Tea continues to shine when it comes to our health!
Researchers have found green tea to be associated with a 30% reduction in the risk of breast cancer; it’s also been shown to protect against other types of cancer (ovarian, endometrial). Even more impressive, the combination of drinking green tea with eating mushrooms daily is associated with more than an 80% reduction in breast cancer risk.
Research also suggests green tea is associated with decreased risk of depression and reduced cognitive decline. It may even help lower blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body fat. Polyphenols and other antioxidants are thought be be the cause of these many benefits.
So drinking green tea is good for us, what about eating it??
No surprise, it can be even better! Rather than only getting the nutrients in the steeped liquid, you also get the nutrients from the entire tea leaf.
Matcha is simply green tea leaves ground into a fine powder. This allows it to be dissolved into liquid, added to smoothies, sprinkled over oatmeal or mixed into a wide-variety of recipes. Some of our favorites are Matcha Muffins and Matcha Goji Berry Chocolate Bark. Keep in mind – whatever you’re adding it to will likely turn green!
You’ll find Matcha in the baking and/or tea section at most grocery stores. Often the tea section will have more expensive, higher grade, ceremonial Matcha, while the baking section will have culinary Matcha, which is a lower grade. Generally, the more expensive stuff is used for making tea, while the less expensive is used for cooking. Honestly, I’ve made tea out of culinary Matcha and it’s perfectly drinkable.
While it can seem pricey, Matcha is stronger than regular tea, so a little bit goes a long way. The flavor is sweeter than green tea, but if you use a lot, you may end up with a grassy taste.
To make a simple, nutritious and delicious Matcha tea, scoop 1 teaspoon of Matcha powder into a mug. Add 1/4 cup of hot water and stir until dissolved. Add 3/4 cup of unsweetened almond milk (or other non-dairy milk) and stir. Enjoy as-is, or stir in extras such as agave, honey or a drop of vanilla extract.