Matcha may as well be considered the latest superfood. It is a powder that contains all of the benefits of green tea but in a more concentrated form. It is created from crushed tea leaves, and rather than steeping matcha, you swallow the entire leaf, with all of its antioxidants, making it far more potent than green tea. Matcha can be used in many different ways, unlike coffee. It can be found in smoothies, ice cream, pie, lattes, pancakes, and more! 

Health benefits:

Worried about the immunocompromised? Look no further than the powers of antioxidants. Heart disease prevention, weight loss, and type 2 diabetes treatment all benefit from the antioxidants in matcha. Epigallocatechin gallate is a nutrient that has been demonstrated to lessen your risk of developing cancer. This means that matcha does far more than merely give you a boost of energy after cramping for that final, but it simultaneously helps you fight cancerous cells in your body! Although it is a diuretic in nature (have the restroom nearby), matcha decreases daytime hunger. A lot of individuals crave food throughout the day when the coffee buzz wears off. But with matcha, just one cup keeps your body in balance throughout the entire day. Weight loss is one of the main reasons why people matcha green tea in the first place. 

Matcha Green Tea measures 1384 units per gram in the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) test, which analyzes antioxidant levels in foods. Pomegranates have 13 times the antioxidants, blueberries have 15 times the antioxidants, while spinach has 125 times the antioxidants. Antioxidants are the body’s defense mechanisms. They are chemical compounds that help to slow down the aging process and the onset of chronic diseases. Simply put, the more you have, the better equipped your body is to combat infections and disease. Say hello to the sensation of being unstoppable!

How does matcha benefit you in school?

A cup of coffee contains roughly 90 mg of caffeine, a shot of espresso contains 60 mg, and a conventional cup of coffee immediately, giving you a burst of energy. The problem with this is that the sudden energy boost will begin to decrease, ultimately ending in an energy crash. This can cause you to be unfocused, irritable, tired, etc. Matcha’s caffeine contains L-theanine, which slows the absorption of caffeine into the bloodstream. This gives you your caffeine fix while avoiding the crash that comes with drinking coffee on its own. Stressed by that pile of homework? L-theanine also promotes the production of alpha waves in the brain. These alpha waves induce relaxation while producing mental clarity and alertness, which is similar to the mental state experienced during meditation and yoga. It can be especially helpful during tests as L-Theanine is able to boost memory recall. It does all of this while still lowering the negative effects of caffeine. Matcha improves concentration and mental clarity without the nervous energy associated with coffee. You’re aware of what you’re doing.

The next time you find yourself in a stressful state or need that added jolt of energy to get you through the last few hours of school, reach for some matcha and enjoy some delicious green.