What Is Matcha? Everything You Need To Know
The sudden increase in the popularity of matcha is remarkable. Most recognizable for being the prime ingredient in a form of green tea, matcha is a ground green powder made from Camellia sinensis leaves, originating in East-Asia. Matcha has been universally loved by many as green tea made its way around the world, becoming a favored choice of drink for people of all cultures. However, matcha has evolved beyond being solely perceived as an ingredient in green tea. What initially began as a beverage served with a variety of confectioneries enjoyed by the Japanese has now grown widespread as cafés everywhere add items like mochi, green tea ice cream, and matcha lattes to their menus.
The Matcha Is Greener On the Other Side
What’s so great about matcha is the fact that it is 100% natural; when it comes to dying food products green, no other dyes are needed because ground matcha is enough. The rich green color that matcha powder gives its products is what sets them apart from other green teas. Unlike most green teas in which the leaves are soaked in the water to give it flavor and a little yellow-green color, matcha powder is added directly to the water, making the tea much more pigmented and flavorful than ordinary green tea. Matcha green tea powder is literally just finely ground up Camellia leaves, so the tea actually ends up looking green as it’s not just leaf extract. So, should you buy a vivid green colored dessert or drink, more often than not it’s going to be matcha flavored.
Matcha Powder Properties
Social media has given matcha the platform it needed to truly show the world how remarkable of a product it is, it’s one of the primary reasons matcha has gained so much popularity globally. Matcha green tea is appreciated for its wonderful health benefits; dieters everywhere post their homemade matcha creations with the hashtag “matcharecipes” and as a result, the matcha industry is booming because of everyone trying to figure out where they can get some for themselves. The world runs on caffeine and the Camellia sinensis, the plant responsible for giving us the wonder that is matcha, happens to produce plenty of it. As such, when people are presented with another option that will keep them awake on Monday mornings, they’re bound to switch it up from their normal iced coffee. The plant also produces theanine, which is a chemical that’s great for relieving stress and anxiety. Matcha tea is the drink that gives you both the benefits of coffee and tea in one, with the addition of a sensational new flavor different from what you may be used to.
“Matcha” This, “Matcha” That
Cafés, restaurants, and ice cream parlors alike are looking for new and trendy ways to incorporate matcha into their products thanks to the sudden increase in its popularity. Mochi is a Japanese dessert in which ice cream is encapsulated inside of a ball of sweet rice dough, and matcha is a popular flavor variation of this treat. Dessert lovers are even coming up with their own matcha ice cream recipes and sharing them all over the internet. Big chains like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts are also adding matcha drinks to their menus, such as iced matcha green tea lattes. Additionally, matcha is used to dye foods like soba noodles, leading to matcha fans searching for “green tea soba noodles” so they can add yet another matcha delicacy to their palate—is there anything you can’t add matcha to?
Matcha Benefits
There’s a reason the world has fallen in love with matcha and all it has to offer, and it’s not just because it has become a big social media trend. Aside from being outright delicious, matcha comes with a number of health benefits. When you drink matcha tea, you’re consuming all of the nutrients contained in the Camellia plant leaf, not just its remnants. Matcha makes a great metabolism booster and helps you burn calories when you ingest it regularly. The antioxidants in one cup of matcha green tea is the equivalent of ten cups of regular brewed green tea. Matcha is also rich in vitamin C and aids in disease prevention, in addition to lowering cholesterol as well as blood sugar. Long story short, matcha brings a lot more to the table than great flavor alone.
Matcha Is Worth the Hype
Matcha has had an overall incredible influence on society. This wonderful green powder shows itself in a variety of food and drink products, and everybody loves it! Even better is the fact that matcha is good for the body; it’s pleasing to know that you’re technically “helping” yourself when sipping on a matcha green tea latte. Matcha green tea powder is one of the many new sensations to make an extraordinary impact on people worldwide.