Do you know about matcha powder? Matcha is a form of green tea that has amazing health benefits. It has at least twice the nutritional value of green tea. We’re all looking for cleaner foods and beverages and matcha is definitely in that category. Today I want to share with you the facts about matcha green tea for detox.
Matcha green tea has become part of my daily regimen, a great replacement for coffee, and feels so healthy. You need to know about this amazing, healthy detoxer.
What Is Matcha?
Matcha is a traditional tea in Japan, often with elaborate tea ceremonies using traditional matcha tools. It is made from the Camellia sinensis plant, the same plant as many other teas like oolong, black, green, and white.
The difference is in the growing and processing of the leaves. Most tea for matcha is grown in three specific regions in Japan: Uji, Mishio, and Fukuoka. They have the perfect climate for growing premium tea.
While tea plants for other teas are grown completely in sunlight, matcha tea plants are shaded about 20-30 days before harvest which concentrates the nutrients and gives the leaves a bright green color. That’s when the magic happens.
Harvesting involves hand-picking the best leaves. Then the leaves are quickly dried, minimizing oxidation. The final step is grinding the leaves to a fine powder. Most tea leaves for other types of tea are bagged or left loose and steeped in hot water (diluting the nutrients).
With matcha, you drink the entire leaf, with all that concentrated goodness. – More about how to make matcha tea later.
Matcha Green Tea for Detox
Matcha green tea is loaded with antioxidants and vitamins and minerals. Carotene, vitamin K, vitamins C, B12, and B6, EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), lutein, magnesium, caffeine, and chlorophyll.
Main Nutrients in Matcha
You probably know about the amino acid L-theanine, found in green tea. It’s found in even higher amounts in matcha. It has a calming effect and helps you handle the increased caffeine in matcha, compared to coffee.
EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) is one of the most powerful antioxidants known. This polyphenol helps improve cognitive function. Antioxidants play a key role in preventing cancer.
Vitamin K and lutein also provide some protective properties for the brain and help with better memory and recall.
Magnesium is a critical mineral for our health. Magnesium is also a detox agent for the liver. Magnesium is a cofactor for over 300 enzymatic syntheses in the body. It’s that critical. Magnesium helps prevent headaches, migraines, anxiety, sleep issues, constipation, memory problems, fatigue, digestive issues, and more.
Chlorophyll Is the Magic Bullet:
Those are all power-packed nutrients, but the most important one for detoxification is chlorophyll. As you probably know from high school science classes, plants use chlorophyll to convert sunlight into energy. This energy does amazing things for the human body as well.
- Liver Cleanse – Chlorophyll increases certain enzymes in the liver, making it healthier so it can flush out even more toxins in the body. Many experts like Dr. Axe and Dr. Mandell, among others, have commented that chlorophyll cleanses the liver and can help with fatty liver disease and even prevent some liver cancers.
- Deodorizes the Body – Chlorophyll is a natural deodorant for the organs and it even helps with bad breath and body odor. This is a sign it is cleansing the body and helping to eliminate bacteria.
- Wound Healing – Chlorophyll helps wounds heal faster by decreasing inflammation and reducing bacteria, helping prevent infection.
- Improved Digestion – Another way chlorophyll helps with detoxing is speeding up the digestive process, helping eliminate waste faster and balancing fluids. This reduces constipation a great deal, which as we all know, will help with our detox. Also, chlorophyll is shown to reduce feelings of hunger so we feel satisfied with less food. It also increases metabolism making weight loss a lot easier.
- Skin Improvements – As a skin protector, chlorophyll is an anti-viral and can help reduce outbreaks from herpes simplex and even help reduce painful lesions with shingles. It is also shown to help prevent skin cancer, and if in a lotion, it can help prevent recurrence of skin cancers. Wow!
There are lots of healthy nutrients in matcha green tea but chlorophyll is probably the strongest for detox. Watch the video below for even more info about Matcha…
Matcha Vidoe with Mei Leaf
Grades of Matcha
- Ceremonial or Premium grade: This is the highest grade. Usually it is the first pick of the harvest with brighter green leaves than others. It has a distinct taste that isn’t bitter.
- Usucha or thin-tea: This is nearly as premium as Ceremonial grade but may be 2nd harvest or later. Not quite as bright green but still has some great nutritional qualities.
- Culinary grade: Culinary grade is meant for using in other food dishes like smoothies, cakes, cookies, and other recipes. It is lower cost but still okay for drinking if you don’t mind more tannins (more bitter).
How To Make Matcha
There are a few tools used in making matcha. But you don’t have to spend a lot to get them. And you can improvise with a whisk and measuring spoon when you’re starting out. But the authentic tools do enhance the whole experience of preparing matcha.
Inexpensive starter set at Amazon
How to make a ceremonial cup:
Pour some hot water (not quite boiling, but steaming) into a bowl (or cup) to heat it up. Empty the water and dry the bowl. Use two bamboo scoops (or 1/2 – 3/4 teaspoon) of powdered tea and add to the bowl. You can sift it into the bowl to remove any clumps but it isn’t completely necessary.
Add two to three ounces of hot water, same as above, to the matcha powder. Slowly move the whisk back and forth to start mixing it together. Then use faster back and forth strokes. Whisk until a froth appears on the top. Sip and savor slowly.
How to make a matcha latte:
There are two steps to making a matcha latte. First warm some milk, preferably non-dairy milk like oat milk. You can add some honey to the milk while warming it as a sweetener.
Then make a concentrated paste of sifted matcha powder and one-ounce hot water (not boiling, but steaming). Whisk until an even consistency. Poor into the warmed milk and honey mixture. Gently whisk. Yum!
Where To Get Matcha:
I found Vitacost has a great selection of matcha at great prices and quality.
Tenzo Tea has high-quality Ceremonial Matcha:
Tenzo Matcha Trial KitAmazon has a great selection as well. Here are a few to get you started:
Final Thoughts on Matcha Green Tea for Detox
If you’re looking for a beverage you can drink every day to help detox on a daily basis, matcha tea might be your answer. I love coffee but it was starting to upset my stomach with all the acid. Now I only drink organic coffee and start my day with Matcha most days and then organic coffee mid-morning.
Matcha has been a great addition to my health routine and I truly feel a lot healthier drinking it. I can tell you that you will too. Give matcha green tea a try today and let me know how you feel.
Thank you for reading today. I hope you enjoyed learning about matcha green tea for detox.
If you have any comments or questions, please leave them in the Comments section below. I’d love to hear from you. Thank you!
