5 Health Benefits of Using Matcha Green Tea Powder

Matcha green tea is all the rage these days... Cafes everywhere are starting to offer various matcha products, and specialist stores are popping up everywhere! They know all to well that consumers are looking everywhere online, trying to find out where to buy the best matcha green tea powder so they can reap the health benefits their friends and colleagues have been raving about!

But what are the benefits of drinking matcha exactly?

Here Are Just 5 of the Many Good Things Matcha Can Do for You:

1. Cancer prevention

A study by university of Colorado has confirmed that a cup of matcha green tea contains about 140 times the amount of anti-oxidant- EGCG compared to a regular cup of green tea. What it means for the body (aside from the weight loss properties of EGCG in matcha) is that it’s requirements for anti-oxidants will be more than satisfied with EGCG combating dangerous free radicals in the body owing to its anti- carcinogenic properties.

2. Anti- aging:

Believe it or not, anti-oxidants like catechins can potentially reduce aging of your skin and hair. Not only that but it may also enhance your expected life-expectancy! You should know that Japan has one of the highest life-expectancy rates in the world, and some say this longevity in large due to drinking matcha green tea.

3. Reduction of cholesterol levels:

Thermogenic properties present in the catechins promote fat oxidation. Caffeine has been said to have mild fat burning capability but this is a whole new level of goodness. It has been found out that drinking green tea increases thermogenesis by 3 times of the daily energy expenditure.

4. Detoxification:

Grown in shade, matcha green tea leaves are full of chlorophyll. Chorophyll, the green color pigment is known to have detoxifying and purifying properties. Although, this property is yet to be supported by scientific foundations. It still couldn’t be ignored that matcha green tea claims to have the ability to clean up toxins, dioxins and poisonous residues from the body.

5. Energy boosting:

Replace your afternoon cup of coffee or regular tea with matcha green tea and see the difference in your post lunch work outputs. Matcha green tea will help you concentrate better, without giving you the headaches that come with excessive coffee or tea drinking during work hours.

The blog post 5 Health Benefits of Using Matcha Green Tea Powder is available on: HealthyWild

7 Great Cafes for Buying Matcha Green Tea

There are tons of cafes serving hot and cold matcha beverages nowadays... However, there are very few which provide the best taste, aroma and flavor all combined into your brilliant cup of matcha. Bear in mind, this article is about cafes you can physically go into, so if you are looking for the best matcha green tea powder retailers online click here. Otherwise, let's get to it!

So Here Are 7 of the Top Cafes out There Offering Matcha to Go!

1. Ippodo Tea Company

There are tons of matcha bars on every street of manhattan, but one of them stands out. Ippodo, headquartered in Kyoto is one of those bars. It’s traditional and serves excellent matcha plain and pure.

2. Steven Smith Teamaker

You might have heard of tazo tea, which was later bought by Starbucks. Well, the founder has started a new venture named as after himself, Steven Smith. There are tasting rooms and eateries to help you with making you buying decisions and keep you coming back.

3. Urth Café

This is the best place to get the espresso boost! The matcha here is served simple, straight forward and as shots. There are some heavy verions of matcha blended with bananas and topped with condensed milk and they are all worth trying.

4. Chailait

They offer eight different forms of matcha. There is traditional, top grade and premium grade to satiate all your desires and needs. Matcha hot cholcotae is a must try and you would certainly not be able to stop at one.

5. Curb Kaimuki

This is Honululu’s best matcha latte place. It’s a nice, tiny café where you sit and enjoy close conversations over your cup of matcha variations. As it is a tiny place, sometimes you have to take a get-go cup in order to avoid queues for seats.

6. Thinking Cup

It is located in Boston and boasts of its ceremonial grade matcha offerings. It’s in a neighborhood and the place is tiny so it gets crowded during peak hours and you might have to wait your turn.

7. Dobra Tea

It’s located at seven different locations in the US. Whisked matcha is a popular item on the menu. People keep coming back to this place because of it’s authentic Japanese ambience and small confections meant to accompany the tea.

We hope you enjoyed reading about these cafes!

