Tagged with 'matcha'

This is delicious!!! The matcha and moringa meld so well together, and the result is a beautiful, nutritious green-hued beverage.

I'm loving all the matcha-infused recipes these days! Matcha is green tea turned up a notch, and you'll feel all its great benefits.

You've seen it in stores, you've seen it at coffee and tea shops, but you may not be that familiar with matcha. It's just green tea, right? Well, yes and no. It's actually green tea turned up a notch!

So what exactly is Matcha?

Matcha is made from the leaves of the green tea plant (Camellia sinensis). It's cultivated using centuries-old farming techniques, where the leaves of the plant are partially covered from sunlight for several days to several weeks prior to harvest. This increases the chlorophyll content and gives the leaves their vibrant green hue. It also bumps up the amino acid content of the leaves, particularly L-theanine.

Once harvested, the leaves are steamed and air-dried; these leaves are called tencha. If the tea leaves are of superior quality, they are then de-stemmed, de-veined, and stone ground into a fine powder. This final product is matcha.

Matcha is traditionally used in the Japanese tea ceremony and is found in many other Asian dishes.

What are the health benefits of matcha?

Green tea has been hailed as an antioxidant-rich superfood, yet, a cup of green tea only captures a handful of the health benefits of the tea leaf. Since matcha is the entire tea leaf that can be dissolved in water or other liquids, you get all the healthful nutrients.

You'd have to drink ten cups of green tea to get the same benefits as one cup of matcha.

Matcha tea's antioxidant content blows other antioxidant powerhouses completely out of the water! It contains up to ten times the free radical-fighting power as superfoods like pomegranate, goji, and blueberries.  

Matcha is rich in a particular type of antioxidant called catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), which help to combat free radical damage from stress, UV light, and other chemicals.

As previously mentioned, matcha is rich in amino acids, especially L-theanine. This amino acid promotes a sense of relaxation, calmness, and well-being. This may explain why Japanese monks would consume matcha during long periods of meditation to remain calm yet alert.

Matcha is also used in detoxification, due to its high chlorophyll content, and given it provides a calorie-free energy boost, it's used to promote weight loss.

How do I consume matcha?

Traditionally, matcha is served as tea, whisked in a bowl; the flavor is described as grassy and very intense. However, matcha can also be added to a latte, smoothie, or other blended drink. It can be mixed with cereals and yogurt in the morning, and it has been used to cook with in Japanese and Chinese cuisine for many generations. You can even use it in desserts, such as this awesome drizzle!

Choco-Matcha Drizzle

10 minutes

1 cup white chocolate chips

3 tbsp coconut oil

1 tbsp matcha powder

Vanilla ice cream

Black and white sesame seeds

In a microwave-safe bowl, heat white chocolate and coconut oil in 20-second intervals, whisking in between until melted and smooth. Whisk in matcha. Let cool for 5 minutes. Drizzle over ice cream; sprinkle with sesame seeds. Makes 1 cup. Keep refrigerated.

Recipe courtesy of rachael ray everyday

3 cups unsweetened coconut, medium shred

2 1/2 teaspoons organic matcha powder

1 5.4 oz can unsweetened coconut cream

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup hemp hearts

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup maple syrup or Coconut Organics coconectar syrup

Matcha is Japanese green tea leaves that have been finely ground into a powder. By consuming the entire leaf, matcha is more potent than other tea varieties.

HEALTH ENRICHING BENEFITS OF MATCHA

• Matcha's vivid green color comes from chlorophyll, a powerful detoxifier.

• Sipping matcha delivers a mega dose of antioxidants — 137x more than regular brewed green tea.

• One unique antioxidant, EGCg provides potent cancer-fighting properties.

• The amino acid L-theanine + caffeine = a state of relaxed alertness & an uncanny ability to focus.

Great matcha is sweet and mouth-watery, with no traces of bitterness. 

Ingredients

6 ounces whole-wheat pastry flour (about 1¾ cups)

½ cup granulated sugar

2¼ teaspoons matcha powder, divided

¾ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup fat-free buttermilk

¼ cup + 4 teaspoons water, divided

¼ cup butter, melted

½ teaspoon grated lemon rind

1 large egg

Cooking spray

1¼ cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons large unsweetened coconut flakes, toasted

2 tablespoons chopped goji berries

How to Make It

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, granulated sugar, 1½ teaspoons matcha powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Combine buttermilk, ¼ cup water, butter, lemon rind, and egg, stirring with a whisk. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture, stirring until combined.

3. Coat 2 donut pans (6-cavity) with cooking spray. Spoon batter evenly into 12 cavities. Bake at 350^oF for 12 minutes or until donuts spring back when lightly pressed. Cool in pan for 2 minutes. Run a thin knife around outside edge of each cavity; invert donuts onto a wire rack. Cool completely.

4. Combine powdered sugar, remaining 4 teaspoons water, remaining ¾ teaspoon matcha powder, and lemon juice, stirring until smooth (add more water, ½ teaspoon at a time, if glaze is too thick). Spread glaze over tops of donuts; sprinkle 6 donuts evenly with coconut and 6 with goji berries. Let stand until glaze is set. 

