by Matthew Burgess on June 17, 2010
What if I told you that matcha uses half the caffeine of coffee to give you as much energy for twice as long, with less jitters.
Sound too good to be true? The secret is in the whisk. Read on and learn why matcha tea I such a win-win-win.
Our readers have been asking about the caffeine content of matcha green tea as opposed to regular tea. The simple answer is that matcha has just as much, if not more, caffeine than regular tea does. However, the preparation and brewing method of matcha makes a positive difference in the overall effect of caffeine on your body.
It is true that because matcha is made from crushed whole tea leaves, the caffeine content is somewhat higher than that of bagged tea. In fact, the caffeine level of matcha can actually equal half the level of a black cup of coffee.
Keep in mind, caffeine isn’t bad for you in moderate amounts. It’s a mild stimulant that naturally occurs in a variety of plants, beans, fruits and nuts. Humans have been consuming caffeine for hundreds of years, in pursuit of the chemical’s energizing effects. Another plus: it’s not stored in the body after consumption (hence the well-known diuretic effect of coffee and tea).
As we all know, drinking too much coffee or black tea results in the jitters. Steeping tea leaves releases the caffeine directly into the water causing it to be absorbed all by the body all at once. This causes the 3-4 hour energy spike you experience after drinking a strong cup of coffee.
Matcha green tea is prepared as a powder and whisked into hot water, a method which releases the caffeine into the body continuously over 6-8 hours. Swapping regular tea or coffee for matcha green tea will result in sustained energy and increased focus without giving you the shakes or a caffeine crash later in the day.
There are tons of other great benefits to consuming matcha green tea, like its potential to reduce the risk of cancer, soothe the skin, and promote overall well-being. Anyone who is extra sensitive to the effects of caffeine should still limit their matcha intake, but the general effect of matcha will be better and better for you than regular tea, and certainly better than coffee.
Ah, but I do love my macchiato at Intelligentsia Venice …
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by Matthew Burgess on June 8, 2010
Some of our readers have asked us to explain the antioxidant levels in matcha powder green tea as oppose to leaf green tea. As always, we’re happy to oblige.
(And by the way, keep the comments coming!)
A majority the health benefits you enjoy from drinking green are due to the high level of antioxidants present in the plant. Epicgallocatechin gallate (EGCg) is a potent cancer-busting antioxidant that is only found in green tea. However, there is definitely a difference between the level of EGCg found in matcha versus in leaf te
a.
A 2003 study conducted at the University of Colorado found that matcha green tea had nearly 200 times the amount of EGCg than a common brand of leaf green tea.
Why such a radical disparity? It’s due entirely to the way matcha is prepared.
Traditional matcha is prepared by whisking powdered tea into hot water. The powder itself is a more highly concentrated (and we think more delicious) version of leaf green tea, so it makes sense that it contains more of the antioxidant properties of the plant.
Or does it?
There are challenges to this assumption that simply because matcha is prepared as a powder it naturally contains more antioxidants. Several sources have challenged the 2003 study by criticizing the relatively low grade the leaf tea as compared to the high quality of the matcha used for the experiment.
A 2007 USDA report establishes the antioxidant levels of nearly 400 foods. The report found that 1 single gram of green tea brewed in 100 millimeters of water contains an average of 127 milligrams of antioxidants. The article compares this to the number offered by a large Japanese producer of matcha green tea powder (1 gram of powder contains 119 milligrams of antioxidants) and concludes that there really is no significant difference.
As there is currently no study underway that is testing high grade matcha powder with super high quality leaf tea, it’s up to you to draw your own conclusions. The only thing we know for sure is that green tea in all its forms is good for you and should be sipped on a regular basis. We drink matcha because we love the taste and color, but if you prefer using tea bags or whole leaves – go for it!
If you’ve heard of such studies, please let us know in the comments.
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by Matthew Burgess on March 30, 2010
The antioxidants in green tea are known to prevent cancer and promote good heart health, but a study has just been published that shows that green tea has the potential to heal eye ailments, like glaucoma.
According to the LA Times Booster Shots blog (Study: Green tea could heal glaucoma), researchers in Hong Kong have found that the healthy compounds in green tea called catechins are absorbed readily by the eye as by other parts of the body. The highest concentration of catechins were found in the retina. While this study was conducted on mice, further research will be needed to determine the exact amount of green tea needed to boost eye health in humans.
The science is in its earliest stages, but it seems quite likely that the eye can benefit just as much from green tea as your body can overall.
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by Matthew Burgess on March 26, 2010
States all over the country are cracking down on smoking. A huge number of private establishments and public places are now thankfully smoke-free zones, which is great news for everyone concerned about the hazards of second-hand smoke. However, there’s still a risk of lung cancer due to carcinogens in the air, whether or not you’ve got a smoking habit.
One way to mitigate this risk? Drinking green tea.
You probably already know that green tea is packed full of the cancer-busting antioxidant EGCG. Recent studies in China and Arizona show that drinking green tea can prove effective in reducing the risk of lung cancer, especially if you don’t smoke.
A study conducted at Chung Shan Medical University showed that individuals who do not drink green tea are 5 times more likely to [click to continue…]
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by Matthew Burgess on March 2, 2010
Tea Geek is an online community dedicated to providing information and high-quality tea products to tea lovers everywhere. This members-only site was started by Michael J. Coffey, a knowledgeable professional with many years in the tea industry.
The site includes a blog, a wiki, and an online store. Anyone who has a passion for tea of all-kinds should definitely check it out.
Although you don’t have to be a member to purchase tea or read the Tea Geek blog, purchasing a membership has great benefits. You automatically receive a 15% discount [click to continue…]
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by Matthew Burgess on February 27, 2010
A commenter requested links to studies we’ve referenced regarding green tea’s power to protect the skin from a multitude of irritants, especially the sun. First of all, thanks for the inquiry. Secondly, we’re happy to oblige!
There have been many studies conducted on the various benefits of consuming green tea. Here are three studies that focused exclusively on the dermatological effects of green tea.
A pertinent study of the dermatological benefits of green tea was conducted in 2000 by Santosh K. Katiyar, Ph.D., Nihal Ahmad, Ph.D., and Hasan Mukhtar, Ph.D., of the Department of Dermatology at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. The researchers’ goal was to test the polyphenolic compounds in green tea for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-carcinogenic properties. [click to continue…]
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