Matcha Green Tea

Matcha Green Tea came into my life about 3 years ago... I was browsing along in the nearby mall when I stumbled into a tea shop.  The saleslady asked if I'd like to take a sample of the "tea du jour".   um, yep.  I pretty much don't turn down samples :)  

for the next few minutes I watched in awe as she poured and whisked the green tea powder into a frothy mixture.  when she handed me the sample, I thought I was in love... until I sampled it- literally, tasted like I licked a lawnmower.  I gagged.  I retched.  it was awful... thinking I was not a novice tea drinker, she apologized and sweetened the tea with a wee bit of honey.  

now we were talking... I loved it (with a bit of sweetness). and as she explained all the benefits of matcha green tea... I fell more in love and purchased on the spot.  the saleslady was good... but so were all the goodness in matcha green tea.  check it: 

How to select Matcha Green Tea? 

• Choose organic powder... also look for unsweetened!

• Make sure the powder is a vibrant green color.

• Where we snag our matcha tea

How to store Matcha Green Tea? 

• We keep our matcha green tea powder in a cool, dry and dark place!

• Make sure to keep it tightly sealed as it will pick up the aromas from nearby scents.

How can you use Matcha Green Tea? 

At first, I thought matcha green tea was only used as a beverage or in smoothies!  But, there are so many other recipes out there... 

• matcha "un"truffles

• cucumber salad with kale and matcha dressing

• matcha pancakes

and so much more... it's even found in a lot of beauty recipes + products!  

What are the benefits? 

there are tons of benefits of matcha green tea... it's known for an amazing supply of antioxidants!  why?  well, when you drink matcha you are ingesting the entire leaf (not just steeping the leaves).  so. you are getting all the amazing nutrients from the tea leaves... and the powdered Matcha green tea has ~137 times more antioxidants than regularly brewed green tea.  (Thank you, Matcha Source).  

Since we like BULLET style learning... here's some quick goodness of matcha.  

• promotes healthy eyes + skin

• fights cancer

• boosts immunity

• stimulates relaxation without causing drowsiness (thanks to amino acid, L-theanine)

• boosts memory

• improves concentration and mood

• increases endurance

• high amounts of antioxidants (like 60 times MORE than spinach!!!)

• promotes a healthy heart

• may fight off Alzheimer's disease

whew... right!?!  

there were a few fascinating facts about matcha green tea... one was the amino acid found in matcha.  it's called L-theanine which creates alpha waves in the brain which help to increase your focus and concentration!  

the other cool thing about matcha was that it holds EGCg which is a very much appreciated acronym for epigallocatechin gallate.  (say that 10 times fast?)  anywho.  EGCg holds potent cancer-fighting properties as well as protects the body from free-radicals.  seriously.  how amazing.   

How do you use Matcha Green Tea in your beauty routine? 

as we mentioned earlier... matcha green tea is loaded with antioxidants which may have anti-aging powers.  plus, green tea is also known to hold soothing properties, reduce wrinkles and give the skin a healthy glow!  

here's a quick recipe, facial mask, I have used and it's SUPER simple: 

• GROCERIES:

  • 1 tbsp of matcha green tea powder

  • 1 tsp of coconut oil

• NOW WHAT?

  • Mix the ingredients together using a popsicle stick

  • Place the mixture on your face, avoiding the eyes

  • Leave for ~10 minutes

  • Rinse thoroughly

If you are looking for over-the-counter products, I stumbled upon this antioxidant face mask from Plant Apothecary!  haven't tried it, but will definitely be looking more into it!  have you tried it?  let me know your thoughts, love!