About Green Teas and Matcha Green Tea
Green Tea
Green tea is the virgin of tea manufacturing, the least processed, the freshest, and the youngest.
Low in caffeine, high in antioxidants, rich in vitamins B and C, this grassy tea boasts a whole cocktail of health-giving constituents. The health benefits of this incredible plant, Camellia Sinensis, are the subject of a great number of medical studies.
Green teas, (for centuries the beverage of choice in Asia), are rapidly gaining popularity in the western world. It’s natural aroma and widely acclaimed health benefits make green tea appealing to both the tea lover and previously non-tea drinker. Due to our own personal appreciation for green teas we are striving to offer an ever-growing selection of very rare varieties of green teas in many forms, including many Michigan-grown ingredients in our blends. The aroma of these teas surpasses even the best black teas in subtlety and complexity.
When preparing green tea, it is important to use water below the boiling point and to carefully observe the recommended infusion time to avoid bitterness. We recommend, at least initially, following the brewing instructions we provide with each tea. True tea quality is always judged in the cup~ so, at the end of the day, the best answer to specific steeping inquiries inevitably requires modification to your specific taste preference. It is your cup of tea, so enjoy it as you see fit! (More info. below picture…please read on~)
The production of Green Tea
The intent during the production of green tea is to preserve the healthy, natural and active substances of the fresh leaves so they may be released into the cup at the time of infusion.
After plucking, the green leaves are spread out in the on withering troughs to dry out. Once they have become soft and pliable, they are traditionally fired in woks or ovens (to keep their green color, prevent oxidation,) or rolled, twisted or balled into a desired shape and then repeat firing is completed, to prevent the leaves from oxidizing as it occurs during the production of black tea, and to dehydrate them for proper preservation.
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Matcha Powder Information
Matcha is the oldest variety of shade grown Japanese green Tea. It has been ground into a fine powder, and has been part of Zen Buddhist culture for over 800 years. Unlike regular Teas where the most nutritious Tea leaves are thrown away along with the Tea bag after infusion, Matcha green Tea is mixed with water and consumed entirely. Thus, by virtue of “eating” the Tea leaves (solubles and insolubles) rather than just drinking the water from it, one consumes 10 to 15 times the nutrients found in regular green Teas.
“What is an O.R.A.C unit?”
Matcha green tea contains the highest concentration of antioxidants compared to all natural fruits and vegetables known thus far. The oxygen radical absorption capacity (O.R.A.C) test is a scientifically controlled set of experiments developed by the United States department of agriculture (USDA) and Tufts University to assess the antioxidant potency of foods and beverages. The results of the ORAC test helps to standardize, quantify, and objectively compare different foods and beverages for their antioxidant potency.
Results for the latest O.R.A.C tests have shown that Matcha ceremonial grade green tea contains 1384 O.R.A.C units per gram. When compared to other antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables, as published by the Agricultural Research Service, the in-house research arm of the USDA, Matcha clearly stands out above the rest!
Top antioxidant foods O.R.A.C units per gram (umoleTE/g:) *
| Light of Day Organics’ shade-grown Japanese Matcha green tea | 1384.00 |
| Prunes | 57.70 |
| Raisins | 28.30 |
| Blueberries | 24.00 |
| Blackberries | 20.36 |
| Kale | 17.70 |
| Strawberries | 15.40 |
| Spinach | 12.60 |
| Raspberries | 12.20 |
| Brussels sprouts | 9.80 |
| Plums | 9.49 |
| Alfalfa sprouts | 9.30 |
| Broccoli florets | 8.90 |
| Beets | 8.40 |
| Oranges | 7.50 |
| Red grapes | 7.39 |
| Red bell peppers | 7.10 |
| Cherries | 6.70 |
| Onions | 4.50 |
| Corn | 4.00 |
| Eggplants | 3.90 |
*Agricultural Research Service: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/fnrb/fnrb499.htm – studies published in the Journal of Nutrition (vol. 128, pp. 2383-2390) and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (vol. 68, pp. 1081-1087); 2 ORAC Analysis on Ceremonial Matcha Green Tea ME17916 Lot#D1805: Brunswick
| In summary, Matcha green tea contains over 10 to 15 times the overall nutrients when compared to traditional Green, White, Black, Rooibos, and Yerba Mate Teas, as well as when compared to popular fruits and vegetables. |
Matcha green Tea is, in our opinion, the healthiest natural beverage known to mankind thus far!
Find out what Wikipedia has to say about Matcha:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matcha#Traditional_preparation_of_matcha
Some of our favorite ways to enjoy our daily Matcha…
IN A BLENDER: 1 Cup Pineapple Juice, 1 Cup Coconut Milk, 1 Banana, and 1/2 tsp.Matcha powder – blend and enjoy right away.
WITH FOOD: Sprinkle on top of your cooled oatmeal or applesauce.
IN A BOWL: Add 6 oz. hot water to a bowl, then whisk in one teaspoon of local raw honey and 2 tablespoons of Almond Milk. Whisk in 1/2 tsp. Matcha powder and enjoy reverently…ceremonial-style.
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