What is matcha and why the whole world is obsessed with it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

We will tell you why this fashionable drink is so useful and how to prepare it at home.

What is matcha

Matcha, or matcha, is a powder made from young tea leaves. Unlike loose leaf tea, matcha is not poured with boiling water and filtered, but dissolved in water.

The bright green drink appeared in Japan at the end of the 12th century, when Buddhist monks brought tea seeds to the country from China and invented their own method of growing the plant.

Young tea bushes for matcha in the spring are covered with special structures made of reed and straw. The shade allows the tea to retain its bright color and accumulate more amino acids. Antioxidant Properties and Nutritional Composition of Matcha Green Tea and chlorophyll. To prevent the breakdown of nutrients, the leaves are steamed and dried for several weeks, after which they are ground into a fine powder.

Traditionally, matcha was brewed in a special way and drunk without additives, but nowadays, on the basis of this product, they began to prepare not only various drinks, but also desserts. Some even add it to main dishes.

Why matcha tea is good for you

Outside of Japan, the drink has become popular primarily because of its beneficial properties. Scientists have found that matcha has a positive effect on health.

Protects cells from damage

Matcha, like any tea, contains a lot of catechins - natural antioxidants. These substances protect the body from free radicals that destroy cells, causing aging and cardiovascular disease.

When brewing regular tea, the catechin-rich leaves are thrown away. And matcha powder is completely dissolved in water, so there are 137 times more antioxidants in such a drink.

Helps Protect the Liver

In 2016, The Effect of Green Tea Extract Supplementation on Liver Enzymes in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease recruited 80 people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. They were asked to drink matcha extract daily. And after 90 days, the subjects' condition improved.

Another study, Matcha, a powdered green tea, ameliorates the progression of renal and hepatic damage in type 2 diabetic OLETF rats, showed that this tea helped reduce liver and kidney damage in rats with type 2 diabetes.

Analysis of The effect of green tea intake on risk of liver disease: a meta analysis conducted by Chinese doctors helped to conclude that people who drink green tea drinks are less likely to suffer from liver disease. However, scientists themselves are in no hurry to call the match a panacea. Long-term clinical studies are needed to evaluate its effectiveness in the prevention of hepatitis or cirrhosis.

Useful for the prevention of brain diseases

Catechins protect Cell signaling pathways in the neuroprotective actions of the green tea polyphenol (-) - epigallocatechin-3-gallate: implications for neurodegenerative diseases brain from cell death. It is the death of neurons that causes dementia and Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. To reduce the risk of these disorders in old age, scientists advise Targeting multiple neurodegenerative diseases etiologies with multimodal-acting green tea catechins to consume tea and other foods containing antioxidants.

Reduces the risk of heart disease

Several groups of researchers from different countries have concluded that regular consumption of matcha in combination with a balanced diet helps to reduce the amount of "bad" cholesterol Green tea intake lowers fasting serum total and LDL cholesterol in adults: a meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials, negatively affecting the work of the cardiovascular system.

Helps Reduce Bad Breath

Japanese scientists in 2008 decided to find out how well different products eliminate bad breath. For comparison, we chose toothpaste, chewing gum, mint, green tea leaf powder, and parsley oil. The results of the study showed that in terms of antibacterial and deodorant properties, chemical compounds from matcha surpass their competitors' Effect of green tea on volatile sulfur compounds in mouth air.

Improves attention and memory

Matcha is high in caffeine, which is known to stimulate the brain. Scientists have found that this tea can improve attention, reaction speed and memory. The drink has an advantage over affordable and no less invigorating coffee: thanks to a special compound L ‑ theanine A double ‑ blind, placebo ‑ controlled study evaluating the effects of caffeine and L ‑ theanine both alone and in combination on cerebral blood flow, cognition and mood after several hours after a cup of match you will not be overtaken by a sharp decline in strength.

Helps to lose weight

Take a closer look at matcha if you want to lose weight, because the antioxidants of this tea accelerate Effects of encapsulated green tea and Guarana extracts containing a mixture of epigallocatechin ‑ 3 ‑ gallate and caffeine on 24 h energy expenditure and fat oxidation in men metabolism and increase Green tea extract ingestion, fat oxidation, and glucose tolerance in healthy humans 17% fat burning. However, scientists warn that such results can only be achieved with moderate physical activity.

Supposedly Reduces Social Stress

An unusual study was conducted in the homeland of the match in 2019: a group of mice were given tea for two weeks and their behavior was observed after contact with relatives. It turned out that the level of social anxiety of the subjects decreased Influence of continued ingestion of matcha on emotional behaviors after social stress in mice and the mice could continue to communicate painlessly. But scientists note that such an effect is possible only with the use of a very high-quality match with a certain ratio of caffeine and amino acids.

Possibly Helps Prevent Cancer

One type of catechin that is especially abundant in matcha may have anti-cancer properties. Human studies have not yet been conducted. But experiments in test tubes and on animals have shown that this substance helps to reduce Green tea extracts, decrease carcinogen-induced mammary tumor burden in rats and rate of breast cancer cell proliferation in culture, the growth of tumors. Also, tea antioxidants can potentially be used in the treatment of prostate cancer Green tea polyphenol EGCG sensitizes human prostate carcinoma LNCaP cells to TRAIL ‑ mediated apoptosis and synergistically inhibits biomarkers associated with angiogenesis and metastasis, skin Epigallocatechin ‑ 3 ‑ gallate activation factors inhibition photocarcinogenic and inhibition of photocarcinogenic factors of CD8 + T cells in tumors, lungs Epigallocatechin ‑ 3 ‑ gallate (EGCG) inhibits the migratory behavior of tumor bronchial epithelial cells and liver Inhibition of liver cancer cell proliferation and migration by a combination of (-) - epigallocatechin ‑ 3 ‑ gallate and ascorbic acid.

