Matcha Green Tea Smoothie Bowl

If you’re a foodie like myself and follow along with all of the latest food trends, I’m sure you’ve heard of matcha by now. And if you haven’t, well, it’s time you jump on the matcha bandwagon, because this is one trend you don’t want to miss out on!

For all of you who have never heard of matcha, keep reading on, because I’m about to give you the rundown on all things matcha!

So what exactly is matcha?
Matcha is a unique type of green tea powder that’s different from other green teas because it comes specifically from Japan. Like you would guess from its name, it’s meant to be a drink , but since matcha is a powder, it can also be used in recipes such as cookies, energy balls, and smoothies, to name a few.

What makes it different from other green teas?
What makes matcha so distinct from other green teas is the way in which it’s made. Matcha is made by taking tea leaves and grinding them into a bright green powder, and then powder is then whisked with hot water to form a drink. Regular green teas, on the other hand, are made by infusing the leaves in water and then removing them before drinking. So basically, the difference is that with matcha, you’re drinking the whole tea leaf (just ground up), whereas with regular green tea, you’re just steeping the tea leaves in hot water to get the flavor out of the leaves.

Is matcha more nutritious than regular green tea?
In a sense, yes. Since matcha is made by grinding up the whole tea leaf into a fine powder, you’re getting all of the nutritional benefits from the tea leaf when you drink it. But with regular green tea, you boil (or steep) the tea leaves in hot water and then throw them away, meaning you’re basically throwing away all of the nutrients!

What are the health benefits of matcha?
There are actually quite a few nutritional benefits to matcha, which is probably why it’s taken off in the last year and gained so much popularity. I could go on and on about all of the benefits matcha has to offer, but to keep things simple, I’ve narrowed it down to only a few:

• It’s a natural source of caffeine: One cup of matcha green tea contains roughly 32 grams of caffeine, which is equal to about one half of a cup of coffee. However, while coffee often leaves people feeling jittery, matcha leaves people feeling calm and relaxed.
• You’re less likely to have an “afternoon crash”: Matcha provides a much less jittery and much more sustained burst of energy than coffee, meaning you’ll have energy throughout the whole day as opposed to having an afternoon “crash” when the coffee wears off. This is because matcha contains the amino acid L-theanine, which slows down the body’s absorption of caffeine and makes it available throughout the whole day. Another benefit to this is that you’ll have better focus and concentration throughout the whole day!
• Contains an amino acid called L-theanine: Aside from slowing down the absorption of caffeine to make sure your body has energy throughout the whole day, L-theanine also boosts your memory, concentration, and focus. This amino acid is responsible for producing dopamine and serotonin, which help improve your mood, your memory, and your ability to concentrate on tasks. In addition, it stimulates alpha brain waves to further improve focus and concentration.
• It’s extremely high in antioxidants: In simple terms, antioxidants are molecules that protect the body from damage caused by free radicals (products from when our bodies metabolize nutrients). Basically, we want antioxidants present in our bodies because they protect us from damage that can cause disease, infection, or aging. You may know that foods such as green tea, blueberries, and goji berries are all high in antioxidants, but matcha contains 10x more antioxidants than green tea, 16x more than blueberries, and 150x more antioxidants than spinach! In fact, matcha is one of the best sources of antioxidants in the world!
• Very high in catechins: We now know that antioxidants are extremely important for our bodies, but here’s another fun fact: catechins are considered to be the most important type of antioxidant. When consumed regularly, catechins have been found to lower the risk of heart disease, Alzheimers disease, memory issues, and certain cancers, to name a few. And good news! Matcha contains very high levels of these beneficial catechins!
• Builds up your immune system: Matcha contains high levels of vitamins C and A, potassium, and calcium, all of which help your immune system become stronger and help you fight off nasty colds or viruses. But on top of strengthening your immune system, these vitamins and minerals have several other health benefits, such as stronger bones, better heart function, better eyesight, and healthier skin, to name a few.

As you can see from above, matcha has several different benefits to it. In fact, there are way more benefits than the ones I listed above, so I definitely recommend trying it if you get the chance! Personally, I love making hot matcha lattes (matcha powder + warmed almond milk + a sprinkle of cinnamon and vanilla extract), but you can also pour it over ice and drink it cold, add it to smoothies, or bake desserts with it.

If you’re new to matcha, I recommend playing around with it a bit until you find a way where you’ll enjoy it! Some people love just adding a teaspoon or so of matcha to a mug and then pouring hot water over it, but for some people that doesn’t cut it. If that’s you, try adding some cinnamon or vanilla for flavor, use almond milk or coconut milk instead of water, or add a bit of sweetener (like honey) if you need. You can also add it to oatmeal, smoothies, and baked goods, so definitely experiment with it and see how you like it best. Because with all of its health benefits, matcha green tea is just too good to pass up!

This matcha smoothie is not only a beautiful color, but it’s also super thick, creamy, and delicious!

After you make it, top it with all your favorite ingredients for a bit of crunch (and for better digestion!), grab a spoon, and dig in!!