Introducing the newest member of my pantry: MATCHA!
Matcha is straight, stoneground green tea leaves. Water can only extract so much from tea leaves, but the majority of the benefits are in the leaves themselves. You would have to drink at least ten cups of brewed green tea to match the potency of one serving of matcha.
Here’s an excerpt from one source:
Firstly, matcha is packed with exponentially more antioxidants according to the latest innovation in antioxidant research. Using the testing method known as ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity), experts at Tufts University discovered that matcha possesses an amazing twenty times more so than pomegranates or blueberries. Matcha’s ORAC rating is a mighty 1300 units per gram, compared to pomegranates 105 units per gram or blueberries 91 units.
Here’s a quick list of the benefits of adding matcha to your diet:
- Is packed with antioxidants including the powerful EGCg
- Boosts metabolism and burns calories
- Detoxifies effectively and naturally
- Calms and relaxes
- Enhances mood and aids in concentration
- Provides vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium
- Fights against viruses and bacteria
- Is rich in fiber
- Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar
Now, let me be honest with you real quick. Matcha does not have an appealing taste, but it’s not an appalling taste either. It literally tastes like dead leaves. But the great thing about it is that you can add it to anything so there are several ways to disguise it. I bought mine at Teavana this past weekend and the sales associate helped me pick out the berry kiwi colada herbal tea to go with it and I love it! I tried the tea before adding the matcha and actually like it better with the matcha added. If you’re a Louisville resident like me, there’s a Teavana in the Oxmoor Mall or you can buy both of these items through the Teavana website.
She Lifts... & Cooks 