- Blame it on motherhood, but ever since I had my daughter, I need some type of coffee to keep me going throughout the day. I usually prefer a warm cup in the mornings when I first get to work, and sometimes I like indulging in an iced macchiato as a pick me up in the afternoons as I head home to make dinner. But two cups per day is certainly my limit because I try to be mindful about caffeine. But sometimes I still feel guilty that these daily Frappuccino habits are also serving up a whole lot of extra calories and sugar with such minimal nutritional value. That is, until I tried a matcha tea latte (and the Green Tea Latte at Starbucks).
No doubt you've probably seen this bright green drink on Pinterest or IG lately. And just in case you're wondering what all the hype is about, I promise you it's about more than the pretty color or impressive liquid art. Here's everything you need to know about matcha tea, and why you might want to swap out your coffee for a matcha tea latte from time to time.
The Health Benefits
matcha literally means "powdered tea." And it's a higher quality than tea made from traditional tea bags because the entire tea leaf is steeped and ground into powder. Yielding 100 percent of the nutrients of the entire leaf instead of fragments. One cup of matcha = 10 cups of regularly brewed green tea in terms of nutritional content. And this leaves it (no pun intended) jam-packed with antioxidants (137 times more in fact) that are said to offer protection against heart disease, cancer, as well as better blood sugar regulation, blood pressure reduction, lower cholesterol and anti-aging. Blame it on the the powerful EGCg — matcha promotes overall better immunity.
Matcha is also known to be good for boosting the metabolism, naturally detoxifying, and it even BURNS calories. Yass!! It contains caffeine and offers a nice energy boost (like coffee), but is said to be calmer on the body, increases focus and helps to clear the mind. Lastly, did you also know that matcha Green Tea is considered a superior superfood to blueberries, pomegranate and broccoli (just to name a few)?
As with coffee, it's a little bit of an acquired taste. But try it at your favorite coffee shop as a latte with milk (or your favorite milk alternative) as you get used to the potent flavor. And asking your barista to add more or fewer scoops of matcha over time is a great way to find the perfect flavor profile for your taste buds.
So whether it be hot or iced, the health benefits of matcha green tea are undeniable! If you're already a lover of tea, it's a great way to take your affinity to a new level. Or if you're like me, just trying to live your best life and maximize the benefits of your daily caffeine addiction, give matcha a try! You'll thank yourself later.