Who shouldn't drink matcha

For all the benefits of matcha, you should be careful with it, as with any drink containing caffeine. For example, this substance can provoke nervousness and insomnia. It is worth limiting Green tea side effects and risks of drinking if you:

• suffer from hypertension;
• are highly sensitive to caffeine;
• are taking anticoagulants;
• have anxiety disorders;
• are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Even if you have no direct contraindications, you should not drink matcha a few hours before bedtime. Another danger of tea is lead and other heavy metals Monitoring of essential and heavy metals in green tea from different geographical origins, which can accumulate in a plant grown in contaminated soil.

What to look for when choosing matcha tea

To buy the most useful and high-quality powder, carefully study the following characteristics of tea.

Variety

Depending on the quality of the harvested leaves, color and grinding, matcha is divided into ceremonial, premium and culinary.

• For the ceremonial, only young leaves are collected from the very top of the shrub that gives its first harvest. This powder is considered the best and therefore the most expensive.
• Extra-grade matcha is produced from the second and third leaves (they are located just below the top) of annual plants or the first leaves of old bushes. It is slightly inferior to the ceremonial in taste, but more useful, because it contains the most catechins.
• Culinary matcha is the roughest and cheapest variety. It cannot boast of a lot of antioxidants or subtle aroma, and is not suitable for brewing. But due to its availability, it makes a great ingredient for desserts.

Please note that any of the varieties should not contain any additives, only tea.

Package

Changes in temperature, sunlight, humidity and air negatively affect the taste and color of matcha. Therefore, when buying, it is worth choosing a powder in opaque and hermetically sealed cans and bags. It is better to store purchased tea in a cool, dark and dry place.

Tea production region

Better to choose matcha, grown and made in its homeland. A real Japanese matcha is quite expensive, but they strictly monitor the environmental friendliness of raw materials.

Tea color, texture and taste

Matcha powder should be bright green. A rich color indicates that it is fresh, properly stored and not diluted in anything. Discard the purchase if the color of the match seems dull to you.

A quality brewing powder has a smooth and homogeneous texture, without any inclusions. Matcha graininess is a sign of poor leaf quality.

The taste of a good drink is harmonious: the natural sweetness should balance the herbal astringency of the tea. There should be no harsh bitterness.

How to brew matcha in the traditional way

Matcha must be brewed properly to reveal its full flavor and aroma. In Japan, making tea turns into a meditative ceremony that requires a whole range of special tools.

What is needed

• Chavan is a small ceramic bowl without handles for brewing matcha.
• Chashaku is a long bamboo spoon with a curved end that allows you to measure out the required amount of powder.
• Chasen - a whisk with a short handle made from a single piece of bamboo for whipping matcha.
• Fine sieve.

How to proceed

1. Heat water in a kettle or saucepan to 65-80 degrees. If you don't have a thermometer on hand, turn off the heat as soon as bubbles begin to appear on the bottom of the cookware.
2. Prepare the chavan: fill the container with hot water up to the middle and stir it gently for a hour to heat the walls.
3. Drain and wipe down the bowl.
4. Measure out a serving of matcha with the cup. The powder should reach the curvature of the spoon.
5. Sift the matcha into a prepared bowl.
6. Measure out 100 ml of hot water.
7. Add 20-30 ml of water to the powder, mix thoroughly for an hour.
8. Add the remaining water to the bowl and beat the matcha in quick zigzag strokes until dense bubbles appear on the surface.
9. Pour the matcha into a cup and serve until the powder settles to the bottom.

How to brew matcha without a bamboo whisk

If you are not ready to look for special Japanese instruments, do not be discouraged. The drink can be prepared using what is found in any kitchen.

What is needed

• Wide glass;
• tea spoon;
• metal whisk;
• fine sieve.

How to proceed

1. Heat 130 ml of water until bubbles appear.
2. Sift 1½ teaspoon of the powder into a glass.
3. Pour 20-30 ml of hot water into a glass, mix thoroughly with the powder.
4. Add the remaining liquid, whisk the matcha, lifting the powder from the bottom. A layer of bubbles should form on the surface.

How to brew matcha without whipping

This method allows you to prepare matcha without unnecessary dishes and tedious whisk movements.

What is needed

• Jar with a lid;
• tea spoon.

How to proceed

1. Heat 100 ml of water until bubbles appear.
2. Pour the liquid into a clean, dry jar.
3. Pour in ½ teaspoon of powder.
4. Close the jar tightly.
5. Shake the container vigorously for 15–20 seconds.
6. Pour the drink into a cup.

How to serve matcha tea

Drink freshly brewed matcha in small sips to feel the richness of taste and aroma. If you can find wagashi, a traditional Japanese treat, serve it with your drink. Natural desserts that are not too sugary, such as marshmallow or Turkish delight, are also good choices.

If the finished tea seems bitter and unpleasant to you, try adding it to the same amount of warm milk. The result is matcha latte, or the popular Korean drink of dalgon.