The following blog post 7 Great Cafes for Buying Matcha Green Tea was first seen on: HealthyWild Blog

Matcha Caffeine Content – Should You Swap Your Coffee?

Matcha green tea is a variation of the regular green tea, one which is more rich, aromatic, and nutritional. Basically, matcha has all the ingredients of green tea but in a higher percentage of each. So doesn’t that naturally mean that matcha has higher caffeine percentage than the regular green tea? In short, yes it does. But is there enough caffeine to warrant swapping out your morning coffee with healthy matcha? Let’s find out here.

First Let's Recap on the Basics

When brewing a cup of matcha green tea you'll start by purchasing some matcha powder. Retailers obtain this powder by drying and then finely grinding the nutrient packed matcha green tea leaves. You can then choose to either purchase the matcha powder directly (recommended) from retailers online or in store, or simply buy your matcha ready made at a coffee shop that sells it or a specialised matcha brewery. This powder is then sifted and blended with hot water to obtain a bright green, frothy beverage called matcha green tea. It is naturally bittersweet but people usually add a little sugar to make it tastier.

We can't be sure what your local starbucks may or may not be mixing with your matcha, so for the purposes of this article we will assume you have purchased the powder and you are making brewing it yourself.

So How Much Caffeine Does It Contain Anyway?

According to Caffeine Informer, the caffeine content of an average cup of matcha green tea is 70mg caffeine per per 8 oz cup. Note this is based on 1 teaspoon (2 grams) of Matcha powder dissolved in 8oz of water. You need to take into account also that Koicha matcha, the thicker blend, is made by using twice the amount of powder for the same amount of water for a richer blend. Hence, this variety naturally contains higher caffeine content of 140mg per  However, it contains higher levels of antioxidants, chlorophyll, and  vitamins A & C as well.

How Does It Compare to Coffee?

Well, it turns out matcha is surprisingly similar to coffee with regards to its caffeine content! Your average single shot espresso contains 77mg of caffeine, which is not dissimilar to a standard cup of matcha green tea, but there are two things to keep in mind...

Firstly, most coffees will contain 2 espresso shots bringing the caffeine total to 154mg.

Secondly, matcha contains so many anti-oxidants, amino acids, and beneficial chemicals such as L-Theanine in addition to the caffeine, which all work in unison to benefit your health and your body. The L-Theanine is a calming and rejuvenating chemical that also causes the caffeine to be released at a much slower, more gradual pace into the body so you won't get that caffeine "hit" like you would with a cup of coffee.

So Should I Swap My Coffee with Matcha?

While it's true that more and more people are swapping their cups of coffee for matcha and reaping the benefits, the truth is that it's up to you. If you really need that big caffeine hit, matcha is just not going to give that to you.

On the other hand it will give you a little boost, and comes with numerous other benefits as well. There's nothing stopping you from incorporating both into your regime if you want that caffeine hit from coffee as well as the healthy weight loss properties, immune system strengthening, calming and relaxing effects of matcha tea, then just have both!

The blog post Matcha Caffeine Content – Should You Swap Your Coffee? was first published on: http://healthywild.org

How to Brew a Cup of Japanese Matcha Green Tea…

My first recommendation is to always use traditional Japanese utensils when making your favorite cup of matcha green tea. If you've spent money buying some of the best matcha green tea powder around why not dive right in to the full matcha experience?

For Proper Preparation of Japanese Matcha Powder You Will Need:

1. Chawan (Tea Bowl) - This is a special kind of tea bowl with adequate room for whisking. Any bowl will do.
2. Chasen (Tea Wisk) - This is a special kind of whisk you will require when working with matcha powder. Most other whisks do not have enough tines and so this is highly recommended.
3. Furui (Sifter) - To be honest you can use any fine mesh sifter for making matcha green tea, but if you want you can get a specially designef sifter called a Furui. A Furui is not absolutely required (from a functionality standpoint) but you will need a fine sifter of some sort.
   
