The Inside Dish

published by asingh on Tue, 03/06/2012 - 23:05

A matcha made in heaven

By Natasha Chudyk

Special to The Post

What type of tea is so rich in anti-oxidants that one cup is equivalent to drinking ten glasses of green tea?

Hint: it is also a hundred times stronger than Vitamin C, is rich in theanine, and is the most popular tea in Japan.

Matcha tea was once reserved only for Asian royalty, but today can be accessed by us commoners in just about any North American coffee shop and specialty tea store.

Grown in Japan, matcha comes from only the highest leaves atop the tea plant. The delicate leaves are dried in the shade and then finely ground into a glowing neon green powder, producing a sweet and marine-like flavour.

What sets matcha apart from other teas is that it is made using the entire leaf; therefore, one gets the full benefit of all the nutrients and vitamins.

From those leaves come an elixir that promotes relaxation and calmness of the mind, along with countless other health benefits such as reducing cholesterol, boosting metabolism and having strong antibacterial effects that strengthen the immune system.

When shopping for your own matcha, look for the brightest green powder. This indicates highest quality. Evidence of brown and golden coloured matcha reveals that it has become oxidized and has lost much of its nutritional benefit and flavour.

To view Natasha’s blog go to www.vinevie.com or tweet @VineVie.

Natasha’s Choice:

Matcha Latte $4.45 Matcha Cake $3 – Yui Green Tea House 1538 W 2nd Ave, Vancouver

Superior Matcha Tin 30g tin $29 – Teaopia (various locations across Lower Mainland)