There has been a general misconception about the relationship between matcha and green tea. Given the legion of followers within the tea-drinking community, many people have been misguided to think that all green teas are matcha. However, it should be noted that matcha is only one type of powdered green tea. To qualify as matcha green tea powder, it has to be extracted from tencha leaves and undergo a disciplined growing process.
When the tea leaves are just starting to bud, they are protected from sunlight. This process delays physical growth development but the production of amino acids continues to increase internally. When they are picked and grounded, the end product is a bright, almost luminous, green powder. The newer the leaves, the sweeter the taste and these are reserved for the highest grade of matcha. For slightly matured leaves, they taste slightly less sweet and more bitter. These are normally sold as cheaper matcha grades and can also be used for cooking.
In contrast, matcha green tea contains roughly a third of the caffeine content as compared to coffee. However, due to the presence of the L-theanine phytonutrient, the caffeine is stored in the body and released at a much slower pace. On the average, it takes up to three hours for the body to absorb the whole caffeine content of matcha green tea. This enables it to keep the body energized for a longer period without suffering the consequences of a caffeine spike.
When the tea leaves are just starting to bud, they are protected from sunlight. This process delays physical growth development but the production of amino acids continues to increase internally. When they are picked and grounded, the end product is a bright, almost luminous, green powder. The newer the leaves, the sweeter the taste and these are reserved for the highest grade of matcha. For slightly matured leaves, they taste slightly less sweet and more bitter. These are normally sold as cheaper matcha grades and can also be used for cooking.
Matcha Is On The Trend
Matcha green tea has managed to gain a legion of faithful followers and an increasing number of people are constantly jumping on the bandwagon. One of the main appealing points about matcha lies in its ability to be treated as a substitute for coffee. While many people have made the conversion from coffee to matcha green tea, highlighted below are 9 vital points that are bound to convince the remaining critics to make the conversion.Reason 1: No Consequences Of A Caffeine Spike
Although coffee possesses the ability to keep the senses awake due to its high caffeine content, it does come with several drawbacks. The increased energy levels that are produced by coffee consumption is only a temporary effect and once it starts to wear off, the body will feel more tired than before. To sustain this productivity rate, the body craves for more caffeine. Otherwise, it surrenders to the exhaustion and simply goes to rest. Additionally, studies have shown that a sudden increase in caffeine creates havoc to the psychological state of mind and cause users to experience nervousness and jittery.In contrast, matcha green tea contains roughly a third of the caffeine content as compared to coffee. However, due to the presence of the L-theanine phytonutrient, the caffeine is stored in the body and released at a much slower pace. On the average, it takes up to three hours for the body to absorb the whole caffeine content of matcha green tea. This enables it to keep the body energized for a longer period without suffering the consequences of a caffeine spike.