Author: Julia Kopylova , tea expert.
Scientists have conducted thousands of studies determining how use affects life expectancy, mood, and how many tea drinkers there are around the world.
Among the many varieties, Japanese matcha tea is well-deserved, and consumers have appreciated its taste and health.
How to stress a name correctly
Words borrowed from other languages with frequent or prolonged use do not cause us either surprise or a shadow of doubt about the correctness of their pronunciation.
What about those who came into our lives not so long ago?
How to pronounce the name correctly? Do I stress the first letter & laquo; A & raquo;, the second or the & laquo; I & raquo;?
At the moment, both options are considered correct. For the Russian-speaking population, the name & laquo; match & raquo; has become more familiar or convenient.
There is a little confusion with the definition of gender, because & laquo; tea & raquo; used in masculine, and words with the ending -cha in Russian are defined as feminine. At the moment, there are no special rules for declension of this phrase, so both options will correspond to the norm.
If you ask the consultant of the RChK online store: & laquo; what is the composition of the green matcha/matcha & raquo; tea, then in both cases the question will sound correct and you will be described in detail all the components.
Origin
Surprisingly, but true: China is considered to be the birthplace of the Japanese drink. It was there that Buddhist monks prepared a drink to help enter nirvana.
Young tea leaves were crushed into powder with a pestle, and a decoction was already cooked from it. It had a rich emerald hue and special properties inherent only in this type of tea.
While drinking it, a person simultaneously received a portion of energy, and, at the same time, peace.
At the beginning of the XII century, China was visited by the famous Japanese monk Yosai, the founder of the teachings of Zen Buddhism. The hospitable Chinese treated the guest to & laquo; green broth & raquo;. He was so impressed by the taste of matcha tea that he took the seeds with him on the way back.
This is how a new tea variety appeared in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Over time, he has firmly occupied his niche in Japanese tea drinking culture, becoming a truly beloved and revered drink among the inhabitants of this country, and later, without exaggeration, all over the world.
Tea appeared in Russia relatively recently, but has already managed to win the hearts of Russians. Healthy, tasty and unusual, it slowly displaces other varieties from the daily diet.
Matcha tea can be purchased from our online store
Matcha tea is a drink with an unusually rich, vibrant color. It is made from tea leaves ground into powder. The drink has a soft, tart taste and is very useful, for which it is loved all over the world.
Japanese Match Premium FENIX (Matcha Premium)
Check out the full range of Matcha tea here
What and how matcha tea is made
In the process of making this variety, there are subtleties that allow you to achieve extraordinary taste.
A few weeks before harvest, plantations are almost completely deprived of daylight by covering them with special awnings made of bamboo or tarpaulin.
This results in intensive production of chlorophyll, in the leaves the amount of useful substances (including amino acids) increases, which changes the taste of the final product, gives it sweetness and oiliness.
Tea collection
The unique technology is as follows: 21 days before harvesting, the tea bushes are completely darkened, then the growth is collected and sent for primary processing. The following factors affect the qualitative indicator: whether the leaves were harvested manually or by machine.
Of course, the hand reaper is considered elite, environmentally friendly, which subsequently significantly affects the taste and price.
The season in which the harvest took place is also important. For tea, only leaves collected in spring and summer are used, and for varieties used in cooking, this factor does not play a big role.
The machine assembly technology is simple: the harvester cuts the upper leaves from the tea bush with a header, the air pressure sends them to a special bag, which must be filled to only a third of its volume to exclude the oxidation of the leaves due to excessive compaction.
Processing
Matcha tea production & ndash; a rather laborious and difficult process. Factory processing consists of several steps:
- exposure to steam for 60 seconds stops fermentation, allowing the leaves to retain their natural color and aroma;
- specialized plants with turbogenerators separate the glued sheets and dry them, removing excess water;
- prepared raw material is sent along the conveyor for heat treatment, where drying modes of varying intensity are used;
- & ndash; shredding leaves to powder, packing and shipping to retailers.
Unique matcha properties
To answer the question of what a match is and what a drink is useful for, you just need to consider the composition. And it is truly rich in substances important for the body: it contains more than three hundred different elements.
According to Japanese residents, one cup of this tea is better than ten regular ones.
