Both the classic and the matcha tea come from the leaves of the plant Camelia sinensis. But in order for the second one to get its impressive green color, a few weeks before the harvest the plant is covered, thus blocking the sunlight. This method enhances the formation of chlorophyll in tea. After collection, the leaves are turned into a powder, which is dissolved directly in water, milk or other preparations. This process is very different from the “classic” tea strain, as you all know!
But apart from the way of production and preparation, matcha differs from the regular tea in something very essential. Its content of antioxidants. Precisely because the whole leaves of the plant are consumed, in contrast to the extract of them in the classic tea, matcha may have up to three times higher content of epigallocatechins. The latter are the most important, of the antioxidants of tea, and are attributed to most of the amazing antioxidant properties of the drink!
What are the health benefits of matcha?
Although much ink has been spilled on scientific journals about the unique properties of tea and its ingredients, little is known about the benefits of matcha. Of course, this superfood brings all the benefits of the plant and in fact to an excessive degree due to its high content of valuable nutrients, which were mentioned earlier. But what are some qualities that make matcha stand out?
• Weight loss: A scientific study showed that consuming a bunch of drink before strenuous walking, led to increased fat burning. This does not mean that it replaces the balanced eating habits, nor does it eliminate the membership in the gym! But it is a good choice if you are careful with your weight.
• Stress reduction: The combination of two components of tea, L-theanine and caffeine, seems to relieve stress and increase the ability to concentrate. L-theanine is an amino acid, which seems to have a beneficial effect on the nervous system.
• Antioxidant protection: The tea’s content of epigallocatechins, and more specifically EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), manages to protect the body’s cells from premature “death” caused by a set of oxidizing agents of the modern lifestyle. Thus, the regular consumption of tea, in the context of a balanced lifestyle, protects against chronic diseases.
* Due to its composition, which is powder, it is very easy to use in sweet recipes and to mix easily. In the case of Morfat Creamy and Ermol Creamy whipped creams, you can use it to make an easy and very tasty pannacotta, which you can find in the Recipes category.
