During my time in Japan, I grew to love so much about the culture. Japanese clothing brands, cuisine, and products are things that I’m definitely starting to miss now that I’ve been back in the U.S. for over a month. One thing that I got hooked on during my time in Japan is matcha tea. Matcha is a powdered green tea that is typically produced in Japan. It comes from green tea leaves that are shaded from the sun towards the end of their growth then ground to produce a powder. Ingesting green tea as a powder means you are actually consuming the entire tea leaf and soaking up all it’s benefits.
While matcha tea lattes and matcha frappuccinos have become a popular thing here in the states and are served at a variety of coffee spots, these drinks are loaded with sugar and, quite, frankly, I’ve heard that they’re not the real deal. Starbuck’s Matcha Frap (or Green Tea Cream Frap, which is what they call it) is one of my absolute favorite treats and its definitely worth a try for anyone who’s looking to ease into the matcha flavor, but, if you want the benefits, I would recommend purchasing real ground matcha at a health food store or Asian speciality store.
Real matcha is a little more difficult to find here in the Uniter States, but in Japan, it’s everywhere. Not only do they have matcha flavored candies, drinks, ice cream, and baked goods, but they also have an whole aisle of real, pure, ground matcha at every grocery store. We purchased a few bags of matcha to bring home to friends and family members for gifts, and they too now believe in the power of the ground green tea. Matcha has become part of my daily regimen and I drink it every morning instead of coffee. Here are some of the benefits of drinking matcha tea.
Matcha Kit Kats
Matcha Oreos
Matcha aisle in a Japanese grocery store
5 Benefits of Matcha Tea
It’s high in antioxidants, which means it’s awesome for younger-looking skin
It increases energy levels through natural caffeine and other nutrients for endurance with no jitters
It boosts the immune system
It enhances mood, improves memory, and boosts concentration
It increases metabolism to burn calories and body fat (and also detoxifies the body)
My go-to matcha recipe is simple: I add about a two teaspoons of matcha tea powder to a mug of hot water, then I add in a splash of vanilla almond milk. It’s an absolutely delicious way to start the day and I definitely feel the benefits working all day long.
Looking to try matcha tea? Purchase your own here!
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