Health Benefits of Matcha Green Tea

Matcha is a finely powdered, neon-green colored tea prepared from tea leaves that are grown in shade conditions. It is especially brewed and served in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Other than tea preparation, matcha is used for flavoring sweets, ice-creams, cookies, drinks, alcoholic beverages and smoothies. Matcha is more expensive than the regular green teas. Nevertheless, the price of this green tea entirely depends on the mode of production and/or quality of the tea powder.

Production of Matcha Green Tea

The process for making matcha green tea starts several weeks prior to harvesting tea leaves. As a part of the production, the tea bushes are covered to create a 90 percent shade condition for about 3 weeks. Doing so slows down the overall growth and development of tea plants by hampering photosynthesis rate. The tea leaves accumulate more amino acids, which is responsible for the sweet flavor of matcha green tea.

For making matcha, the finest tea buds are harvested, steamed and laid out for drying. From the dried leaves (also called tencha), stems and veins are removed before grinding. Finally, the leaf parts are stone ground to make a fine talc-like matcha green tea. After brewing, matcha is not strained or left in the pot, rather it is consumed along with the tea.

Benefits of Matcha Green Tea

Matcha green tea contains higher amounts of vitamins, chlorophyll, amino acids, catechins, polyphenols and other antioxidants in comparison to other tea types. Researches reveal that brewed matcha contains antioxidants and polyphenols about 10 times more than the regular teas. Other studies claimed that the nutritional value present in a glass of matcha is equivalent to 10 glasses of green tea.

Amino Acids
Matcha green tea contains the amino acid L-theanine that induces mind relaxation. Hence, it is consumed as a natural mood enhancer. Matcha is also rich in other amino acids that impart the characteristic flavor and tastes different from other regular green teas.

Antioxidants
One of the major matcha green tea health benefits is the high concentration of antioxidants. According to comparative studies conducted on matcha and other antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, it is found that matcha contains about 10 times higher antioxidants per gram than other food items.

Catechin EGCg
Matcha green tea also contains a high amount of catechin EGCg (epicgallocatechin gallate), which is an antioxidant having cancer-fighting properties. About 60 percent of the total catechin in this tea is of EGCg type.

Detoxification
As already mentioned, matcha is produced by steaming and drying the tender, shade-grown tea leaves. This allows conservation of chlorophyll, which is useful for the body detoxification. Since the matcha powder is retained in the tea, it is ingested while consuming, thus increasing the amount of chlorophyll intake.

In addition, matcha green tea is sugar-free and high in fiber content. Therapeutically, matcha is used for stimulating immune system, aiding digestion process, promoting dental health, reducing bad cholesterol, lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of cancer. Due to these health benefits, green matcha tea is becoming very popular all over the world.