Japanese matcha tea is a tart drink of bright green color, made from ground tea raw materials. Can I brew it at home? Should you drink it to loose weight? How to make a matcha latte? Look for answers to these and many other questions in our article!
It’s amazing how the attitude towards tea drinking changes depending on the country and the mentality of people. In Russia, tea most of the time was just an addition to a large feast with a variety of sweet snacks, and the taste of the drink itself was often supplemented with sugar, honey or dried fruits.
In Japan, tea is treated quite differently – it is a drink that requires special attention and respect. Thanks to this attitude and the constant search for the perfect taste, Japanese matcha tea was born.
Matcha tea – what is it?
Matcha is a green, powdered tea that is an integral part of traditional tea drinking in the Land of the Rising Sun. The finished drink has an attractive bright green color and a tart taste with a slight bitterness.
Despite the fact that it is Japan that is famous for this drink, it is not his homeland. Matcha green tea owes its popularity to the Japanese Zen Buddhist monk Eisai. In 1191, he brought from China an unusual tea powder, but on the basis of which a hot infusion was prepared. This variety stood out among others: the finished product had an attractive, opaque green color and a bittersweet taste. It is noteworthy that in China, matcha tea is not as popular among the population as in Japan or European countries, where the drink was accepted as a curiosity. The process of preparing raw materials begins even before assembly. For several weeks, the bushes are protected from direct sunlight. These manipulations contribute to the fact that the tea leaf stops growing and accumulates valuable trace elements. After assembly, the most important stage begins – the leaves are turned into a dry green powder, reminiscent of talc – tena. Raw materials are removed not only from the stems, but also from the veins, after which they are subjected to dehydration processes. The amino acid L-theanine is responsible for the original and recognizable taste of the drink. It is she who gives tea a light sweetness and pleasant astringency. Lower grade (late harvest) tea seems are simply bitter and sometimes even unpleasant.
What is matcha green tea made from?
Japanese matcha tea is a classic green tea processed using a special technology. It differs from other varieties: Powdery state – achieved by drying and grinding the raw materials into dust. The color of the finished drink – a transparent cup allows you to see that Japanese tea is opaque and has the color of a young, spring grass. Tea is made from selected raw materials, aged for some time away from sunlight. This method of growing tea leaves allows you to preserve the maximum nutritional and taste properties.
Useful properties and chemical composition
Matcha is a real vitamin and mineral cocktail. One cup of the drink can meet a significant portion of the daily requirement for micronutrients such as: iodine; thiamine; retinol; pyridoxine; ascorbic acid; calcium; iron; magnesium; fluorine; potassium. So what exactly is this drink useful for? The human body perceives Japanese matcha green tea with great gratitude, filling with cheerfulness. And all because Matcha acts as a strong antioxidant. In this matter, matcha significantly surpasses even such leaders of traditional medicine as onions, garlic and seaweed. Strengthens the immune system and increases the body’s resistance to respiratory diseases. Invigorates as good as a cup of espresso. Matcha coffee – this is what is sometimes called matcha tea with milk (matcha chai latte). Drinking a cup of tea in the morning increases brain activity, promotes better assimilation of information and its processing. In addition, unlike coffee, matcha extract soothes the nervous system and normalizes the emotional state.