. You may have heard the name mentioned in health related discussions, seen it on health blogs, or simply seen the statistic that one cup of matcha is equivalent to 10 cups of regular green tea, but what is it exactly and why is it so healthy?
Matcha is unique to Japan and is the tea used in the Japanese tea ceremony. It is a fine powder made by grinding up whole tea leaves that have been de-veined and de-stemmed. Only the highest quality leaves are used. Brewing matcha can be a bit complicated and the process requires a number of specialized implements, which is what keeps many people from trying it. Luckily, it can easily be added to all sorts of recipes or sprinkled onto deserts or drinks (like the matcha green tea latte from Starbucks). For more on this tea and how it is grown and prepared, here is a very informative page entitled Matcha 101.
When drinking regular tea, only the essence is consumed, while the actual leaves are discarded. Matcha is a powder made from whole leaves, so the leaves themselves are consumed, concentrating the health benefits of the tea. For more on the specific benefits of matcha, here is a great page that details them all and even includes the nutritional information for 1g of green tea powder.
One concern I’ve heard quite a bit recently is fear over possible contamination from the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima plant in Japan. Because the whole leaves are consumed, not just the essence as with steeped teas, even trace amounts of radiation could have a negative effect on our health.
Not to worry, though. Most green tea powder comes from the Nishio region, just south of Nagoya or the Uji region outside Kyoto, neither of which are anywhere near Fukushima. In fact, the Japanese Alps are located between the two regions and the site of the disaster, making it virtually impossible for any radiation to reach the Uji or Nishio areas. When purchasing matcha, just make sure you know where it comes from and only buy teas from those two regions or ones located further to the west.
You can find matcha in a number of online stores. As you may have guessed, my favorite is Matcha Source. As the name implies, they are an excellent source for high quality green tea powder, but the founder, Alissa, has also created a great resource in general, with detailed information and even a blog. Her buyer’s guide is especially useful for anyone new to this variety of tea and her detailed brewing instructions complete with photos and a video should ensure you’ll get a great cup every time.
Art of Tea also offers a small selection of matcha powders. I haven’t tried them myself, but I have been very happy with the other teas I’ve purchased through their site. And finally, for those who don’t want to set up a new account on a tea site, there’s always Amazon.com. They actually have a decent selection, although I personally prefer to buy from specialty shops like Matcha Source.
If you’re interested in matcha mainly for the health benefits, you can start out with an inexpensive lower grade and simply use it in cooking. That way you won’t need to worry about the brewing process and the specialized implements required either. Eventually, you’ll probably want to at least try preparing a cup of your own, though. For that, I’d definitely recommend a higher grade matcha green tea powder. Follow the brewing instructions closely and there’s no reason you won’t end up with a perfect cup.
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