I Love Matcha

Matcha from Kyoto has my heart!

What is matcha?

Matcha is popular in health stores and coffee shops, available as matcha shots, lattes, teas, and desserts. Like green tea, matcha comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. However, it’s grown differently and has a unique nutrient profile. Farmers shade the plants used for matcha for most of the growth period. This lack of direct sunlight increases chlorophyll production, boosts the amino acid content, and gives the plant a darker green hue. After harvesting the leaves, producers remove the stems and veins and grind the leaves into a fine powder. This is matcha.

Matcha contains the nutrients from the entire tea leaf and contains more caffeine and antioxidants than are typically present in green tea. Studies of matcha and its components have unearthed a variety of benefits, showing that it can help protect the liver, promote heart health, and even aid in weight loss.