Posts in Matcha
Matcha and Brain Function

Matcha is a type of green tea powder that has been gaining immense popularity in recent years due to its variety of health benefits. This traditional tea has been consumed in Japan for centuries, but its popularity has seen an uprise in the West. Apart from numerous vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, one of the benefits of matcha are its effects on brain function.

The findings are very promising and suggest that regular consumption of Matcha can improve mental clarity, alertness, and concentration.

First, Matcha contains several compounds that can improve mental focus by increasing dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain. A study done by the National Institute of Health found that the natural caffeine in Matcha can also help to boost cognitive performance.

Caffeine helps to increase alertness and focus while calming the mind and preventing stress-induced distraction. The ample antioxidants in Matcha also help to protect the brain against toxic free radicals.

Second, the amount of Matcha consumed can directly impact the degree of improved brain function. Generally, it is recommended to start off with one gram per cup of hot tea or a scoop of Matcha powder. As your body adjusts to terms a higher dosage, you can monitor your body’s reaction and make adjustments accordingly.

Finally, there are long-term benefits to drinking Matcha as well. A study from the American Journal of Nutrition found that regular consumption of Matcha could lead to an improved memory and long-term brain health.

Additionally, the polyphenols in Matcha can help to prevent Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and other age-related degenerative brain illnesses.

In conclusion, there is evidence to support the use of Matcha to improve mental focus, focus, alertness and concentration. The key to gaining maximum benefits is to monitor your body's reaction to Matcha and consume it in moderation. With regular consumption, you can enjoy the long-term benefits of improved brain health.

Green Tea Mojito
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Summer is around the corner! Let’s make some refreshing drinks to quench our thirst. 

Here we made a delicious Green Tea Mojito (with Matcha Green Tea). Matcha adds a nice jammy taste and compliments the mints and lime very well. Below please find the recipe for a pitcher size Green Tea Mojito.

Ingredients:  

  • 1 tablespoon Matcha Green Tea
  • half cup white sugar. 
  • 2 handfuls fresh mint, or to taste.
  • 3-4 limes. 
  • 1 cup rum. If you prefer alcohol free, use coconut water instead.  
  • 36 oz. club soda.

Direction:

  • Put sugar and fresh mint into a pitcher. Muddle them until the mint leaves are broken down.
  • Quarter the limes and squeeze lime juice into pitcher. After being squeezed, add the lime pieces in pitcher and muddle them for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  • Add Matcha Green Tea into pitcher. 
  • Pour and stir rum into the mixture.
  • Add ice. 
  • Add club soda and stir until Matcha and sugar are well dissolved.

Enjoy!

Matcha Latte.
Matcha latte make using our Matcha Green. Click “here” to view product. 

Matcha latte make using our Matcha Green. Click “here” to view product. 

Matcha latte is fairly easy to make. Below are some basic steps to a nice cafe quality Matcha latte.

Steps:

  1. Put about 1/2 teaspoonmatcha in a mug or glass
  2. Add sweetener to taste
  3. Heat or steam the Milk or Soy Milk
  4. Add milk slowly while whisking/stirring the tea at the same time.
  5. Can also add whip cream on top and sprinkle some chocolate powder.

Enjoy!! 

Matcha Green Tea and Oatmeal

Want a delicious and healthy breakfast to start your day? This nutrient packed Matcha green tea and oatmeal breakfast should get you charged up for the day.

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Pictured above is a freshly made Matcha Oatmeal with almond milk, pine nuts, almond pieces and sweet red beans.  It is delicious, packed full of nutrients and energizing.

It is very easy to prepare. First, make an oatmeal like you normally would. We put in almond milk just because we like how it tastes. Alternatively, you can use regular milk, coconut milk  or rice milk.

Second, whisk 1 teaspoon of Matcha with 1-2 ounces of water to make a thick/dense matcha green tea and add it to the oatmeal. 

Finally, put some nuts, and/or fruits according to your preference. We like to use pine nuts , cut up almonds and sweet red beans.

Enjoy! 

 

 

Kenya Highlands Black Tea Matcha

Kenya’s highland is one of the best location for tea production. It has got the right altitude, optimum soil and climate conditions for tea growing.  

In recent years, Kenya has become a major producer in the tea trade. Tea farms in Kenya adapt very quickly to new trends and technologies. The black tea matcha is a fine example of what Kenya has to offer. The special tea leave are specifically selected for their tannin and antioxidants count. After the harvest, they are processed in small batches and craftily stone ground into fine powder. 

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This Kenya Highlands Matcha brews up a very well balanced tea that is smooth, malty, and slightly astringent. It couples with milk/cream very well. 

Black tea Matcha is super rich in antioxidants and fibers. It is less vegetal than green Matcha. For some who don’t like the grassiness of Green Matcha, this Kenya Highlands Black Tea Matcha is a nice alternative.

We highly encourage you to experiment with various quantities, water temperatures, and whisking time until you find the strength that‟s perfect for you. 

For more information please visit our tea info page. 

https://www.beantowntea.com/tea-info-2/

 

Japanes Tencha The Tea Base For Making Matcha
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So what is Tencha? Tencha is a unique kind of green tea from Japan. It is a green tea of the Gyokuro variety. In the past, it was used almost solely as a the base for Matcha. In short, Matcha is a finely ground version of Tencha.

