matcha tea

The team at The Hub are all converts to matcha tea. This health powerhouse of a green tea, which was once the centre of tea ceremonies in Japan and drunk by monks before meditation, means literally ‘powdered tea’. Because matcha is made from the whole leaf of the camellia sinensis plant stone-ground in its entirety into a powder, it provides you with a powerful arsenal of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids in a way no other green tea can. One cup of matcha is said to deliver the equivalent of 10 cups of regularly brewed green tea in terms of nutritional content, over 100 times more antioxidants.

[swpm_protected for=”4″ format_protected_msg=”1″]

The reason it gives us such a treasure trove of health benefits is that it is:

  • packed with disease-preventive antioxidants
  • boosts metabolism and burns calories
  • detoxifies effectively and naturally
  • calms the mind and relaxes the body
  • is rich in fibre, chlorophyl and vitamins/minerals, especially Vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium
  • enhances mood and aids concentration
  • and lowers cholesterol and blood sugar

Catch a load of catechins

Matcha is a better source of antioxidants than even high-antioxidant fruit. When researchers at Tufts University measured the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of matcha (to establish how efficiently it absorbs cancer-forming free radicals), they discovered it is 20 times more powerful than pomegranates or blueberries.

Chief candidate for this capacity is a potent class of antioxidant known as catechins, found in few other foods than tea. In particular, the epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), which forms 60 per cent of the catechin content, has been shown to shrink cancer tumours and may help prevent heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.

Flab-burning potential

Nutritionists sing the praises of matcha if you need to shed weight, as it both boosts metabolism and burns fat. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 1999 found that drinking matcha can increase thermogenesis (the body’s own rate of burning calories) from a normal 8-10 per cent of daily energy expenditure to 35-43 per cent.

A better brain buzz than caffeine

Japanese monks knew a thing or two centuries ago when they drank matcha to stay alert yet calm through meditation. I’ve found a cuppa is fantastic when I need to focus, clear my mind and get down to some work at the computer.

That this is more than mere froth in a tea cup has been borne out by recent research. Matcha has been found to be rich in L-Theanine, a rare amino acid that promotes a sense of relaxation without making you feel drowsy – five times richer, in fact, than other black and green teas. And the reason it helps me with my concentration is that L-Theanine creates alpha waves in the brain, counteracting the beta waves that we produce when we’re stressed, excited or agitated.

So forget your espresso for brain buzz, matcha gives you the alertness without the caffeine high. One study has found it even improved physical endurance by 24 per cent.

Natural detox

As matcha is painstakingly grown in the shade it is substantially richer in chlorophyl, the element that gives plants their green colour, than other green teas. Chlorophyl is a powerful detoxifier, helping us eliminate chemicals and heavy metals, plus it has anti-inflammatory properties as it helps alkalise the body.

 

So lots of reasons to reserve five minutes’ quiet in your day to make matcha. Add a few drops of just off-the-boil water to a small amount of the powder, form a paste, then top up with hot water. You’ll need to stir the brew from time to time to avoid an earthy sediment in the bottom of your cup, so aficionados use a bamboo stirrer as part of the ritual of their daily cup of peace and health.

[/swpm_protected]