Are you fond of drinking tea or coffee? You may say yes because many people love drinking tea and coffee all the time. Moreover, many people start their day by drinking coffee or tea in their beds. Also, there are many types of tea and coffee in the market, such as green tea, black tea, lemon tea, black coffee, cold coffee, etc. This way, people can choose their favorite beverage to satisfy their taste buds and experience some health benefits.
If you are also looking for a type of tea that can provide some health benefits, then matcha tea is the best option. Here, we will explore the details of matcha tea, its benefits, and side effects. Also, we will provide a matcha tea recipe so that you can make this healthy tea at home and gain some health benefits.
Get An Understanding Of Matcha Tea
Matcha tea comes from a plant called Camellia sinensis, which is just like green tea. However, the production of matcha tea is different from that of green tea. Farmers who produce matcha tea make sure that the plant does not get too much direct sunlight. This is because if the plants get too much direct sunlight, then the leaves can have more chlorophyll and amino acids.
Farmers make matcha tea by grinding the leaves of Camellia sinensis and converting them into a fine powder. This way, matcha tea contains all the nutrients of the leaves. Thus, matcha tea contains more caffeine and antioxidants compared to regular green tea. Further, the antioxidant properties of matcha tea are helpful for the body in many ways.
Exploring The Benefits Of Matcha Tea
1. Improve Your Brain Health
Matcha tea contains more caffeine than regular green tea, and it also contains L-theanine, which works well with caffeine. It helps you keep alert and can increase your ability to think and concentrate. One experiment was conducted on two groups: one group was given matcha tea and or bar with matcha, and the other group was given a placebo. Researchers found that the ability to pay attention and reaction time in participants who consumed matcha tea or bar was improved than those who were given the placebo.
2. Helpful For Heart Health
Studies have been conducted on green tea, which shows that it is good for heart health. Also, you know that matcha tea and green tea are made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, and therefore, both teas have similar compounds. Moreover, matcha tea can also lower the risk of high blood pressure in people, prevent certain heart diseases, and improve your heart health.
3. Help You Lose Weight
If you are on a weight loss journey, then matcha tea can help you achieve your goal. For this, you can drink matcha tea in limited amounts, like 500mg per day. Also, you can take supplements with the properties of matcha tea, but you must consult with your dietitian before taking any type of supplements.
4. Help You Prevent Cancer
Matcha tea contains a component called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which can be helpful in preventing certain types of cancer. According to study findings, women with breast cancer who had eight cups of green tea every day had a lower chance of the disease coming back. Even though that study was focused on green tea, you can expect the same benefit from matcha tea because both come from the same plant.
5. Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Some experiments have been conducted on animals to see the benefits of green tea, which has components similar to matcha tea. These studies show that green tea can help release more insulin, which can prevent type 2 diabetes. Insulin is crucial because it helps move sugar from the blood into cells, where it can be used for energy. However, researchers have to conduct experiments on humans to know for sure that matcha tea can prevent type 2 diabetes.
How To Make Matcha Tea At Home?
Now that you know the benefits of matcha tea, you must want to drink it and experience some health benefits. Well, you don’t need to go to a fancy restaurant to enjoy this lovely drink, which is a wonderful option because you can make matcha tea at home.
Follow these easy steps to make matcha tea at your home
- Step 1: Sift the matcha: Take a small bowl and sift the matcha powder.
- Step 2: Add hot water and whisk: Pour a small amount of hot water into the bowl with the sifted matcha powder. For this, try to whisk from side to side in a zigzag pattern to mix the powder evenly in the water and to create a foamy layer on the top.
- Step 3: Complete your matcha tea by adding more hot water.
These are the easy steps to make matcha tea at home. However, you can use sweeteners or steamed milk to increase the taste of your matcha tea.
Side Effects Of Matcha Tea
Matcha tea is usually safe, but you should consume it in limited amounts. This is because matcha tea contains more caffeine that can be harmful to your heart rate if you consume it in excess amounts. Moreover, matcha tea can react with certain medications, and if you are taking some medicines, consult with your doctor before drinking matcha tea. Additionally, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should consult with their doctors before taking matcha tea.
Final Words
Matcha tea contains components similar to green tea because both come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. However, the process of growing matcha tea and green tea is different. Matcha tea is made by grinding the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, and people use it in its powder form.
Above, we have explained all the details of matcha tea and its benefits. Also, we have shared an easy recipe to make matcha tea at your home. Thus, get the best brand of matcha tea from the market and follow our recipe to make your tea.
References
- Raederstorff DG, Schlachter MF, Elste V, Weber P. Effect of EGCG on lipid absorption and plasma lipid levels in rats. J Nutr Biochem. 2003;14:326–332. doi: 10.1016/S0955-2863(03)00054-8. [CrossRef]
- McKay DL, Blumberg JB. The role of tea in human health: An update. J Am Coll Nutr. 2002;21:1–13. [PubMed]