In & laquo; emerald broth & raquo; vitamins of various groups, unique amino acids and other substances that enter the body in high concentration due to the fact that it does not need to be brewed with boiling water.
The technology for making matcha tea is different: the powder simply dissolves in hot water, preserving all natural properties.
The use of matcha helps to reduce cholesterol levels, and women have the opportunity to stabilize hormonal levels.
The drink enhances concentration, strengthens memory, helps to reduce excess weight, but is not a panacea, acts as an auxiliary and preventive element.
Tea has antiseptic properties: you can rinse your throat and gums, and use the brew as a soothing mask for problems with the skin of the face and neck, if you are not allergic to the components in the composition.
Mattia gives vigor for the whole day, so it is advisable to use it in the morning or in the morning. The benefits are obvious, but you should carefully study whether it is suitable for everyone.
Limitations
Despite the unique composition of green matches, it has contraindications.
The drink should not be drunk in large quantities due to the caffeine content; with excessive use, side effects such as headache, irritability, digestive system disorder are possible.
Tea, in order not to harm, is not recommended to be used with a tendency to hyperexcitability, intolerance to individual components, during pregnancy, as well as nursing women and young children.
Maximum dose per day & ndash; not more than five cups.
Features
The composition of the matcha drink is simple: water, tea, and, optionally, milk. Just one serving contains:
- epigallocatechin gallate (a potent antioxidant that is almost 140 times higher than the equivalent volume of regular green tea);
- L-theanine, aspartic acid, and other amino acids;
- B, C, E, A, PP vitamins;
- macro- and trace elements such as Fe, Zn, Ca, Mg, K, F, P, I;
- caffeine and fiber.
Antioxidant EGCG: Helping Fight Aging, Cancer, and Chronic Diseases
Epigallocatechin gallate & ndash; one of the catechin modifications. A high concentration of this substance is found only in green tea, in other plant-based products it is much less common and in small quantities.
The main useful property is & ndash; protecting healthy body cells from alteration and destruction by free radicals.
EGCG helps prevent the development of many serious diseases, including the scourge of modernity & ndash; oncology, problems of the cardiovascular system, stomach, viral and chronic pathologies.
This antioxidant is very easily absorbed by the body, significantly surpasses vitamins C and E in efficiency, helps stimulate cell renewal and the rejuvenation process, and strengthens the immune system.
Amino acid L-Theanine & ndash; brain stimulator
Organic compound & ndash; it is a natural relaxant found in green tea leaves and occupies about half of the total volume.
It stimulates brain activity and the production of joy hormones (serotonin, dopamine), improves memory, stress resistance and enhances brain activity.
Due to the fact that matcha & ndash; this is a crushed concentrate that completely dissolves during brewing, the content of L-theanine in one portion is much higher here than in any other variety and it is absorbed in full. But for all its useful qualities, matcha is not a & laquo; magic pill & raquo; and cannot be an alternative to conservative treatment.
What makes a match better than coffee
The amount of caffeine in black and green tea is almost the same, but it is much less than in coffee beans.
Matcha is the leader in psychostimulant content and is much cooler than Americano or espresso.
What does matcha tea consist of: The three components found in the drink (L-theanine, caffeine and antioxidants) enhance each other's actions, while gently acting on the body.
Back in ancient China, the monks noticed this feature: he simultaneously invigorated and calmed, relaxed and opened a second wind, maintained sobriety of mind and added energy.
Tea lasts four to six hours. If you didn't get enough sleep & ndash; drink a cup of match before the start of the working day, and a day without migraine is guaranteed for you.
Coffee works differently. After a drunk mug, there is a surge of vigor, which after a while sharply turns into a loss of strength, a headache, and we are forced to drink another portion. And so & ndash; to infinity.
Coffee forms a dependency, matcha & ndash; no, it isn't. The mild invigorating effect of tea is not addictive, but the recommended dose per day & ndash; not more than five cups.
We will talk about what a matcha latte is, what the composition of this drink is, how to prepare it and store it in the next section.
Storage conditions
First of all, matcha deteriorates from direct sunlight and moisture, respectively, the powder should be stored in a place protected from light in a closed, sealed container.
Ideal storage solution & ndash; package with zip lock. When opening the package and the temperature is up to 25 degrees, the shelf life is not more than 60 days.
