Feature: Nothing Can Match Matcha

12/07/2019 08:55:00 PM Media Center 0 Comments

From tea to desserts and dishes, matcha has been a great flavor to some people. It has a very strong flavor which can actually surprise you! It may be bitter, maybe sweet, or even just bittersweet.

Picture taken from: yogitea.com

Matcha (抹茶) is a finely-ground powder of green tea leaves. The leaves are shade-grown for three to four weeks before harvest. After, the powdered form of matcha will be made from tea leaves or tea bags, and can be made into liquid if you put either water or milk.

HISTORY OF MATCHA

It originated when China was ruled by dynasties. The Tang Dynasty of China steamed tea leaves to form tea bricks, making it easier for the Chinese to transport and trade them. The Song Dynasty, the dynasty after Tang, was then responsible for introducing this tea preparation to other countries. Eisai, a Japanese Buddhist monk, was one of the first to be introduced to this kind of tea preparation. Eiasi then introduced this to Kamakura Shogun in Kyoto and the tea was then called “Matcha”, which symbolizes the luxurious status of the Japanese.

PROS OF MATCHA

According to studies from Purechimp, matcha is healthy for your skin. In fact, it is full of antioxidants which gives you clear skin. It also helps to release all the free radicals that can destroy our skin cells and speed up aging.

In addition to this, drinking matcha tea can help you with losing weight. It is a great way to remove fats from your body. It is also a fact that if you drink four cups a day, it will help your body process fat by as much as 17%.

It will also help your brain by boosting your memory, making it function more properly.

CONS OF MATCHA

However, the reason why a lot of people don’t like matcha is because of its bitter taste. In addition to this, you should be careful with its caffeine! Matcha is high in caffeine which can lead to insomnia, loss of appetite, and irritation.

It can also increase stomach acid if you drink matcha without having any meals beforehand. It is recommended that if you drink matcha before having any milk, you should add milk or make it a latte to help with your stomach acid.

MATCHA DESSERTS

All over the world, several countries liked the taste of matcha. Because of this, matcha desserts have been famous and people crave for it more and more. Here are some samples of matcha desserts that you can try:

1. Matcha milk tea

Matcha milk tea became famous because students usually order this flavor. There are several types of matcha milk tea: matcha cream cheese milk tea, matcha milk tea frappe, and more. Most of these are topped with pearls or red beans.

2. Matcha cookies

Matcha cookies are one of the best desserts ever created. It is a cookie mixed with authentic matcha powder; once it’s baked, it’ll be crispy on the outside and chewy inside. It is best topped with white chocolate chunks.

3. Matcha cake

Matcha cake is a soft-baked dense green tea cake, depending on how the person will strengthen its flavor. It can either be sweet or not-that sweet, which can be eaten at any time of the day. It is best combined with whipped cream, cream cheese, or white chocolate.

SHOULD YOU REALLY TRY MATCHA?

Despite matcha being a bit bitter, eating it for a dessert will not disappoint you. You can buy matcha desserts at any milk tea shops, or at Tsujiri, or even in Bonchon! Even if matcha is being mixed with other ingredients, nothing can match the uniqueness of matcha. So for those who haven’t tried matcha, why not try it now? It’s never too late to give your mouth a unique taste. //by Alapaap Coquilla and Ned Pucyutan