Matcha Green Tea refers to the whole green tea leaves that are ground to a fine powder withour having been fermented, roasted or pan fried. The more heat and processing of tea, the less nutrients it has. We have preserved ours by using a freeze dried process, with absolutely NO heat involved. Matcha Green Tea, (used by Japanese samurai warriors since they borrowed it from China in the 13th century) delivers so much more than traditionally brewed teas as you get the whole leaf!

Matcha Green Tea refers to the whole green tea leaves that are ground to a fine powder withour having been fermented, roasted or pan fried.  The more heat and processing of tea, the less nutrients it has. We have preserved ours by using a freeze dried process, with absolutely NO heat involved.  Matcha Green Tea, (used by Japanese samurai warriors since they borrowed it from China in the 13th century) delivers so much more than traditionally brewed teas as you get the whole leaf!

High In Antioxidants

Matcha is rich in catechins, a class of plant compounds in tea that act as natural antioxidants.

Antioxidants help stabilize harmful free radicals, which are compounds that can damage cells and cause chronic disease.

When you add matcha powder to hot water to make tea, the tea contains all the nutrients from the entire leaf. It will tend to have more catechins and antioxidants than simply steeping green tea leaves in water.

In fact, by one estimate, the number of certain catechins in matcha is up to 137 times greater than in other types of green tea.

One study showed that giving mice matcha supplements reduced damage caused by free radicals and enhanced antioxidant activity.

Protects the Liver

The liver is vital to health and plays a central role in flushing out toxins, metabolizing drugs and processing nutrients.

Some studies have found that matcha may help protect the health of your liver.

One study gave diabetic rats matcha for 16 weeks and found that it helped prevent damage to both the kidneys and liver.

Another study gave 80 people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease either a placebo or 500 mg of green tea extract daily for 90 days.

After 12 weeks, green tea extract significantly reduced liver enzyme levels. Elevated levels of these enzymes are a marker of liver damage.

Furthermore, an analysis of 15 studies found that drinking green tea was associated with a decreased risk of liver disease.

Boosts Brain Function

The researchers found that matcha caused improvements in attention, reaction time and memory, compared to the placebo.

Another small study showed that consuming 2 grams of green tea powder daily for two months helped improve brain function in elderly people.

Additionally, matcha contains a more concentrated amount of caffeine than green tea, packing in 35 mg of caffeine per half teaspoon (about 1 gram) of matcha powder.

Multiple studies have linked caffeine consumption to improvements in brain function, citing faster reaction times, increased attention and enhanced memory.

Matcha also contains a compound called L-theanine, which alters the effects of caffeine, promoting alertness and helping avoid the crash in energy levels that can follow caffeine consumption.

Protects Your Heart

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for an estimated one-third of all deaths in people over the age of 35.

Some studies have shown that drinking green tea, which has a similar nutrient profile to matcha, may help protect against heart disease.

Green tea has been shown to reduce levels of total and “bad” LDL cholesterol, as well as triglycerides.

It may also help prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, another factor that may protect against heart disease.

Observational studies have also shown that drinking green tea is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and stroke.

Helps You Lose Weight

Take a look at any weight loss supplement, and there’s a good chance you’ll see “green tea extract” listed in the ingredients.

Green tea is well known for its ability to enhance weight loss. In fact, studies show that it may help speed up metabolism to increase energy expenditure and boost fat burning.

One small study showed that taking green tea extract during moderate exercise increased fat burning by 17% .

Another study in 14 people found that taking a supplement containing green tea extract significantly boosted 24-hour energy expenditure, compared to a placebo.

A review of 11 studies also showed that green tea reduced body weight and helped maintain weight loss.

Although most of these studies focused on green tea extract, matcha comes from the same plant and should have the same effect.

Matcha Tea Is Very Easy to Prepare

Taking advantage of the many health benefits of matcha is simple — and the tea tastes delicious.

You can make traditional matcha tea by sifting 1–2 teaspoons (2–4 grams) of matcha powder into your cup, adding 2 ounces (59 ml) of hot water and mixing it together with a bamboo whisk. You can find a bamboo whisk at a specialty tea or Japanese store.

You can also adjust the ratio of matcha powder to water based on your preferred consistency.

For a thinner tea, reduce the powder to a half teaspoon (1 gram) and mix with 3–4 ounces (89–118 ml) of hot water.

If you prefer a more concentrated version, combine 2 teaspoons (4 grams) of powder with just 1 ounce (30 ml) of water.

If you’re feeling creative, you can even try whipping up matcha lattes, puddings or protein smoothies to boost the nutrient content of your favorite recipes.

As always, moderation is key. Although matcha is brimming with health benefits, more is not necessarily better.

In fact, liver problems have been reported in some people who drank six cups of green tea daily. This translates to about two cups of matcha tea, since it’s more concentrated than green tea.

Drinking matcha may also increase your exposure to contaminants like pesticides, chemicals and even arsenic found in the soil where the tea plants are grown.