4. Chashaku (Tea Scoop) - There is a special kind of tea scoop called a Chashaku, but again it's not necessary from a functionality standpoint. A standard set of measuring spoons will do if you don't have a Chashaku!

Now, there are two kinds of matcha that you can make: Thin matcha or Usucha and thick matcha or Koicha. It's a matter of preference really as both types are both made from matcha powder and so you'll reap the numerous health benefits matcha provides you with both types.

Let’s Have a Look at the Step by Step Instructions on How to Make Each of These Types of Matcha:

Step 1: Fill a matcha bowl with 1/3 parts with hot water and preheat it. Face the whisk down into the bowl and dip the prongs into the water just to wet the tips, not the entire whisk. When the bowl is nicely preheated, remove the hot water and clean the bowl with a cloth, preferably chakin. Keep the whisk away and add 70 ml/2.3 oz for Usucha and 40 ml/ 1.4 oz for Koicha of heated water into a pan and leave it to cool.

Step 2: Use a bamboo stick or measuring spoon to measure the amount of matcha powder. You will need about 2 scoops of Ususcha and 3 scoops of Koicha and place everything in the bowl. Make sure you sift the matcha a little before measuring it to avoid clumping of the powder.

Step 3: Once the water that was set out to cool drops to 70-degree celsius, take it out and pour it into the matcha bowl you kept aside in step 2.

Step 4: Hold the rim of the bowl containing the matcha in one hand and the whisk in the other hand. Whisk the matcha quickly in a W motion using your wrist only (not arms) until the matcha turns into a green liquid with thick froth with tiny bubbles. You have your Usucha green tea. For Koicha, the method is different. We do not want the frothy consistency, hence, use a slower kneading pattern from left to right with a gentle 360-degree movement of your wrists. Keep rotating the mixture until you get a thick consistency. You have your Koicha, thick, consistent and non-frothy.

There you have it - a delicious cup of authentic Japanese matcha.

The following blog post How to Brew a Cup of Japanese Matcha Green Tea… is republished from: HealthyWild

Matcha Green Tea Face Masks for Beautiful Skin

It's no lie that people been have been smearing food across their face's for centuries now, hoping to achieve and retain beautiful, glowing skin. Foods like Honey, Yogurt, and even chocolate have properties that render your skin cells with vitamins, antioxidants, and natural beneficial bacteria growth.

Before high-end designer and beauty boutiques came along, face masks were used as a regular tool for beauty and skin care. The beauty of face masks is that you can make them at home with ingredients right out of your own kitchen. But, today we are talking about matcha face masks. If you have matcha powder at home, you are all set to try out this face mask. If not, check out some great matcha powder options here.

Why Are Matcha Fask Masks Good for Your Skin?

Matcha is a type of green tea obtained from the same plant Camellia Sinesis, from which the regular green tea is obtained. The leaves are then dried and ground into a fine, bright green powder. The resulting powder is rich in anti-oxidants, aroma and flavour. The antioxidants help in reducing acne breakouts and helps to tone the skin with its anti-aging properties.

Not only anti-oxidants, but chlorophyll (contained in matcha leaves) has detoxifying properties. Other ingredients contained in the leaves include catechins, vitamins A and C, protein, potassium, and iron. These are all great cleansers which clean the internal systems, purify and smooth the skin from inside.

Now Let Me Share the Matcha Face Mask Recipe with You. You'll Need:

• 1 tablespoon matcha green tea (powder)
• 1 teaspoon raw honey
• 1 teaspoon yogurt (optional)

Mix all ingredients together to form a thick paste. Spread it over your face and neck using your palms in circular movements.  Leave it on for 15-20 minutes, then remove with a warm, wet towel. This recipe could also be done with only honey and matcha powder, but mixing yogurt in it would give you the added benefit of probiotics.

Other variations include mixing it with pumpkin, bananas, vinegar or avocado. Pumpkins have tightening and toning properties, bananas help with dry skin whereas vinegar mixed with apple cider is one of the best skin firming mixes out there.

Have fun!

Matcha Green Tea Face Masks for Beautiful Skin was originally published on: HealthyWild

Does Matcha Green Tea Help Hair Growth and Health? Let’s Find Out!