Since Tencha is a Gyokuro variety, some would wonder what the differences are between Tencha and the famouse Gyokuro.

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Firstly, it is harvested a little differently than Gyokuro. tencha leaves plucking is “three leaves and a bud”, while the Gyokuro plucking is “two leaves and a bud” on a tea branch. In layman’s term, when compared, the Tencha making calls for leaves that are slightly older. This is necessary, because Tencha needs to have a fuller flavor in order to produce a good Matcha. 

Secondly, Tencha is flat, while the Gyokuro is rolled to needle like shape after the steaming processe. The reason for Tencha leaves being flat is that staying flat makes it easier to strip of the stems and veins. Stems and veins will bring bitterness and undesired flavor to Matcha. 

So who does it taste? The taste profile of Tencha is similar to Gyokuro. However, because the leaves are little bit older and stems are striped, Tencha has a fuller body and taste sweeter.

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Availabilty of Tencha is more limited due to the fact that it is produced mainly for Matcha production.  

If you are a fan of Japanese teas such as Gyokuro, Sencha and Matcha, you should definitely give Tencha a try.

How To Brew Matcha
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Traditional Matcha Brewing

  • Prepare tea bowls by warming them with boiled water.
  • Prepare your Matcha whisk by soaking the tip in the boiled water in one of the bowls for about 10 seconds.
  • Pour the water out and dry the bowl with a paper towel.
  • Using your tea spoon, according to taste, add 1-2 teaspoons of Matcha to each bowl.
  • Pour 1/3 of a cup of your hot water into each bowl.
  • In a slow "m' motion, submerge any loose bits of Matcha that may be floating on the surface of the tea.
  • Whisk the tea more briskly in a back and forth motion until the surface of the Matcha becomes frothy.
  • Consume immediately.
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Mondern/Simple Matcha Brewing

  • Add 1 teaspoon of Matcha to a bowl.
  • Put a few drops of hot water into bowl and use a whisk to whisk the Matcha into a paste.
  • Pour6 to 8 oz. ofhot water (160-180F) into bowl. Then in a slow "m' motion, submerge any loose bits of Matcha that may be floating on the surface of the tea.
  • Whisk the tea more briskly in a back and forth or circular motion until the surface of the Matcha becomes frothy.
  • Consume immediately.
Matcha The Super Food.
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Matcha is rich in antioxidants, fiber, amino acids, vitamins, carotenes and many other nutrients. It is delicious and nutritious. Add this superfood to your diet and enjoy all the great benefits. Matcha is  very versatile and easy to use. Whisk it up for enjoyment, mix it with drinks, smoothies, or shakes. Cook with it, baking with it, and just be creative with this wonderful ingridient. 

Add Matcha To Your Favorite Smoothie or Shake.
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Matcha is a big energy booster and is packed with nutrients such as antioxidants, fiber, amino acids and many more.

The easiest way to add Matcha to your diet is adding it your smoothies and shakes. 

For two 12 oz. servings of smoothies. We blended 4 bananas, 5 strawberries, 1 grapefruit, and 1 heaping teaspoon of Matcha green tea powder.

Below is a link to our products

 https://www.beantowntea.com/matcha-selection/

Enjoy!

Banana Matcha Green Tea Smoothie.

Matcha is not only an energy booster. It is also packed with nutrients such as antioxidants, amino acids, dietary fiber, carotene, and vitamins. Adding Matcha to your favorite smoothie is a delicious and easy way to introduce this superfood into our diet.

Our favorite smoothie is Banana Matcha smoothie. The recipe is very simple. It takes less than 5 minutes to make. It calls for a few basic ingredients. We use 2 bananas, 1 teaspoon of Matcha, half an orange, and half an avocado. Milk or yogurt is optional. Additionally, we can also add other fruits and veggies such berries, mango, celery, and so on. 

We also posted a video on the Banana Matcha Smoothie below. Enjoy!

 
 
How To Whisk Matcha

Many have asked the same question. How to froth up the Matcha? It is pretty simple. A good  whisk is the key here. Traditionally, a bamboo whisk is required for whisking. Nowadays, there are many gadgets we can used. In this video, we are doing a quick demonstration with a traditional bamboo whisk.

First, we put Matcha into a bowl. The amount of Matcha we put in is one teaspoon for 8 oz of water. The amount of Matcha is up to personal preference. For someone who is new to Matcha, we recommend using less to start.

Second, we slowly pour hot water into the bowl. Water should be at around 165 degrees Fahrenheit (75 degrees Celsius).

Third, we will start whisking slowly in a "M" motion to submerge the tea powder. Then speed up and whisk in a back and forth direction.

Forth, slow down once the tea is frothed up well and a layer of creamy foam appear.  

At the end, slowly whisk a few "M" or zigzag a few a few times. This is to reduce the big bubbles and creat a nice foam.

Enjoy! 

 

Matcha Samidori
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This is a bowl of whisked up Matcha using our  Matcha Samidori. It is rich, and creamy without anything added. Whisk it back and forth to froth it up and then at the end whisk it in M motion to eliminate the big bubbles. We will post a instruction video soon.