Health benefits

Drinking tea provides many health benefits to its consumers. It was the main reason Buddhist monks brought tea from China to Japan. According to Osaki, matcha tea carries many promising advantages, primarily because of its powdered form.

Matcha stems from the whole green tea leaf, which manufacturers grind into powder form. Unlike regular tea leaves and bags, matcha retains all its nutrients in powdered form. Tea bags and leaves need to be discarded after being steeped in water, which may cause them to lose nutrients.

Furthermore, matcha is an excellent alternative to coffee, according to Osaki.

“Unlike coffee, which causes your energy to crash quickly, matcha provides the same energy boost with a more gradual decrease in energy,” Osaki said. “It doesn’t give you those anxious-like jittery feelings.”

The calming reaction stems from L-theanine, an amino acid found in tea. This amino acid relaxes the mind without inducing drowsiness because it increases activity in the alpha frequency band. 

Other than L-theanine, matcha contains even more advantages for the body.

Matcha contains high antioxidants, such as polyphenols, which have similar effects to vitamin C and E. The antioxidants stem from catechins found in tea, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

The shading portion of the matcha cultivation process intensifies the health benefits.

“The shade causes the leaves to become confused, which creates a reaction, causing a beautiful flavor and umami to erupt from the leaves,” Osaki said.

The confused reaction is actually the shade causing the leaves to produce more amino acids and chlorophyll.

Not only is matcha a delightful drink, it is healthy as well.