When you think of a superfood you probably don’t think of any drinks, much less a delicious cup of matcha; however, when you drink matcha you are imbibing one of the best superfoods around. Matcha’s unique growing process is what sets it apart. Shading the green tea leaf during the growth period slows down and therefore enhances photosynthesis impacting the active compounds, including theanine, caffeine, chlorophyll, and various types of catechins. Another reason matcha is a powerhouse is that you consume the whole, ground green tea leaf, tencha, instead of simply steeping and removing the leaf from your cup. You will find matcha offers so much more of the life-giving, biologically active compounds below.
Theanine – Matcha is the best source of the amino acid L-theanine available (containing up to 5x the amount of other basic green tea.) The shading process enhances the production of L-theanine, preventing it from breaking down. This is why it is present at such high concentrations and when consumed, crosses the blood-brain barrier in seconds boosting one’s state of alertness and focus. L-theanine’s health benefits may include supporting healthy blood pressure levels, reducing stress and anxiety, providing improved sleep, and boosting immune support for tumor and cancer treatments. It also accounts for matcha’s sweet notes and boost of feel-good hormones, serotonin and dopamine.
Caffeine – Matcha offers a longer-lasting impact than coffee despite having 64 mg of caffeine per 1 tsp compared to 100 mg of caffeine in a cup of coffee. Where coffee gives a short burst of energy, 1-3 hours, matcha offers sustained, calm, focused energy without the jitters for 4-6 hours. The amino acid in l-theanine combined with the low caffeine of matcha yields an “alert calmness” that keeps you productive for longer.
Chlorophyll – The high chlorophyll concentration in matcha has a positive effect on immunity thanks to its high antioxidant content. Chlorophyll reduces inflammation in the body, boosting immunity, and may also impact energy. Some studies imply chlorophyll ingestion impacts the gut microbiome by developing more variety of good gut bacteria. It oxygenizes the blood, makes the blood alkaline, detoxifies and removes heavy metals, improves digestion, can have an anti-aging effect, may prevent certain types of cancer, and offers nutritional value. Matcha also has 5.8x the amount of chlorophyll as standard green tea.
Catechins – Most people have heard of polyphenols which are powerful antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties that have the potential to fight off harmful molecules. These harmful molecules damage cells and contribute to aging and disease. Catechins are under the flavonoid family, which is a subgroup of polyphenols. A study on matcha compared the catechin content with sencha (a common Japanese green tea) and found that it contained significantly higher levels of EGCG, one of the most abundant and potent catechins in green tea, compared to sencha. Many studies suggest that polyphenolic compounds in green tea are accountable for most physiological benefits including but not limited to antidiabetic, anti-aging, heart health, weight management, brain health, and cancer prevention. A study in the UK analyzed the effect of matcha on human breast cancer stem cells. This study showed matcha’s active ingredients block signaling pathways between cancer stem cells preventing the “re-fueling” of damaged cells and rendering them inactive. Cancer, be gone (if only it was that easy).
Experts agree that the benefits of matcha (and all tea) need to be studied further via large-scale, well-controlled human clinical trials. We can agree your health is a culmination of many factors that cannot be magically cured by one drink, unfortunately. Like all things in life, all matcha is not “created” equally. The exact difference in these compounds varies depending on factors such as growing conditions and processing methods. Despite that, we think you will agree indulging in a daily cup of premium Japanese matcha is an ideal choice for your mind, body, and spirit!