Matcha tea is an ancient drink that has been used for centuries for its health benefits. Find out why it's so prized, how to make it, and learn about one very important caution when consuming it.

1. 7 Benefits of
Matcha Green Tea
and one Important Caution
1.7K1.5K 76760 55 67

2. Matcha Green Tea has
gained popularity lately,
though many modern
mentions of Matcha
ignore the rich culture and
traditional preparation
that typically accompany
matcha tea brewing.

3. What is Matcha?

4. • Matcha is a special type of powdered green tea that is
grown and produced in Japan (in most cases).
• The green tea leaves are shaded from the sun for the last
few weeks of their growth, increasing the chlorophyll
content and creating a gorgeous green color.
• Then, the leaves are carefully ground with stone grinding
wheels to produce a fine powder.

5. • The powder can then be used
to brew an antioxidant rich
frothy green tea or in recipes
like smoothies or baking.
• Unlike other types of teas, the
green tea powder is not
strained out before
consuming, so you are
consuming the entire leaf,
making Matcha more potent
than other tea varieties.

6. • In the Tang Dynasty in China, green tea was powdered and dried into bricks for easy use.
People could then break off a small piece of the dried tea brick and stir into hot water.
• In the 1100s, a Japanese monk brought the idea of powdered tea to Japan, and this
eventually evolved into the traditional chanoyu ceremony.
• Though the tradition of drinking powdered green teas has lost popularity in China until
recent years, the tradition has persisted in Japan.

7. Benefits of Matcha

8. Energy and Calm
• Matcha tea is unique because the
process of shading and harvesting
increases the content of L-Theanine,
an amino acid that helps balance the
caffeine.
• While matcha may contain the same
caffeine as other types of tea, the L-
Theanine is known to create
calmness without drowsiness.

9. Antioxidants
• This type of green tea contains over 60x the antioxidants of
spinach and 7x the antioxidants of high quality dark chocolate.

10. Weight Loss
• EGCG, found in high concentrations in Matcha, has been
shown to increase the rate of burning stored fat as energy,
as well as decreasing the formation of new fat cells.

11. Healthy Heart
• A 2011 study in the American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition
showed that the catechins in
green tea had a significant effect
on lowering LDL cholesterol.

12. Brain Power
• The L-Theanine in green tea is known to
help stimulate alpha brain waves. These
waves are known for their ability to help
increase focus and concentration.

13. Chlorophyll Source
• The process of shading the Matcha leaves creates an increased
amount of Chlorophyll, which some preliminary research has shown
may help the body eliminate heavy metals and other harmful buildup.

14. Skin Health
• The same antioxidants that make green
tea protective, including epigallocatechin
gallate (EGCG), may also help support
skin health by reducing inflammation and
free radicals that accelerate skin aging.

15. An important Caution

16. • Matcha has some amazing benefits, but one
important caution and potential downside: lead.
• All green teas, even organically grown ones, contain
trace amounts of lead and fluoride. When brewed as
traditional green tea, the leaves are removed, and
most of the lead is removed with the leaves.
• With Matcha, since the whole leaf is consumed,
there is a higher concentration of lead. From
everything I’ve read, this is not a reason to avoid this
type of tea, since the levels are still low, but I would
exercise more caution when pregnant for this reason.

17. Brewing Matcha

18. There are two ways to brew, as usucha or koicha. Usucha is a thin tea, while koicha is a thicker tea.
Needed Equipment
• A bamboo whisk and spoon (not absolutely necessary, but creates a much smoother and frothier
drink than a regular whisk) - TIP: in a pinch, use a blender.
• Fine mesh strainer or sifter
• A glass bowl for whisking
• Small cups for drinking tea

19. Matcha Green Tea Recipe
• 1 teaspoon Matcha Powder (I get mine here)
• 1 cup (8 ounces) water at 175 degrees F
1.Sift the powder into the glass bowl using a
fine mesh strainer or sifter.
2.Slowly add the hot water.
3.Whisk with the bamboo whisk in a "w" shape
until frothy and well mixed.
4.Drink immediately.

20. TO Learn more about
Matcha Green Tea Powder
and how to use it,
Click Here.

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