According to The Toronto Star, mushrooms, matcha, and . . . cheese foam(?) are the biggest food trends of 2018. While we’re not too sure about that last one, we’re especially excited that matcha made the list.
We’ve written about matcha before, but only in contrast to its pseudo-homonym maca. Since it’s bound to become one of our most-requested items this year, it’s about time we gave it a showcase all its own.
What is it?
Matcha is a powdered green tea. Instead of steeping and discarding it, you whisk and consume this form of green tea. As a result, you end up getting a lot more of the good stuff than you would with a standard cup of tea.
What makes it so good?
Matcha has all of the benefits of green tea, but in higher concentrations. Because you’re actually consuming the powdered leaf, not just an infusion, you’re getting 10 to 15 times the nutrients. It has:
- Antioxidants – including EGCg (an anti-cancer polyphenol)
- L-Theanine – an amino acid that promotes relaxation
- Vitamin C, Selenium, Chromium, Zinc, and Magnesium
- Fibre and Chlorophyll
In addition, matcha can be useful for balancing your blood sugar. Who’d have thought that something that tastes so good would be so good for you?
How do I use it?
Because matcha is in powder form, it can be incorporated almost anywhere you’d use other powdered foodstuffs: stirred into cereals, blended into smoothies, mashed into ice cream, or as a tea (obviously).
Last St. Patrick’s Day, we even created a great pudding recipe using matcha. However you incorporate it, try to get it in earlier in the day, as matcha does have quite a bit of caffeine.
If you’re using it at breakfast, here’s one of my favorite smoothie recipes using matcha:
Blueberry Matcha Smoothie
Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk of choice (I usually use coconut milk)
- 1 banana
- 1/2 to 1 cup frozen blueberries
- 1 Tbsp matcha powder
- 1 scoop Vega One French Vanilla
Directions:
Ummmm . . . put it all in a blender and blend! Aren’t smoothies grand?
So there you have it. If you’re looking for a beverage (or a snack ingredient) that will energize you without stressing you out, calm you down without making you fall asleep, balance your blood sugar, and help you fight free radicals, matcha should be your go-to for 2018!
About The Author:
Kelly Boaz, CNP
Kelly is a holistic nutritionist, specializing in eating disorder recovery and food freedom. She is also a public speaker (TEDx King St. West, TDSB) and a writer. Learn more about Kelly, and about booking private consultations at kellyboaz.com Twitter: @kelly_boaz Facebook: /KellyBoazDotCom