All About the Magic of Matcha
How matcha can prevent disease, improve acne, and support healthy hormones + 3 unique and delicious recipes you NEED to try!
Let’s talk matcha!
If you have been around for even .5 seconds, you know how much I love matcha.
I have been getting so many questions about the many health benefits of matcha and how I make it, so today we are going to dive into the amazing benefits and some fun recipes.
*I promise the matcha lobby isn’t paying me to write this, lol! I just had the urge to spend three hours of my weekend professing my love for this green powder, and I'll always take an excuse to test recipes and drink SO MUCH matcha.*
What is Matcha?
Matcha is a finely ground powder made from specially grown and processed green tea leaves, known for its vibrant color, rich flavor, and numerous health benefits. While it has recently become more popular in the U.S. in various forms - from lattes to baked goods to ice cream flavors - matcha has a centuries-old cultural significance in Japan. It is revered as a symbol of tradition, mindfulness, and connection to nature, often featured prominently in Japanese tea ceremonies.
Why Should I Drink Matcha?
You might already think of green tea as a healthy beverage and an amazing source of antioxidants, but matcha is even more beneficial. Why is that? When you make green tea, you steep the leaves and then discard them and enjoy the steeped liquid. Since matcha is finely ground tea leaves, you are actually consuming the entire leaf!
I drink matcha every morning because I love the taste - it's such a nice blend of creamy, fresh, and earthy - but it also has some amazing health benefits. It’s one of my favorite ‘real food supplements’. Here’s why:
Less Jitters: Matcha has about 30 mg of caffeine per teaspoon (for reference, a cup of coffee is roughly 80-100 mg). While matcha is caffeinated and gives you that boost of energy, it is also rich in L-theanine, an amino acid that is known to promote relaxation, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve focus. The combination of caffeine and L-theanine provides a jitter-free boost to your morning! Coffee makes me so anxious, which is one of the initial reasons I made the switch, and I don’t experience that at all from the caffeine in matcha.
Rich in Antioxidants: You have probably heard about antioxidants and how important they are. Did you know that matcha is probably THE BEST source of antioxidants? About 20x more than blueberries!! Think of antioxidants as your bodyguards; they act like tiny superheroes in your body, neutralizing harmful molecules called free radicals. So the antioxidants in matcha can prevent aging, reduce the risk of chronic disease, and help our bodies fight against infections and disease.
Cancer-Fighting Properties: Speaking of antioxidants, matcha is rich in a unique class of antioxidant called catechins. EGCg is a type of catechin that may have powerful anti-cancer properties.
Better Skin: If you know my journey, you know skin health has always been a struggle for me. The antioxidant EGCG is also known to help your skin in a few ways. It helps protect the skin from damage caused by harmful UV rays and environmental pollutants, reducing the risk of premature aging, wrinkles, and sunspots (yes please!). EGCG also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help soothe irritated skin conditions for a clearer and more radiant complexion - acne, eczema, and rosacea we are looking at you! It may also inhibit the enzymes that break down collagen and elastin in the skin, so it helps maintain firmness and elasticity. Not to mention the chlorophyll in matcha which can help with glowing skin.
Detox Support: We can see just by looking at it this amazingly green beverage that matcha is a great source of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll binds to and removes toxins, heavy metals, and harmful chemicals from the body. This helps our liver's natural detoxification pathways so that we can filter and eliminate waste products more efficiently. This is key for improving overall health and vitality, promoting clearer skin, increased energy levels, and a strengthened immune system. Liver and detox support is also a great way to support healthy hormones.
A Delicious Way to Support Hormone Health: Matcha’s high concentration of antioxidants and L-theanine are a boon for hormone health. Let me break it down for you: antioxidants help combat oxidative stress, which can disrupt hormone levels. As I explained above, L-theanine promotes relaxation and stress reduction, which can lower cortisol levels, a hormone associated with stress that is at the root of many hormone issues. As a high cortisol girl myself, this has been a big focus in my hormone health journey. Finally, matcha’s potential role in metabolism regulation may contribute to overall hormonal health by promoting a balanced metabolic state.
