How can I convey in a normal way that I’m overly obsessed, maybe borderline addicted to matcha… Every morning I start with rolling out of bed and going directly to the kitchen. Then, throughout the day, probably two to three glasses – ok, so four to five, but is that really a bad thing? I suppose there are worse things to be addicted to, I won’t give examples, but my matcha consumption would be very low on the list of things to worry about.
Matcha is a ‘superfood’. Superfoods being simply just healthy foods that can prevent diseases and ailments. It’s a marketing technique rather than a scientific term. However, matcha does fit this category as it is a special blend and branch of green tea. It’s the same plant as green tea but harvested differently so that the product has increased levels of chlorophyll. And then sold as a powder instead of your normal tea leaves.
You can buy the green tea and blend it yourself; with that school of thought, I do have a fairly large box of green tea in my cupboard… I’ve become too invested at this point.
Matcha originated in Japan as a mixture to lay bricks with and then gradually turned into a drink for the rich. Over time it has transcended into Japan’s most mainstream drink. However, the first health benefits date back to that of traditional Chinese medicine.
From a five-minute google search (I mean extensive research), health benefits seem to be hyperbolised: reducing cholesterol, healthy weight loss, natural body detox, better skin and teeth, emotional health and a steady flow of energy. Regarding energy, it’s a good substitute for coffee which has its fair share of drawbacks; over-dependence, high cholesterol, and the energy received can’t be maintained throughout the day without overconsumption.
But can I say after drinking matcha for months now that I’ve seen these benefits? Erm, my skin has cleared up (but I do keep a long-winded skincare routine, so that could be it), I have more energy (but I do get more than ten hours of sleep in quarantine, so it could be that), and I do find myself in better moods (but I don’t have any work or responsibilities right now so it could be that).
So there’s my honest account of matcha, and thus far, I hope I’ve really convinced you to try it… no, I’m joking, but all I can say is that google doesn’t lie, and everything you read on dodgy websites is true. And go to a better website if you really do want to learn about the benefits.
Another ‘extensive research’ found that four to five cups a day might offset the benefits of the superfood, so maybe the next article will be titled ‘Coping with an addiction’.
You can find my matcha recipes on my website, ice lattes, warm brews, odd combinations. Also, there are a few small Japanese cafés in London that are worth a try by my standard.