What if I told you that matcha uses half the caffeine of coffee to give you as much energy for twice as long, with less jitters.

Sound too good to be true? The secret is in the whisk. Read on and learn why matcha tea I such a win-win-win.

Our readers have been asking about the caffeine content of matcha green tea as opposed to regular tea. The simple answer is that matcha has just as much, if not more, caffeine than regular tea does. However, the preparation and brewing method of matcha makes a positive difference in the overall effect of caffeine on your body.

It is true that because matcha is made from crushed whole tea leaves, the caffeine content is somewhat higher than that of bagged tea. In fact, the caffeine level of matcha can actually equal half the level of a black cup of coffee.

Keep in mind, caffeine isn’t bad for you in moderate amounts. It’s a mild stimulant that naturally occurs in a variety of plants, beans, fruits and nuts. Humans have been consuming caffeine for hundreds of years, in pursuit of the chemical’s energizing effects. Another plus: it’s not stored in the body after consumption (hence the well-known diuretic effect of coffee and tea).

As we all know, drinking too much coffee or black tea results in the jitters. Steeping tea leaves releases the caffeine directly into the water causing it to be absorbed all by the body all at once. This causes the 3-4 hour energy spike you experience after drinking a strong cup of coffee.

Matcha green tea is prepared as a powder and whisked into hot water, a method which releases the caffeine into the body continuously over 6-8 hours. Swapping regular tea or coffee for matcha green tea will result in sustained energy and increased focus without giving you the shakes or a caffeine crash later in the day.

There are tons of other great benefits to consuming matcha green tea, like its potential to reduce the risk of cancer, soothe the skin, and promote overall well-being. Anyone who is extra sensitive to the effects of caffeine should still limit their matcha intake, but the general effect of matcha will be better and better for you than regular tea, and certainly better than coffee.

Ah, but I do love my macchiato at Intelligentsia Venice …

Share on Facebook

Some of our readers have asked us to explain the antioxidant levels in matcha powder green tea as oppose to leaf green tea. As always, we’re happy to oblige.

(And by the way, keep the comments coming!)

A majority the health benefits you enjoy from drinking green are due to the high level of antioxidants present in the plant. Epicgallocatechin gallate (EGCg) is a potent cancer-busting antioxidant that is only found in green tea. However, there is definitely a difference between the level of EGCg found in matcha versus in leaf tea.

A 2003 study conducted at the University of Colorado found that matcha green tea had nearly 200 times the amount of EGCg than a common brand of leaf green tea.

Why such a radical disparity? It’s due entirely to the way matcha is prepared.

Traditional matcha is prepared by whisking powdered tea into hot water. The powder itself is a more highly concentrated (and we think more delicious) version of leaf green tea, so it makes sense that it contains more of the antioxidant properties of the plant.

Or does it?

There are challenges to this assumption that simply because matcha is prepared as a powder it naturally contains more antioxidants. Several sources have challenged the 2003 study by criticizing the relatively low grade the leaf tea as compared to the high quality of the matcha used for the experiment.

A 2007 USDA report establishes the antioxidant levels of nearly 400 foods. The report found that 1 single gram of green tea brewed in 100 millimeters of water contains an average of 127 milligrams of antioxidants. The article compares this to the number offered by a large  Japanese producer of matcha green tea powder (1 gram of powder contains 119 milligrams of antioxidants) and concludes that there really is no significant difference.

As there is currently no study underway that is testing high grade matcha powder with super high quality leaf tea, it’s up to you to draw your own conclusions. The only thing we know for sure is that green tea in all its forms is good for you and should be sipped on a regular basis. We drink matcha because we love the taste and color, but if you prefer using tea bags or whole leaves – go for it!

If you’ve heard of such studies, please let us know in the comments.

Share on Facebook

The antioxidants in green tea are known to prevent cancer and promote good heart health, but a study has just been published that shows that green tea has the potential to heal eye ailments, like glaucoma.