Healthy hair is a reflection of overall good health. A lot of us spend time worrying about hair growth, how shiner our hair is, how healthy it looks, avoiding split ends and more... So, what is the best way to keep your hair shiny and full of life as you age? Researchers have concluded that drinking quality matcha tea regularly or applying it on the hair and scalp promotes hair longevity.

Why Is Matcha Good for Your Hair?

Like other green teas, matcha is full of anti-oxidants and polyphenols. It also contains a strong phytochemical called epigallocatechin-3-gallate. Researchers at Tufts university have found that matcha green tea contains 20 times antioxidants than fruits such as pomegranates and berries. Antioxidants are very good for skin of the scalp and hence, beneficial for hair shine and health.

Many of us don’t know this but green tea contains a Vitamin-B called panthenol, drinking or applying it to hair and scalp increases hair strength. Panthenol is used by many hair experts and high-end hair products as a hair strengthener. Dermal papilla cells are responsible for promoting hair growth and are found in the  hair follicles. They also reduce aging of cells and encourage the formation of new hair follicles.

Matcha also contains Vitamin-C. It helps with curing the damage caused by harmful UV rays and Vitamin-E which helps improve blood circulation to the scalp.

So How Do You Take Advantage of Matcha to Promote Healthy Hair?

You can make lovely matcha hair masks at home. You need to mix nicely ground matcha green tea powder with shea butter, coconut or olive oil, or a blend of hydrogenated vegetable oils. The blended mixture is called matcha butter.

The next step is to apply the butter on your scalp gently and massage for 15-20 minutes. Leave it on hair for next 30 minutes and then wash off with a gentle shampoo. If done 2-3 times a week, this will give your hair a natural shine, reduce inflammation of scalp and alleviate dandruff problems.

Does Matcha Green Tea Help Hair Growth and Health? Let’s Find Out! was originally published to: Healthywild

How to Fight Acne Problems with Matcha Green Tea?

Let’s face it: Acne problems suck. It's one of the worst (and most common) skin problems there is. With that acne breaking out every time before an important upcoming event, you might just give up!  But you won't have to worry about that for very longer as matcha green tea leaves can help reduce your acne problems.

Before We Get into That Though We Need Understand Why It Works...

Simply put, when the sebaceous glands produce more sebum than required, it accumulates at skin pores, along with dirt and make-up and a pimple is born.

So how does matcha help?

Green tea has been shown to reduce the production sebum by up to 70%, and it possesses anti-bacterial properties which help to remove the acne causing bacteria.

Here is a picture from the same study showing the reduction in sebum production in male patients over 8 weeks:

It contains catechins and EGCG which promotes cell growth and prevents damage. It also prevents scarring, acne-induced stress levels by triggering production of cortisol. If you manage to drink up to 5 cups of green tea each day, you can reduce the risk of diabetes by 33%. But anyway, let us focus on how can we use matcha to improve our skin condition and reduce acne breakouts.

Here Are 7 Ways You Can Use Matcha to Fight Acne:

1. Drink matcha: Have 5-6 cups of tea every day to keep hormones and sebum production levels in check.
2. Physical application & spraying: Either use a thin cloth or cotton balls to apply freshly brewed green tea to your face and neck or other acne prone areas. Leave it on for a while and then pat your skin dry.
3. Facemasks: Apply a mixture of matcha powder with honey and yogurt. This works externally and is very effective.
4. With lemon: Use green tea with lemon. It kills bacteria and has astringent properties for toning and firming.
5. With Apple cider & vinegar: Apple cider and vinegar are brilliant detox agents. Mix them with green tea to get full benefits of antioxidants and antibiotics.
6. With garlic: Garlic not only repels vampires, but also acne causing bacteria. Mix 3 garlic cloves in a cup of brewed green tea and apply over your face and neck.
7. Green tea and egg white mask: This mixture will help you combat acne and also reduce wrinkles because of anti-aging properties of egg whites.

How to Fight Acne Problems with Matcha Green Tea? is available on: healthywild.org