcha tea, it is necessary to know the caffeine content of these drinks. For example, 1 g of dry tea powder contains 35 mg of caffeine, while 1 cup of tea contains 70 mg of caffeine. At the same time, a cup of classic espresso has 78 mg of caffeine.
Although the caffeine content is similar, the effects of matcha and coffee are different. Tea is vigorizing and energetic, without palpitations in the temples or tachycardia. Tea is much softer to the body than coffee. The secret is that the body absorbs the caffeine of the Matcha much more slowly than that of coffee. Therefore, the body does not use energy so actively.
How to choose an authentic matcha?
There are many falsifications in the market, so it is worth paying attention to the advice on how to choose an authentic matcha:
You have to pay attention to the color of the dust. It should only be bright green: it is proof that it is a natural matcha. Only ecological tea matcha should be chosen.
Do not be tempted by low price: the matcha cannot be cheap. The average price of 100 g of dust is about 700 rubles. Tea occurs not only in Japan, but also in China and Korea. The Premium class costs about 850 rubles for 50 g.
You have to pay attention:
- The infusion color – only bright green.
- The infusion should not contain additives.
- Just a fine and uniform ground
- The price must be high
- Select a Japanese product
Poor quality raw materials can be very harmful to health. In Japan there was an accident in a nuclear power plant, so it must ensure that the plantation is far from the contaminated area.
Japanese matcha tea is a unique gift of nature, the pantry of health. But this drink is only good for health if it is of high quality and is consumed correctly.
