Matcha guru explains benefits of ditching traditional coffee for the green drink
Coffee lovers will have noticed the steady expansion of matcha based beverages appearing in their favourite stores.
The bright green drink can feel a bit intimidating, especially if you're much more familiar with coffee but many hot drink fans are enjoying the eye catching beverage - which even has some health benefits.
Matcha is actually made from finely ground green tea leaves, which gives it its distinct colour, and has been used in Japanese tea culture for centuries.
Hash Parvez, matcha expert and field coffee trainer for Blank Street, has answered all the pressing questions about the tea, including whether it can satisfy your caffeine addiction.
Discover, learn, grow. We are Curiously. Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
Clever drink hack tricks your brain to reduce caffeine cravings, expert claims
Matcha is made by whisking powdered leaves (stock image) (Getty Images/Image Source)The expert said: "Matcha has a unique, earthy flavour and is known for its vibrant green colour. Our matcha originates from the region of Uji, Japan, on the southeast border of Kyoto.
"The farmers here have mastered the techniques of farming and harvesting matcha for over 500 years, making it the cream of the crop – we source all of our matcha at Blank Street from Uji, through PerfectTed, a matcha specialist recently featured on BBC's Dragons' Den."
The green colour is totally natural and achieved by farming tea leaves that are the right shade. Cutting off sunlight and keeping the leaves shady for the last few weeks before harvest boosts the nutrient levels.
"This makes the plants overproduce chlorophyll to make up for the lack of light - giving it a distinct bright green colour," explained Hash.
"The bright green colour of the matcha can also be an indication of quality for this very reason, as shade growing is the preferred technique among matcha lovers. Matcha is a complex, earthy flavour, and if you've not tried higher quality matchas it sometimes can be slightly bitter. This is why we would always recommend going for a ceremonial grade!"
Don't worry though, you won't be missing out on your morning caffeine by switching to matcha drinks as it still contains the energy booster - but it releases it in a different way.
Hash explained: "They both have different functions, as coffee provides a quicker energy boost perfect for the morning pick me up, whereas matcha releases smaller amounts more slowly which can see you through the afternoon. This means that they can work well in tandem, as well as on their own!"
Hash recommends a fruit blend matcha latte for first time matcha drinkers (stock image) (Getty Images)Matcha isn't only good for your afternoon caffeine boost, it also contains antioxidants that help your cells repair and amino acid L-theanine which Hash says "controls the body's uptake of caffiene in the bloodstream."
Even better, the tea is known to have calming properties so won't give you the jittery feeling coffee sometimes does.
Hash said: "The preparation processes differ significantly from one another. To make a matcha tea, we whisk single origin matcha with water to form a concentrate, and then whisk this further into hot water.
Top CEO arrested after woman spots him peeping at her under toilet door in cafe
"For a matcha latte, we also whisk matcha into a concentrate, to which we then add steamed milk.
"By contrast, the method for a traditional coffee latte differs, given that coffee comes from beans as opposed to leaves. Coffee beans are ground in-house, then tamped, following from which water is forced through the grounds to extract the espresso, which is then poured over with steamed milk.
"Traditionally, matcha can be found as a powder for use in drinks such as lattes, or simply as a tea. At Blank Street, we have also innovated further to create drinks which serve as a great entry point to matcha."
For anyone wanting to give matcha a go but prefers a sweeter coffee, Hash recommends trying a sweeter mix, such as a latte with fruit flavourings like the Blueberry Matcha Latte.
He said: "This is a great option for those with a sweet tooth who want to dip their toe into the wonderful world of matcha."
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