Recipe courtesy of Cooking Light.

Matcha is Japanese green tea leaves that have been finely ground into a powder. By consuming the entire leaf, matcha is more potent than other tea varieties.

HEALTH ENRICHING BENEFITS OF MATCHA

• Matcha's vivid green color comes from chlorophyll, a powerful detoxifier.

• Sipping matcha delivers a mega dose of antioxidants — 137x more than regular brewed green tea.

• One unique antioxidant, EGCg provides potent cancer-fighting properties.

• The amino acid L-theanine + caffeine = a state of relaxed alertness & an uncanny ability to focus.

Great matcha is sweet and mouth-watery, with no traces of bitterness. 

Ingredients

6 ounces whole-wheat pastry flour (about 1¾ cups)

½ cup granulated sugar

2¼ teaspoons matcha powder, divided

¾ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup fat-free buttermilk

¼ cup + 4 teaspoons water, divided

¼ cup butter, melted

½ teaspoon grated lemon rind

1 large egg

Cooking spray

1¼ cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

2 tablespoons large unsweetened coconut flakes, toasted

2 tablespoons chopped goji berries

How to Make It

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, granulated sugar, 1½ teaspoons matcha powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Combine buttermilk, ¼ cup water, butter, lemon rind, and egg, stirring with a whisk. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture, stirring until combined.

3. Coat 2 donut pans (6-cavity) with cooking spray. Spoon batter evenly into 12 cavities. Bake at 350^oF for 12 minutes or until donuts spring back when lightly pressed. Cool in pan for 2 minutes. Run a thin knife around outside edge of each cavity; invert donuts onto a wire rack. Cool completely.

4. Combine powdered sugar, remaining 4 teaspoons water, remaining ¾ teaspoon matcha powder, and lemon juice, stirring until smooth (add more water, ½ teaspoon at a time, if glaze is too thick). Spread glaze over tops of donuts; sprinkle 6 donuts evenly with coconut and 6 with goji berries. Let stand until glaze is set. 

Recipe courtesy of Cooking Light.

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner! This means green shamrocks, green leprechauns, green hats AND, why not...green Matcha!?

MATCHA HEALTH BENEFITS

Matcha is Japanese green tea leaves that have been finely ground into a powder. Its vivid green color comes from chlorophyll, a powerful detoxifier.

Sipping matcha delivers a mega dose of antioxidants — 137x more than regular brewed green tea. One unique antioxidant, EGCg provides potent cancer-fighting properties.

The amino acid L-theanine + caffeine will leave you in a state of relaxed alertness without the jitters. You’ll have an uncanny ability to focus and be productive.

Apart from hot matcha tea, use these bright ideas to create your own matcha moment.

Matcha Ice Cubes

Sprinkle 1 teaspoon matcha into ¼ cup c ool water and whisk vigorously for about 2 minutes to remove clumps, then add another ¼ cup water. When fully combined, pour into an ice cube tray and allow any foam to subside before freezing.

Green Tea Rice

In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon matcha powder with a pinch of kosher salt. Add ½ cup hot water, whisking until dissolved, about 1 minute. In another bowl, stir 1 sliced scallion and 2 teaspoons black sesame seeds into ½ cup cooked white rice and mound in the center. To serve, pour matcha around rice.

Matcha Vinaigrette

In a lidded jar, combine 1 teaspoon matcha powder and 1 teaspoon water and shake for 30 seconds. Add 1 tablespoon each fresh lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil, 1 minced clove garlic, 1 teaspoon each minced shallot, tahini, and honey, and ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and shake until well combined.

Matcha Chia Breakfast Pudding

Combine 1 cup vanilla or chocolate almond milk, ¼ cup chia seeds, and 1 teaspoon matcha in a pint jar. Cover with a lid, shake for 30 to 60 seconds, and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, top with 1 tablespoon toasted coconut flakes and enjoy.

Blackened Matcha Spice Rub

In a small bowl, mix 1 teaspoon matcha powder, ½ teaspoon each ground black pepper and garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon each kosher salt, ground ginger, and ground thyme, and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months.

Health and Happiness,

Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods

This cool treat plays nicely with fruit, almond-based desserts and chocolate. We love the specks of vanilla bean!

Matcha is a gorgeous, jewel-green powder from high-quality green tea leaves. Rich in antioxidants, it has a smooth taste and unique potency since whole tea leaves are finely ground.

Recipe from Vegetarian Times, here.

Makes 3 cups

Ingredients

1. Bring 2 cups rice milk, coconut milk, vanilla bean, and seeds to a boil in saucepan. Remove from heat. Whisk in sugar, then matcha.

2. Whisk remaining 1/4 cup rice milk with cornstarch in bowl. Whisk into matcha mixture. Cook over medium heat 2 minutes, or until thickened. Transfer to bowl, and place sheet of plastic wrap directly on top of liquid. Cool, then chill.

3. Discard vanilla bean halves. Churn liquid in ice cream machine according to manufacturer’s directions.

You've seen it in stores, you've seen it at coffee and tea shops, but you may not be that familiar with matcha. It's just green tea, right? Well, yes and no. It's not just green tea, it's green tea (to paraphrase Spinal Tap guitarist Nigel Tufnel) turned up to 11.