According to the LA Times Booster Shots blog (Study: Green tea could heal glaucoma), researchers in Hong Kong have found that the healthy compounds in green tea called catechins are absorbed readily by the eye as by other parts of the body. The highest concentration of catechins were found in the retina. While this study was conducted on mice, further research will be needed to determine the exact amount of green tea needed to boost eye health in humans.

The science is in its earliest stages, but it seems quite likely that the eye can benefit just as much from green tea as your body can overall.

Share on Facebook

States all over the country are cracking down on smoking. A huge number of private establishments and public places are now thankfully smoke-free zones, which is great news for everyone concerned about the hazards of second-hand smoke. However, there’s still a risk of lung cancer due to carcinogens in the air, whether or not you’ve got a smoking habit.

One way to mitigate this risk? Drinking green tea.

You probably already know that green tea is packed full of the cancer-busting antioxidant EGCG. Recent studies in China and Arizona show that drinking green tea can prove effective in reducing the risk of lung cancer, especially if you don’t smoke.

A study conducted at Chung Shan Medical University showed that individuals who do not drink green tea are 5 times more likely to develop lung cancer than individuals who do imbibe the super-healthy drink. Researchers came to the conclusion that one reason lung cancer rates are low in Japan is due to the popularity of green tea.

Another study done by researchers at the University of Arizona also found that green tea reduced the appearance of urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine–a hallmark of DNA damage–in heavy smokers by 25%. Green tea was also shown to assist the liver in detoxifying the carcinogens caused by cigarette smoke.

Despite all this great news, the fact remains: If you’re a smoker, the absolute best thing you can do for your health is to quit. Now. Replace your daily smoke break with a tea break instead. Stop putting poison into your body and start healing it with the power of green tea.

(Photo by challiyan)

Share on Facebook

Tea Geek is an online community dedicated to providing information and high-quality tea products to tea lovers everywhere. This members-only site was started by Michael J. Coffey, a knowledgeable professional with many years in the tea industry.

The site includes a blog, a wiki, and an online store. Anyone who has a passion for tea of all-kinds should definitely check it out.

Although you don’t have to be a member to purchase tea or read the Tea Geek blog, purchasing a membership has great benefits. You automatically receive a 15% discount on purchases from the Tea Geek store and free samples of the newest high-grade tea leaves every quarter. Plus you’ll gain access to the Tea Geek wiki, which is a terrific resource for tea aficionados, as well as quarterly reports on tea history, tea events, breaking news, science, and research.

Even if you don’t want to purchase a membership, the Tea Geek blog is essential reading for the latest news in tea. Recent posts have covered a wide variety of tea-related topics, such as the differences in regional tea growing methods and ways in which the shape of the brewing vessel impacts the flavor of the tea. The blog is well-written and engaging even when dealing with dryer topics.

Get a taste of Tea Geek’s expertise by signing up for the newsletter. Head over to www.teageek.net for more information.

And follow Michael on Twitter at http://twitter.com/michaeljcoffey

Share on Facebook

A commenter requested links to studies we’ve referenced regarding green tea’s power to protect the skin from a multitude of irritants, especially the sun. First of all, thanks for the inquiry. Secondly, we’re happy to oblige!

There have been many studies conducted on the various benefits of consuming green tea. Here are three studies that focused exclusively on the dermatological effects of green tea.

A pertinent study of the dermatological benefits of green tea was conducted in 2000 by Santosh K. Katiyar, Ph.D., Nihal Ahmad, Ph.D., and Hasan Mukhtar, Ph.D., of the Department of Dermatology at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio. The researchers’ goal was to test the polyphenolic compounds in green tea for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-carcinogenic properties.

(Remember EGCG from our earlier post, “Why is Green Tea Good For You?“)

The results of their study were published in the Archives of Dermatology, a monthly medical journal published by the American Medical Association, in an article entitled Green Tea and Skin (http://archderm.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/136/8/989).

So what was their conclusion?

Basically, researchers found that the polyphenols in green tea did indeed possess anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties. They also found that these same polyphenols protected the skin from both chemical and photocarcinogens (such as the UVA rays in sunlight). Pretty cool!

