Have you tried matcha tea yet? If not, you may want to jump on the bandwagon sooner than later.

What is matcha? Matcha is finely ground powder of specially grown green tea leaves. Therefore, it is a more highly concentrated green tea, which means you’re getting the usual benefits of tea… but times a million!

First of all, it matters what kind of matcha you consume- it should be bright green and smooth tasting. Pay attention to the quality and origin of the tea. If you’re purchasing it from a major tea company and it has added sugars and flavours, it is likely a poor quality tea that is being masked. At the cafe, we carry KATO Matcha from Genuine Tea. The Kato family has been producing this premium matcha for generations, and they even play Mozart to the tea leaves before harvest… no, I’m not joking. Cue Sonnet 11! Find out more about this quality ceremonial matcha here.

The way you process matcha matters too! For the perfect cup of matcha tea, we use 75C water to first whisk the powder into a paste, then slowly add more water while whisking back and forth until frothy, then top with the desired amount of water. You can then serve it as a tea, or as a latte. Purchasing a matcha whisk and bowl is recommended.

Ok, great… but why am I drinking this stuff? I’m so glad you asked! Here are just 5 reasons why you should drink a matcha tea daily!

1. MATCHA FORTIFIES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Matcha is packed with EGCg, which is a powerful compound that may reduce inflammation, aid in weight loss, and prevent chronic disease. It also fortifies the immune system and limits the invasion and growth of viruses and bacteria in the body.

2. MATCHA GIVES YOU A CAFFEINE BOOST WITHOUT THE JITTERS
Matcha contains theanine which is an amino acid that is present in tea that promotes a state of relaxation and concentration. In combination with the caffeine found in matcha, a state of relaxed alertness is achieved. Not to mention, matcha has about three times as much caffeine as other teas, but without the crash, due to theanine. Think of a coffee high, but with less jitters and anxiousness.

3. MATCHA PREVENTS CHRONIC DISEASE
Matcha is full of antioxidants called catechins, as well as another group, polyphenols, which can help reduce cell damage and prevent chronic disease. In fact, matcha contains the highest amount of antioxidants than any other superfood… x125 more than spinach, to be exact.

4. MATCHA IS GREAT FOR YOUR SKIN
due to its anti-inflammatory properties, and that beautiful compound EGCg.

5. MATCHA IS A VITAMIN POWERHOUSE
Vitamin A (Carotene), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin); Vitamin C, Vitamin F (Fluorine), Vitamin P (Flavonoids). Okay, so that’s like 7 reasons alone to drink this gorgeous green tea!

You can purchase matcha at the cafe to make at home, or have us make you up one of our highly reviewed Matcha Lattes!