You’ve probably heard that green tea and matcha offer several health advantages, such as enhancing heart health and aiding in weight loss. People are increasingly turning to green tea, which is unsurprising. However, after the discussion about green tea, matcha has recently gained popularity. Unlike green tea, which is often sold in steeped leaf form, matcha is typically sold in powder form. The question is, is it the same as green tea?
Well, let’s find out.
Both of these drinks are actually derived from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, which is native to China. Although the plants are the same, what makes them different is the way they are processed and grown. Making matcha is deliberately prepared differently. Tea plants are covered about 20-30 days before harvest, to avoid direct sunlight. As a result, the tea leaves become dark in colour, and this can increase the production of amino acids due to a large amount of chlorophyll found in the dark leaves.
After going through the harvesting process, the fine stems and veins are separated from the leaves. Both are crushed with stone until smooth and become a bright green powder. Because of this process, the ingredients in matcha are higher than regular green tea. Unlike regular green tea, the tea leaves on matcha are dried for a short time, to retain the green colour. Because the tea leaves are pounded, and not just the brewed leaves, if you drink matcha, this means you are drinking the whole ingredient in the tea leaves.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
Texture
Matcha has a powder-like texture and a soft taste when touched, while green tea has a rough leaf-like texture.
Colour
Matcha has a bright green colour compared to green tea which looks brownish and dull. The bright colour comes from the high content of chlorophyll and polyphenols.
Taste
Both green tea and matcha powder can be described as having a slightly bitter taste. Matcha, on the other hand, has a stronger flavour. It is always mixed with milk or sweetened milk to make a matcha latte that is often found in nearby cafés.
Green tea has a fresher and lighter taste. There is a green tea that is mixed with ingredients while it is being processed to add a floral or fruit flavour to green tea such as honey, jasmine, peach, citrus, ginger or other aromas.
Process
To produce quality matcha powder, only quality green tea is selected and tilled by hand. The grass is protected from sunlight for 20-30 days before harvest. This protection from the sun will increase the chlorophyll content and make the green colour of the leaves darker as well as increase the production of amino acids. The stems and veins of the leaves are removed and then ground with a stone to matcha powder.
As for green tea, the leaves are ground and mixed with hot water until fluffy.
Nutritional content
Since the whole leaf is used, matcha has higher nutrients than green tea such as antioxidants and caffeine.
One cup (237 ml) equivalent to 4 teaspoons of matcha powder has 280 mg of caffeine. Its content is higher than one cup (237 ml) of green tea, where it has only 35 mg of caffeine.
However, most people will not drink one cup of matcha at a time because of its high caffeine content. Usually taken 60-120 ml only. The caffeine content varies according to how much powder you mix.
The benefits of green tea and matcha
Since they both come from the same tree, green tea and matcha have several nutrients. The only difference is the amount of content because matcha has a higher value than green tea.
Enriched with antioxidants
Antioxidants are able to fight free radicals produced in the body as well as protect cells and tissues from damage.
Green tea and matcha have the antioxidant catechin and among the most potent catechins is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG has been studied extensively and researchers have found that it can fight inflammation in the body and help maintain arterial health.
One study found that matcha contains 137 times more antioxidants than green tea.
Helps to lose weight
Green tea is often associated with weight loss. Most studies conducted on humans have found that green tea increases the number of calories burned by increasing the level of metabolic rate.
However, not all studies agree with this. There is one study that considered the effects of weight loss with green tea to be insignificant.
Makes you feel calmer and awake
The greens and matcha have a unique amino acid called L-theanine. L-theanine increases alpha waves in the brain. These waves are closely linked to mental calm and help to reduce stress.
In addition, L-theanine will also alter the effects of caffeine in your body by increasing alertness without causing the drowsiness that is often caused by coffee intake. Furthermore, most studies have found that green tea can improve brain function as well as reduce age-related mental decline problems in the elderly.
So long story short, both teas are actually derived from the same plant but the production process alone is different. Since it is an increasingly popular drink nowadays, which team are you on? Team Matcha or Team Green Tea?