Other studies have been conducted on the skin-soothing properties of EGCG, the primary catechin found in green tea. Researchers at Rutgers University studied mice that had been exposed to harmful UVB light for 20 weeks and treated with topical ECGC. They determined that ECGC decreased the development of malignant tumors in the mice skin by 66%. The study was published by the National Academy of Sciences in 2002 You can read an abstract at JSTOR (http://www.jstor.org/pss/3073236)

A 2003 study conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham backs up the conclusions of the Rutgers researchers and suggests that a topical cream based on green tea polyphenols could be effective in preventing skin disorders in humans. The results were published in the Carcinogenesis Journal, with an abstract available for reading here (http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/24/5/927).

Hope this info was helpful!

Share on Facebook

So, we wrote recently about how you can use matcha green tea powder to create an amazing homemade facial. Well, our Twitter friend @jamie_montreal was brave enough to try it. She shared the following:

I was reasonably attractive, then I took advice from @MachoMatcha – now I’m stunning ;-)

and

my skin is now baby soft, thanks to @machomatcha

Her twitpic (used with her permission: thanks Jamie!):

Follow her at http://www.Twitter.com/jamie_montreal. She describes herself as “All about geekdom, tattoos and tea, and always looking for a new adventure.”

Share on Facebook

Tea-Sommelier Christine Savage from Samovar Tea Lounge as we discuss “tea basics.” What is Tea? How to determine quality tea. How to brew tea. Very informative. 

http://samovarlife.com/

Share on Facebook

OK, we’re branching out from the Tough Guy Routine.

Matcha green tea isn’t just for drinking. Although the finely ground powder is meant to be whisked into a frothy cup of tea, you can actually use it for a whole host of things.  One really cool way of using matcha is using it as the key ingredient in a homemade facial.

All the cancer-busting compounds present in the finely-ground green powder are just as effective if you use matcha in a facial or cleanser instead of in a tea.

In fact, applying matcha directly to your skin will concentrate the antioxidants, with their fabulous anti-aging properties, right where you want them: on your face.

Green tea is proven to reduce inflammation, soothe agitation, promote even skin tone, and even provide protection from sun damage. It’s great for sensitive skin as it lacks harsh irritants and all the antioxidants combat the signs of aging caused by free-radicals.

You could always purchase a tube of professional matcha cleanser from the beauty supply, but it’ll cost you upwards of $40. Why not spend that money on some high quality matcha powder that you can use to make a cleanser in your very own home?  It’s super-easy to do, and you’ll have more powder left over for a relaxing cup of tea after

How-To Make a Matcha Green Tea Facial

To make a matcha facial, simply mix 1/2 teaspoon matcha with 1/2 teaspoon warm water (you can vary the amount based on your preferred consistency). This will form a smooth paste that you can apply directly to your face.

Let it dry for about 10 minutes and then wash it off. Your skin will feel very smooth, soft, and bright thanks to the antioxidants in the green tea. You can also add other ingredients to the facial or cleanser – try yogurt, honey, rose water, or mint extract.

Experiment until you find the combination that works best for you and your skin.

Share on Facebook

Here are a few more sites that we’ve found.

Japanese Green Tea (http://www.japanesegreenteaonline.com/) – This awesome website has a wide range of organic matcha teas, with varieties from specific regions in Japan. They also sell inexpensive matcha tea sets that you can use at home to evoke a traditional Japanese matcha tea ceremony.

Teanobi (http://www.teanobi.com/) – A huge selection of matcha green tea products, each one geared for a different use. If you want to make ice cream, cake, or even a cocktail with matcha, Teanobi has a tea specifically made for your needs. The range of tastes and textures in their catalog is well researched and impressive.

O-Cha.com (http://www.o-cha.com/) – An essential stop for the true matcha lover, O-Cha sells and ships high quality matcha green tea directly from Japan. High standards guarantee authenticity and freshness for customers. Many providers of matcha for O-Cha have been in the green tea business for over 100 years!

Matcha Source (http://www.matchasource.com) – You can order matcha green tea, along with accessories like a bamboo whisk (used by the Japanese to create a smooth, creamy consistency). There are several different kinds of matcha available for purchase, most of them imported from Japan.

Share on Facebook