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Matcha comes from the Japanese and means powdered tea. The powder dates back to the 6th century and was used in China in traditional medicine as a medicinal plant.
The leaves of the green tea plant are dried and then pulverised on a millstone. To prepare the incomparable Matcha teas, the powder is foamed in a small bowl with an appropriate broom. The powder is said to have a health-promoting healing effect due to its numerous ingredients.
Meanwhile, the tea originates mainly from Japan and is prepared ceremonially in the culture there. But even here, the teas and coffee variants are more popular than ever. In our guide, we show you everything about matcha powder and give recommendations on the different products.
Summary
- Matcha powder consists of powdered tea plants and can be whisked in a bowl with a special broom. This is then mixed with hot water or milk to make the finished drink.
- It is said to have a similar effect to coffee. However, due to the vitamins and substances it contains, matcha powder is much healthier and can even have a healing effect.
- The powder originally comes from Chinese healing medicine. Today, the plants are mainly cultivated in Japan and drinking matcha is celebrated.
The Best Matcha Powder in the United Kingdom: Our Choices
Buying and rating criteria for matcha powder
Before buying, you should first know what is important for a good matcha powder. We have summarised all the important buying criteria for you.
In the following, we want to show you what the individual purchase criteria are and what you need to consider when choosing the right matcha powder.
Properties
The properties of matcha powder can be described in very different ways. Therefore, there is no standardised summary and the descriptions on the packaging are not always helpful. However, there are four characteristics that you can use to distinguish the quality of a powder:
- Colour
- Smell
- Taste
- Texture
You can recognise a good matcha by its bright to jade-green colour and the floral, fruity and nutty aromas. The texture should be extremely finely ground. In addition, the taste should ultimately be soft and sweet, with complex and restrained notes.
Organic vs. conventional
If you choose an organic certified Matcha, it is most likely free of pesticides and certified by several controls. This is why many people opt for this variant. However, this is especially true for Matcha teas from Japan. There, harvesting and production are subject to much stricter regulations than elsewhere. Tea from China, on the other hand, should always be treated with a certain amount of caution. Less strict regulations apply here.
Origin
Origin also plays a major role in many cases. The origin of matcha goes back to the 6th century. At that time, the powder was used for medicinal purposes. Today, matcha tea comes from Japan, which is produced under strict conditions and thus promises better quality. Since matcha has experienced a great boom today and can be found in many areas, it can also be found from different origins.
Guide: Frequently Asked Questions about Matcha Powder Answered in Detail
Matcha latte is now a household name and can be found on the menu of almost every café. But what is matcha powder, what makes it so special and how is it best processed? We’ll give you answers to these questions and more in the following.
What is matcha powder good for?
The powder contains a large amount of the amino acid L-theanine. This has a similar effect to caffeine and ensures long-lasting alertness. Another effect is relaxation and stress reduction. Matcha also improves brain performance, concentration and mood.
How do I prepare Matcha powder correctly?
- Put 1 g of matcha or 2 bamboo spoons of chashaku into a special matcha bowl. This is also called a chawan.
- Pour about 100 ml of 80° C hot water.
- Whisk the tea with the help of a matcha whisk (chasen). Make Z-shaped movements with your wrist.
Matcha powder can be further processed to make tea or even certain coffee specialities. For example, there is the Matcha Latte or the Matcha Espresso. Another way to prepare Matcha powder is to process it into sweet delicacies. These are a speciality in their country of origin, Japan.
What does Matcha powder cost?
| Price range | products |
|---|---|
| Low-priced (50 to 100 euros per kilogram) | very simple production |
| Medium-priced (100 to 500 euros per kilogram) | simple production and good quality |
| High-priced (from 1000 euros per kilogram) | mostly hand-picked tea and complex production |
As you can see, the price range goes from 50 to over 1000 euros. Generally speaking, matcha powder tends to be more expensive and therefore a more expensive product. The price varies depending on the production, profit and origin of the tea powder.
What should I pay attention to with regard to matcha powder?
According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), a maximum of 400 mg of caffeine per day is safe for adults. This amount corresponds to about 6-7 cups of matcha tea.
Another point you should consider when consuming matcha is the intake of harmful substances. Matcha powder contains a high level of aluminium. If consumed in excess, this can lead to reproductive and bone development disorders as well as diseases of the nervous system. The recommendation is therefore not to exceed two cups a day.
Matcha powder should also be consumed with caution during pregnancy. The absorption of iron is inhibited by the substances it contains. Since iron is essential for pregnant women, matcha should not be consumed too often and only at certain times in order to prevent a deficiency.
How healthy is Matcha powder?
The difference to coffee lies in its tolerance. The caffeine in matcha powder is bound to the tannins of the tea, whereas in coffee it is isolated. Accordingly, Matcha tea is much better tolerated and at least as stimulating as an espresso.
The antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG for short), which is also a component of matcha powder, is said to have further positive effects on health.
It is said to have the ability to break down certain proteins that are responsible for diseases such as Alzheimer’s or cancer. However, research on this has not yet been fully completed and there is no clear evidence yet. Finally, the consumption of matcha tea can support weight loss. This effect can be explained by the ingredients contained in the powder. By drinking Matcha, the body absorbs less fat from food. It is important to note that matcha should not be regarded as a full meal.
Conclusion
The popular Matcha powder is not only good for making delicious teas and coffees. It also contains important and healthy substances. Because it is better tolerated, it is easier to digest than conventional coffee and also has health-promoting ingredients. If you are now looking for the best match powder, you should have received all the important information about green tea powder in our article.
Cover photo: dungthuyvunguyen / pixabay
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