I Love Matcha Tea...But I Do Cheat

I am a lover of green tea and religiously drink eight or more cups a week. But one thing is for sure, I must have my cup of green tea come what may. It makes no difference if the weather is freezing cold or searing hot, I won’t go without my cup of salubrious green tea.

As a green tea lover, I’ve had the honor to try many varieties. Chai, mint, Fukamushi Sencha, Jasmine, and others, just to name a few. Then I discovered matcha green tea mix, and up until now, it’s been my favorite.

However, I must admit I do cheat. Well, just a little bit. I drink my matcha mixed with organic green tea in a standard tea bag. Not surprisingly, to some matcha aficionados, my preferred way of drinking matcha is akin to drinking champagne out of a plastic cup! But, there’s a reason for my indiscretion, which I will explain later.

Matcha Green Tea Flavor

Matcha green tea has a smooth and balanced flavor tinted with botanic notes, a delightful but non-styptic tinge, that leaves the tongue with a slight texture of pulpiness. It’s verdant and nectarous with a mossy spinach-like flavor, minus the strong gritty character of earthlike granules. I also discovered that matcha is a favorite of Instagram foodies as well.

Delectable Ways to Consume Matcha

Matcha means powdered tea and the genus of this exceptional green tea is its rich vibrant green appearance.

Only a small elite among the tea farmers in Japan can produce genuine matcha tea. This is because the tea is only vegetated in exclusive shade-tree plantations.

Each individual has their preference for matcha blends and there are a variety of ways to enjoy - or ways to cheat- in order to savor this magnificent powder’s benefits. Choices include:

Does Drinking Matcha Tea Have Any Health Benefits?

One matcha connoisseur compares drinking matcha mixed with green tea - where the leaves are brewed in water - to boiling spinach and drinking only the juice while discarding the spinach. You will get some sustenance but you’re throwing away the most nutritious part.

With matcha tea, you should drink the actual powder in order to get the full benefits. These benefits include a compound called EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate). It is said that EGCG could decrease inflammation, assist with weight loss, and thwart chronic diseases.

Matcha tea is also high in catechins, an antioxidant compound that aids in speeding up the metabolism and preventing deadly illnesses. However, the benefits of matcha are mainly effective when you drink the powder.  Some green tea experts affirm that “one cup of matcha is equal to 10 cups of infused tea as far as antioxidants are concerned.”

Nonetheless, moderation is key.  There have been reported cases of constipation, stomach ache, and kidney and liver difficulties in rare instances from drinking too much matcha. Consuming too high a dose of green tea in general i.e. 8-cups per day, and/or over a long period of time may be harmful. Nonetheless, these types of incidents are relatively rare.  

The best information on ways to consume matcha can be found on the Foodsguy website.  The site brilliantly categorizes the many methods of consuming matcha from traditional to a variety of concoctions that you’re sure to enjoy.  

If you have been contemplating whether to try matcha, I hope this article has been helpful. I have a funny feeling that you’re going to go for it. And why not!

Why Do I Cheat?

OK, as I wrote earlier, I do cheat a bit when consuming  matcha tea. To be honest, it’s not really cheating, it’s a matter of taste. I love honey and 100% natural ginger juice in my tea. That’s why I use an organic standard green tea with a matcha blend. In its natural state, matcha is powdery and commonly sold without a teabag.

Actually, it’s healthier to drink the powdered version as you will ingest more of the tea’s precious antioxidants. I favor the blended teabag version mainly because I like honey and lemon - that I squeeze fresh each time - and pure ginger juice in my tea. I love it! Okay. I could simply drink green tea with flavors already added, but I prefer to add my own fresh condiments.

Unfortunately, drinking matcha mixed with green tea leaves only gives you about 3% of matcha’s flavor. I guess it’s just something I have to deal with.

By DebD