Superfood Spotlight: Matcha Green Tea

By Belinda McCall

If you know anything about the WomanBeeWell Community, it should be that WE LOVE TEA! Matcha is one of our absolute favorite kinds of tea for its flavor, versatility, and stellar superfood benefits!

Matcha is a type of green tea powder that comes from green tea leaves. When you consume matcha, you are actually consuming the entire leaf, so you get all the benefits of green tea and then some!

So let's talk about the magic that is matcha tea. It is a high-quality powdered form of green tea, therefore you get the same health benefits, but heightened. This type of tea may help to reduce blood pressure, increase focus and concentration, and encourage more energy.

Enjoy a cup of matcha tea up to 2-3 times a day to get the most benefit.*

Try out matcha green tea for yourself and see how you like it! See how you feel after you enjoy it. You can make it at home or visit a local coffee/tea shop that sells it so you can give it a try beforehand.

There is a high concentration of antioxidants in matcha green tea, even more than you will get with regular green tea or other types of tea.

Antioxidants have been shown to help reduce the risk of the inflammation that can play a part in the development of many chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and depression just to name a few.

Matcha green tea does have a small amount of caffeine, but that isn’t necessarily the only thing you get your energy from.

This combined with the other nutrients in matcha, including L-theanine, can give you an extra boost of energy. It's also a mellow kind of energy, so it can help you coast through your day or even through a workout without feeling a "crash" afterward.

Matcha green tea is also great for a healthy heart and cardiovascular system. It helps to lower your bad cholesterol and raise your good cholesterol, while also lowering your blood pressure. If your doctor is concerned about your heart, it can definitely be worthwhile to add this green tea to your healthy diet.

As I mentioned, matcha is versatile. While it makes a delicious cup of tea, or tea latte, it can be used in many other ways. It can be sprinkled into a smoothie for an extra boost of antioxidants.

My favorite way to enjoy it is in Baked Matcha Donuts! Think baked goods like health boosted cakes, cupcakes, mousse, pancakes... the possibilities are endless. It also pairs well with vanilla, honey, fruits, and even chocolate.

Baked Matcha Donuts Get the recipe from @womanbeewell on Instagram

8 oz. plant-based milk of choice • 1-1.5 tsp. matcha green tea powder • sweetener of choice (like stevia or agave) • 1 cup ice

1. Heat 8 oz. of plant-based milk in a pan on the stovetop, just until it’s slightly boiling. The ideal temperature for matcha tea is up to 176°F/80°C. Any hotter than that can ruin that beautiful green powder. *Nespresso Aeroccino3 milk frother heats your milk perfectly with the touch of a button. HUGE time saver!

2. Once milk is heated, put 1 tsp. matcha powder into your mug or glass. This container should be able to hold at least 12 oz. of liquid. Pour about 2 oz. of the heated milk over the matcha.

3. Whisk away! Using a small whisk, like a traditional Japanese bamboo whisk or a mini wire whisk, mix the matcha with the milk until there are no visible lumps. You should have a light layer of froth.

4. Slowly add the remaining milk to your glass while whisking. Add your choice of sweetener to your taste. Finally, top with the cup of ice, stir, and ENJOY!

Belinda McCall is a Certified Holistic Nutritionist and the Founder of WomanBeeWell.com and WomanBeeWell Magazine. She believes that wellness looks different for every woman and strives to help each woman uniquely shine her brightest. Subscribe to WomanBeeWell Magazine for free, get nutrition and mindset tips, plant-based recipes, and more at her website: http://womanbeewell.com/