Feel Good Guide to Matcha
Unless you’ve been living under a rock you'll know that matcha is the cult-favorite superfood for energy + antioxidants!
Yes, yes, antioxidants have been around as a buzzword for over a decade now (actually whatever happened to Acai?), but matcha really is the queen of antioxidants. Did you know that matcha has 137 times more catechins than green tea? They are the kind of anti-ageing bad boys you need to know about. Not only does it have anti-inflammatory properties such as chlorophyll to boost immunity (also famous for its detoxing effects), matcha fights free radicals (like UV damage). But it doesn’t stop at visible benefits to your skin, oh no, matcha is here for your mind too. It’s other not so secret weapon, L-theanine is known for promoting calm and relaxation whilst matcha lovers have consistently reported an improvement in their attention span, reactions times and memory.
Among the plethora of health benefits associated with consuming matcha from gut, skin and mental health, it’s called ‘Mind-ya-Matcha’ for a reason - it's packed with brain-loving amino acids, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, the result: increased productivity, brain focus and energy levels throughout the day. Calorie free but with a better caffeine hit than coffee.
Cue, more consistent energy levels through the day without the crash of coffee, and a better night’s sleep.
Now more than ever people are looking for healthier alternatives to traditional caffeinated drinks and generally to 'wellness drinks'. Mind Ya Matcha is sourced from the best batches of tencha virgin green tea leaves at small farms in Japan for a ceremonial-grade experience at home.
Beginner’s Guide to Matcha
If you’re just starting out with matcha and a bit unsure about the flavour here are some of our top tips for where to start when choosing a matcha:
Colour
Pure ceremonial grade matcha is stone ground from just the leaves of the green tea plant and not the stem which reduces the bitter taste - so you want a bright green colour.
Pure
At the other end of the spectrum are the ‘green tea lattes’ you see on menus of coffee chains - they have often been powdered down with various other ingredients to make them sweeter and less strong in flavour, which also powders down the benefits and the ‘high’ you experience may just be primarily sugar!
Ceremonial Grade
Mind Ya Matcha is pure ceremonial grade matcha, made from just the tea leaves, and stone ground into a bright green powder.
Mind Ya Matcha is also directly from farm to factory in Japan, which guarantees its freshness.
What’s the difference between matcha and regular green tea?
The whole green tea leaf is ground into a powder so you are consuming all the benefits of green tea.
Where did matcha originate from?
Matcha has been around since monks were drinking it in 1100s in Japan to maintain focus in long hours of meditation.
‘I want to like it but I can’t stand the taste.’
Most matcha has a deep, grassy taste with a hint of nuttiness.
If you've dabbled in matcha, but you really haven't loved it, and the above sounds familiar then read ahead for where you might be going wrong.
4 common matcha mistakes -
It tastes fishy - try reducing the amount of powder in your mix. We also find certain milks bring out a different flavour, so try oat milk, coconut milk or regular whole milk.
Lumpy - Try sifting your matcha before you mix it with water. Although this adds another step, it will make for a much tastier drink!
Too sweet - If your matcha powder is a pre-mixed 'latte', then you might find you are mainly drinking sugar, so look for a pure matcha powder.
Too strong - If the flavour is too strong for you in tea, try making a matcha latte with a greater milk ratio.
Spilling the ‘tea’ on matcha vs coffee
Elle, our founder, launched/ created ‘Mind Ya Matcha’ as a Sorbet product because of the huge personal benefits she saw from switching out coffee to matcha every day. "In addition to feeling more focused and more consistent energy levels, I feel less bloated through the day, my skin has dramatically improved and I find I eat healthier because I don’t have energy slumps and cravings. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea at first (excuse the pun!), but once I found a high quality matcha that is not too bitter, I became obsessed with the flavour and making iced matcha lattes!"
Does Matcha contain caffeine?
Matcha contains caffeine, but it is less than the average cup of coffee. Plus, combined with the anti-oxidant Ltheanine, the caffeine in matcha releases slowly, which is why you don't get spikes and drops from consuming matcha as you might from a strong coffee.
Feel Good Guide - making the perfect matcha latte
Here is our feel good guide to making the perfect matcha latte.
Step 1 - Scoop 1g of matcha into your mug. To avoid lumps, sift the powder in a tea strainer or sifter into a finer powder.
Step 2 - Add 15ml of 70ºC/160ºF water.
Step 3 - Whisk until smooth paste forms.
Step 4 - If making an iced latte, add ice now. Pour 70ml of frothed milk and mix until consistent
Step 5 - Sip and enjoy.
For a matcha tea, pour hot water instead of milk and mix until consistent.
Mind-ya-Matcha is a ceremonial grade matcha powder from Sorbet Wellness for multi taskers and busy minds looking for a healthier caffeine and energy boost.