I was not joking when I said matcha is one of the best ‘real food supplements'!! So, let’s recap here: not only is matcha delicious, it may also prevent aging, support radiant skin, boost your metabolism, enhance cognitive function, support immune health, and help with hormone balance.
An Important Note: The casein protein in dairy milk can bind to catechins, the antioxidants abundant in matcha, potentially reducing their bioavailability. For that reason, if you’re aiming to optimize the medicinal benefits of matcha, opt for a dairy-free milk. I like homemade cashew milk or from the brand Elmhurst 1925. However, this doesn't mean you can't enjoy matcha with dairy milk if you prefer the taste - it's all about doing what’s right for you based on your individual priorities!
Read This Before You Start Drinking Matcha…
So now we are all obsessed with matcha and its wide array of health benefits, but the one thing we cannot forget about is sourcing and quality. This dramatically impacts the taste of our matcha but also the benefits that we will get from it. Bad quality matcha may even negatively impact our health.
That’s because powdered products like matcha can be really high in heavy metals, pesticides, or contaminated by mold. We don’t want something that we drink every day doing damage...
I highly recommend finding a source that knows their farmers, tests for contaminants, and is transparent. The matcha itself should be a vibrant green color - a dull or yellowish matcha is a red flag!
If you need a vetted recommendation, here’s the matcha I have been drinking for years. The sun goddess matcha is not only the best I have ever tasted, they also have an intense screening process where they test for pesticides, heavy metals, toxic mold, and radioactive isotopes. Bonus points that their matcha trees are cultivated with 35% longer shading periods to maximize phytonutrient potential.
Shut Up, Let’s Drink Some Matcha!
Enough science, time for the fun part... Of course, you can just mix matcha powder with water - hot or cold - and have a delicious green tea. Add some milk and you have a latte. But here are some fun seasonal beverages to spice up your daily matcha:
Blueberry Vanilla Matcha Latte
1/3 cup blueberries
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
4 oz milk of choice
1-2 tsp matcha powder (or 1-2 Pique packets)
6 oz water
1-2 tsp maple syrup (optional)
Combine the blueberries, vanilla extract and milk in a blender and blend until smooth. If you want a smooth milk, strain this mixture, if you’re okay with texture, no need to strain.
In a bowl or cup, combine the matcha powder and water and whisk or mix until fully combined and frothy.
Pour the blueberry milk into a cup of ice. Add the matcha on top. Stir to combine. Add sweetener as needed.
Strawberry Rhubarb Matcha Latte
1-2 tbsp strawberry rhubarb compote
4 oz milk of choice
1-2 tsp matcha powder (or 1-2 Pique packets)
6 oz water
Blend the compote and the milk until combined. If you want a smooth drink, strain this mixture; if you’re okay with texture, no need to strain.
In a bowl or cup, combine the matcha powder and water and whisk or mix until fully combined and frothy.
Pour the strawberry-rhubarb milk over a cup of ice. Add the matcha on top. Stir to combine.
Mango Lemonade Matcha Spritz
1/3 cup chopped fresh mango, plus extra for garnish
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1-2 tsp matcha powder (or 1-2 Pique packets)
3 oz water
6 oz sparkling water
Sweetener to taste (optional)
In a blender combine the mango and lemon juice. If you want a smooth puree, strain this mixture; if you’re okay with texture, no need to strain.
In a bowl or cup, combine the matcha powder and water and whisk or mix until fully combined and frothy.
Pour the mango-lemon puree into a cup. If you have leftover mango, cube it up and add it to the bottom of the cup. Add ice and the sparkling water. Pour the matcha over top. Stir to combine. Add sweetener if needed.
Bottoms Up!
This was so much longer than I expected it to be - once you get me started on matcha I won’t shut up. If you ever want to hang out, sip match and chat about antioxidants, I’m your girl!
Here are your action items: stock up on some high quality matcha, try one of the beverages above, send me a picture on instagram @revolveprimalhealth and let me know how it is :)
And if you have any questions, other fun facts, or must-try matcha recipes, let us know in the comments! Love you almost as much as I love matcha <3