What the Matcha is it all about?

by Sue Bedford (MSc Nutritional Therapy)

Ever wondered what EXACTLY Matcha is? We did and thought we would ask Sue to give us the low down…..

Matcha tea is a type of Japanese green tea in a powdered form. It is made from fresh leaf tips which have a slightly bitter, vegetal flavour and a bright green colour due to the high chlorophyll content of the leaves. Matcha contains special types of plant flavonols called Catechins, of which the most abundant is Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG). Catechins contain antioxidants.

Why is it good for us?

Green tea is also known for being high in antioxidants, but matcha tea has even more. Recent research has shown that one cup of matcha has 100 times the antioxidants compared to green tea (and green has about double the levels found in black tea). Matcha also contains various compounds that are associated with improving health (it has been linked to helping to lower blood pressure and heart disease) reducing stress, weight loss and increasing alertness. The reason for this is that in other types of green tea, the leaves are steeped in hot water and then discarded. Matcha is made by whisking the powder into hot water or milk. As a consequence, when you drink the Matcha you are consuming a higher level of antioxidants as the leaves are not discarded.

In relation to fertility…..

Many factors can cause our bodies and eggs to age faster than the passage of time. In fact, studies of IVF patients have shown that chronological age and fertile age are not the same thing. That is, some lifestyle factors cause certain people (and their eggs) to age more quickly than others.

Sugar, stress, smoking, drinking too much alcohol, sleep deprivation, and inflammation-causing foods like synthetic seed oils and fad diets are all major contributors.

The powerful Catechins provided by Matcha reduces the production of free radicals and, as a result, helps to protect the DNA of our cells, including that of the egg and sperm cells (anti-ageing).

Matcha does contain some caffeine so include it in your daily recommended caffeine limits.

How to Make a Matcha Latte

This matcha latte recipe is incredibly simple to make. There are only three ingredients (matcha powder, water and milk). A matcha whisk is a good investment, but a tiny kitchen whisk or milk frother will work just as well. Here’s how it’s done:

• To begin, sift your matcha powder. Since it clumps easily and is difficult to whisk away, this move will ensure that your matcha latte is smooth, creamy, and lump-free.
• Place the matcha in a mug and cover it with thick, freshly boiled water. Whisk vigorously until all of the matcha green tea powder has dispersed fully.
• Pour the warmed milk of your choice over the foamy water and whisk again to froth the milk. If you prefer it a bit sweeter add a spoonful of runny honey! Enjoy!

You can buy Matcha powder in our fertility store here

Interesting reading:

Weiss DJ, Anderton CR. Determination of catechins in matcha green tea by micellar electrokinetic chromatography. J Chromatogr A. 2003 Sep 5;1011(1-2):173-80. doi: 10.1016/s0021-9673(03)01133-6. PMID: 14518774.