Matcha can easily become an integral part of your daily routine. The sense of calm and focus it brings, coupled with sustained energy, is easy to appreciate. Of course, the extraordinary...
Matcha can easily become an integral part of your daily routine.
The sense of calm and focus it brings, coupled with sustained energy, is easy to appreciate. Of course, the extraordinary nutritional and health benefits from consuming matcha don't hurt either. For instance, matcha can help reduce stress , combat inflammation, speed up your metabolism, support healthy skin from the inside out, and so much more!
Matcha's popularity continues to grow, but it's important to remember that not all matcha is created equal.
This is especially important to keep in mind if you are consuming matcha daily or several times per week.
In today's blog, we wanted to share a few things to consider when choosing your matcha.
FIRST OFF…
WHAT IS MATCHA?
Matcha is pure green tea leaves, specially grown and stone-ground into a fine green powder. When you brew a cup of matcha, you whisk the entire leaves into your drink and consume all of it, unlike traditional green tea where you simply steep the leaves in water. This means matcha is a concentrated form of green tea, and it’s said that high-quality (ceremonial grade) matcha has up to 10x the nutrients of regular green tea.
Things to consider when choosing your matcha
1. MATCHA GRADE
Did you know there are different grades of matcha? The two main categories are culinary and ceremonial. Culinary matcha has 5 subcategories, and as you can imagine, is generally prepared for baking and cooking, being more affordable than ceremonial grade matcha.
Culinary grade matcha is great for baking and using high temperatures, such as in making desserts. However, high temperatures destroy most of the nutrients in the matcha. The flavor will still be matcha, but you won't get the increased nutritional value of ceremonial grade matcha.
Ceremonial grade matcha is the highest quality matcha, suitable for traditional tea ceremonies. It has a much smoother, less bitter taste than culinary grade matcha. Matcha Ninja is a ceremonial grade first flush matcha. First flush leaves are known to be the most prized and nutrient-rich, so we only use these to produce our matcha. This is one reason Matcha Ninja is so delicious, as these leaves tend to be naturally sweeter in taste.
When it comes to buying matcha, consider what you'll primarily be using it for—primarily as a drink or primarily for baking—and go from there.
2. WHERE IT'S GROWN + IF IT'S CONTAMINANT-FREE
Where and how your matcha is grown is critical. The tea plant, called Camilia sinsnus, is like a sponge and intensely absorbs everything in its surrounding environment. Since you consume the entire leaf with matcha, it's essential to pay attention to quality. Ideally, your matcha should be grown in an unspoiled environment away from pollution on a certified organic farm.
Matcha Ninja was originally grown in Yame, Japan. However, due to concerns expressed by us and our consumers—namely, potential radioactive contamination of tea leaves due to the Fukushima disaster—Matcha Ninja is now grown at a beautiful, high-altitude organic plantation in Zhejiang, China. Since each batch of matcha we produce is tested by independent labs, you can be confident that you're consuming a pesticide-free, heavy metal-free, and radiation-free product when you drink Matcha Ninja.
Make sure your matcha is organic and third-party tested for radiation, heavy metals, and pesticides.
3. PRODUCT PURITY
When buying matcha, make sure to read the label and check the ingredients. Many matcha companies (especially those that make instant mixes) add cornstarch or other fibers to prevent matcha from clumping. Other companies may even add powdered milk and sweetener; these are often used to make matcha lattes at many coffee shops.
Matcha Ninja has no non-organic ingredients. It is made exclusively of 100% pure ceremonial grade matcha powder.
Matcha is a food with extraordinary beneficial properties; to make the most of them, it is advisable to follow the suggestions we shared today.
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