Matcha Tea & ndash; special and the conditions of detention are slightly different from other varieties of green or black tea drink. To keep the powder for a long time, send the jar to the refrigerator, the main thing is away from foods that have a strong smell.
In the cold, it has a longer shelf life of 365 days.
Colour, taste and aroma
What matcha tea looks like, what it tastes like, and how to replace it with simple words is quite difficult, you need to try it. To ensure that the first tasting does not disappoint, drink high quality drinks.
The brew should be a bright green color, like spring foliage, an aroma reminiscent of the freshness of mowed grass diluted with sweet notes. There is no bitterness or viscosity in tea, which is inherent in other varieties, you should not add sugar and substitutes to the cup & ndash; he himself has a sweetish tint.
When adding milk (regular, coconut or almond), the taste becomes rich-sweet, herbal notes are brighter.
& laquo; Blue matcha & raquo; & ndash; Myth and Reality
It is actually & nbsp; Thai orchid tea , the birthplace of it & ndash; Thailand, and the resemblance to matcha is only in powdered brew.
Anchan & ndash; Clittoria flowers are trifecta, powdered and bright blue.
When a drop of lemon juice is added, the drink turns purple.
It has a peculiar, with light vegetable notes, neutral taste.
How to prepare Matches at home and in the office
One of the most famous drinks made from matcha powder is & nbsp; latte: its composition is quite simple & ndash; brew and vegetable or regular milk.
To make you feel good, there are several secrets to cooking.
The first and most important thing: everything needs to be done slowly and with love, but there are several ways to cook.
Recipe 1: When You Have Time
- 1 teaspoon without a slide of matcha powder is thoroughly sieved through a fine sieve into a mug, preferably porcelain, and always with a wide neck.
- So that the tea does not bitter and retains all its beneficial properties & ndash; pour in a third of a glass of hot (70-80 & deg; C) water and mix thoroughly to break up the lumps. It is better to use a special whisk, but you can also use a regular spoon.
- If you have a cappuccino & ndash; beat a glass of milk with any syrup. The main thing is that you like the taste at the exit. Combine these two ingredients & ndash; the drink is ready to drink.
- If for some reason you refuse dairy products & ndash; it's okay, just replace the milk with water.
Drink with occasional stirring so that the powder does not remain at the bottom of the mug. The amazing taste of matcha tea will amaze with its unusualness and dissimilarity to other well-known varieties.
Recipe 2: If You Don't Have Special Devices
This method of preparation can be called & laquo; a quick hand & raquo;, since the drink is prepared within a few minutes:
- all ingredients from the first recipe are placed in a mixer, blender or other whipping device (cappuccinator or chopper);
- Start button
- Tea is ready to drink.
If you like a cold drink & ndash; add a few ice cubes to the cup.
Recipe 3: In the French Press
This method is suitable for cooking even when brewing with colder water & ndash; below 70 & deg; C. Main secret & ndash; actively beat the brew until a homogeneous infusion and a characteristic foam are obtained, as shown in our video.
Selection considerations
How to choose high-quality matcha tea correctly? This is a tough one for first-time buyers.
The choice of this variety should be approached with all responsibility, because the quality of the drink depends on which product you buy.
The seller must be in good standing and qualified to answer all your questions.
Make sure that the powder & nbsp; has a uniform bright green color without visible lumps with a structure resembling powder; seasonal leaf collection & ndash; spring/summer.
These are prerequisites when choosing, because autumn tea is of a completely different color (yellow or orange), when brewing it is bitter, it is used only in cooking.
The quality product is manufactured in Japan, where all technological processes are followed, and there is environmental control of the products.
There is also Chinese, but it contains a large amount of lead, which significantly reduces the beneficial qualities of the drink.
If you buy by weight & ndash; Please check with the seller to see if storage rules for this product are followed. Reputable professionals always have them.
Now that online sales are no longer surprising, information about the company can be found online, consult online and order delivery & ndash; choosing a product becomes more convenient.
Our online store offers a wide range of premium tea and coffee products, and sales assistants are always available to help you choose products.
Japanese matcha tea & ndash; the favorite drink of millions, perhaps you, having tasted it once, will become its fan forever.