What's all the fuss about matcha?
The world is going crazy over matcha. Food fad trends come and go quickly, but the matcha craze seems to be here to stay. Known to be the most beneficial form of tea, matcha started as a specialty drink in restaurants and café’s but is now a popular ingredient in cakes, desserts, ice cream, and even curries! So, what really is all this fuss about matcha? Here’s the low-down.
Matcha powder comes from stone-ground green tea leaves. It’s of Japanese origin and has long been used in tea ceremonies. Matcha contains organic compounds called catechins, a beneficial and potent antioxidant, which is very helpful for maintaining a healthy heart and metabolism.
Matcha powder also contains caffeine and other nutrients such as L-theanine, which provides energy, just like coffee does but without the jitters and energy crashes. Absolutely a great alternative if you’re trying to cut back on your daily coffee intake! The L-theanine in a good cup of matcha tea is also responsible for leaving you with a feeling of calmness.
But wait, there’s more! According to matchasource, matcha has many health benefits including:
- Being packed with antioxidants
- Boosting metabolism and burning calories
- Detoxifying effectively and naturally
- Calming the mind and relaxing the body
- Being rich in fibre, chlorophyll and vitamins
- Enhancing the mood and aiding in concentration
- Providing vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium
- Preventing disease
- Lowering high cholesterol and blood sugar
Matcha tea can aid in weight loss as it helps to burn fats fast and increase the metabolism – in fact, if you look at the label of just about any weight loss or fat burning supplement, you’ll probably see green tea as an ingredient. One study showed that men who took green tea extract before exercise burned 17% more fat than men who didn’t take the supplement.
Due to its numerous health benefits, matcha is considered a superfood. You can find matcha everywhere now, either as a powder or as part of delicious and healthy drinks and desserts. If you want to incorporate more matcha into your daily diet, here are a few yummy recipes to make at home.
Matcha latte
This is a very simple yet deliciously satisfying drink that can become your instant favourite. Make sure you have a small whisk - or better yet a matcha whisk - handy to have before creating it. Simply mix half a teaspoon of matcha powder and a teaspoon of raw honey in a mug using your whisk, until a dark green paste forms. Heat a cup of plant-based milk in a pan and froth it so that it forms aery bubbles on top. Pour in some of the milk into the matcha paste and whisk it once again, then pour the rest of the milk on top of it. Serve and enjoy!
Choc-matcha protein balls
Super-easy and so delicious! Just throw into your food processor 8 pitted and chopped medjool dates, a scoop of chocolate protein powder, a tablespoon each of almond butter, coconut oil and chia seeds, and a teaspoon of matcha powder. Process until smooth then roll into balls and pop them into the fridge to set.
Matcha chia pudding
Quick and simple – have it as an after-dinner dessert, a quick snack or even as a delicious brekkie! Just whisk together 1 cup of almond milk, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 tsp of vanilla extract and ½ tsp of matcha powder. Mix in 1 tablespoon of chia seeds and pop into the fridge to set for at least an hour.
Matcha smoothie
An energy-packed smoothie that’s great to have before you hit the gym! Simply blend together a cup of almond milk, ½ a cup each of almonds and cashews that have been soaked overnight, 1 tablespoon of chia seeds, 1 tsp each of matcha powder and vanilla extract, a tablespoon of chia seeds and one frozen banana. Instant get-up-and-go!
Matcha guacamole
Holy moly who knew you could add matcha to guacamole? Just mash up some avocados, throw in some chopped red onion and cherry tomatoes with a tsp of matcha powder and a bunch of chopped fresh coriander. Job done in a flash!
Just like that. You can enjoy your matcha as easy as ABC. Of course, the ingredients and the tools that you will use will come with a cost so, if you are craving for some matcha goodness now, but your budget won’t allow it, we’re here to help. Just check out our cash loans from $1,000 to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, we can deposit the cash into your bank account within a few hours - so you can go ahead and plan that matcha indulgence soon!