So what exactly is matcha?

Matcha is made from the leaves of the green tea plant (Camellia sinensis). It is cultivated using centuries-old farming techniques, where the leaves of the plant are partially covered from sunlight for several days to several weeks prior to harvest. This increases the chlorophyll content and gives the leaves their vibrant green hue. It also bumps up the amino acid content of the leaves, particularly L-theanine.

Once harvested, the leaves are steamed and air-dried; these leaves are called tencha. If the tea leaves are of superior quality, they are then de-stemmed, de-veined, and stone ground into a fine powder. This final product is matcha.

Matcha is traditionally used in the Japanese tea ceremony and is found in many other Asian dishes.

What are the health benefits of matcha?

Green tea has been hailed as an antioxidant-rich superfood, yet, a cup of green tea only captures a handful of the health benefits of the tea leaf. Since matcha is the entire tea leaf that can be dissolved in water or other liquids, you get all the healthful nutrients. You'd have to drink ten cups of green tea to get the same benefits as one cup of matcha.

And what benefits they are! Matcha tea just isn't high in antioxidants, it blows other antioxidant powerhouses, like pomegranate, goji, and blueberries completely out of the water, with not just double the antioxidants, but up to ten times the free radical-fighting power.

Matcha is rich in a particular type of antioxidants called catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), which help to combat free radical damage from stress, UV light, and other chemicals.

As previously mentioned, matcha is rich in amino acids, especially L-theanine. This amino acid promotes a sense of relaxation, calmness, and well-being. This may explain why Japanese monks would consume matcha during long periods of meditation to remain calm yet alert.

Matcha is also used in detoxification, due to its high chlorophyll content, and given that it provides a calorie-free energy boost, is used to promote weight loss.

How do I consume matcha?

Traditionally, matcha is served as tea, whisked in a bowl; the flavor is described as grassy or vegetal and very intense. However, matcha can also be added to a latte, smoothie, or other blended drink. It can be mixed with cereals and yogurt in the morning, and it has been used to cook with in Japanese and Chinese cuisine for many generations. You can even use it in desserts!

What kind of matcha do I want?

Matcha comes in different grades based on quality; it goes to reason that you'd want the best matcha possible, but that is also going to be the most expensive kind. Ceremony grade matcha, which is reserved for high profile tea ceremonies, will set you back around $50 for a 15-20 servings. Easier to find and still potent is classic grade.

The matcha you usually find in lattes or used for cooking purpoes to be cafe grade or kitchen grade. Of the two, cafe grade is a bit better, but also a bit more expensive. Both offer tremendous health benefits.

In short, if you're looking for a healthy superfood that offers physical and mental benefits, look no further than matcha green tea. It's good, and good for you.

Sources

MatchaSource.com, “The Benefits of Matcha Green Tea” read here.

DrWeil.com, “Discover Matcha Tea” read here.

Matcha is a type of green tea that comes in powdered form. Matcha tea is prepared by whisking matcha powder with hot water, which forms a frothy liquid. Matcha powder is also sometimes used as an ingredient in foods and non-tea beverages (such as smoothies).

Long used in the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, matcha has recently gained popularity among tea drinkers in Western countries.

Matcha vs. Green Tea

Unlike most green teas, matcha contains the entire leaf of the Camellia sinensis (the species of plant used to make green tea, black tea, oolong tea, and white tea). In cultivating matcha, the plant is shade-grown for several weeks prior to harvest. After harvesting the plants, processors grind the leaves into a fine powder.

Matcha and Health

Some proponents claim matcha contains more antioxidants than other forms of green tea. In addition, matcha is purported to promote weight loss, lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, support detox efforts, enhance mood, reduce stress, increase energy, keep blood sugar in check, and stimulate the immune system.

The Science Behind Matcha's Health Benefits

Although there is a great deal of scientific evidence for the health benefits of green tea, very few studies have specifically focused on matcha.

The available research on matcha includes a preliminary study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food in 2009. In tests on rats with type 2 diabetes, researchers found treating the animals with matcha led to decreased levels of cholesterol, blood sugar, and harmful blood fats. What's more, matcha appeared to protect the rats from liver and kidney damage. According to the study's authors, matcha may contain higher amounts of epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (a potent antioxidant) than other forms of green tea.

While research on the specific health benefits of matcha is currently lacking, some studies suggest that regular consumption of green tea may offer a wide range of health benefits. For instance, green tea appears to prevent age-related cognitive impairment, reduce risk of stroke and diabetes, keep blood pressure in check, and strengthen bones.

Additionally, there's some evidence green tea may help prevent several forms of cancer, including prostate cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer.

Is Matcha Safe?

Although matcha is generally considered safe, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) warn green tea may cause stomach upset and constipation in some cases.

Additionally, the NIH cautions against consuming more than five cups of green tea daily. Due to the caffeine content, excessive consumption of matcha or other forms of green may trigger certain side effects (such as headache, insomnia, irritability, diarrhea, and heartburn).

Article courtesy of altmedicine.about.com, by Cathy Wong. Found with sources here.