matcha powder versus green tea

Matcha Or Green Tea? How do they compare?

Matcha and Green tea both start from the same plant - Camellia Sinensis - but the end result is not the same. The difference lies in how the plant is grown, harvested, processed and consumed. Because of these differences, Matcha and Green Tea have different nutritional benefits, flavour profiles and should be enjoyed differently 🙂

Let's firstly discuss how the plant is grown. Matcha is grown from shaded tea leaves which boosts the amino acid content and chlorophyll, which is what gives matcha a deep green colour. The Matcha leaves are shaded for about 3 weeks before they are picked. Green tea on the other hand is grown in direct sunlight and during this process, oxidation starts to occur, resulting is a leaf with less amino acids and chlorophyll. 

Next, how the plant is harvested also differs between Matcha and Green tea. Matcha comes from the young baby leaves of the plant, usually found at the top of the plant. The stems and veins are removed to make Matcha. Green Tea on the other hand usually comes from older mature tea leaves and includes the stems and shoots when picked. 

The processing of the tea leaves also differ. Both Matcha and Green Tea are steamed then dried after being picked, which helps to stop the oxidation process. (This is what separates a green tea to other teas, like black tea).  At this point, Matcha has the stems and veins removed, leaving only the leaf, which is the stone ground into a powder. This means when you are drinking Matcha, you are consuming the entire leaf. Green tea on the other hand is not stone ground after it is dried. 

Lastly, consumption differs between Matcha and Green Tea. Green Tea is consumed by steeping the tea leaves into hot water. The flavour is generally quite mild and grassy. Matcha is consumed differently by whisking the green matcha powder into water, making a fragrant, earthy drink. As you are consuming the entire leaf, you consume all the nutrition the leaf has to offer. This means higher levels of:

  • Antioxidants - ECGC being a main catechin found in matcha,
  • Caffeine - a healthy slow release dose
  • Amino acids - L-theanine which assists with managing stress and promotes alertness
  • Nutritional Compounds - these include all your vitamins, minerals & more!

When it comes to a daily drink, Matcha has more to offer! As part of your daily ritual, you'll be feeding your body and mind the nutrition it needs to be at its optimal 😍

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