Today, we would like to over the benefits of matcha green tea and other green tea powders as well. Currently the major Japanese green tea powders are matcha and sencha powder.
Difference of Matcha and Sencha Powder
Most of you may know already but just to review, sencha powder and matcha powder are totally different products. Matchas are made from green tea leaves that are grown under the shade before harvest, and senchas are green tea leaves that are grown 100% under the sun processed by the unique Japanese way by steaming the leaves. This sencha green tea leaves are normally called simply “Japanese green tea” in stores. I will say if it is sold by a legitimate Japanese tea company, so called “Japanese green tea” products are 100% sencha, if there are no other specific indication. Please remember SENCHA powder is NOT MATCHA powder. It is very unfortunate that I sometimes see that Chinese green tea powder named Matcha green tea powder, and worst case people are mislead to compare the price and product as if its the same product. (As for further info about the difference of Sencha and Matcha please check out our blog post about this issue)
Benefits of Green Tea Powder
1. Amazing Health Benefit
When you brew green tea, you are drinking only 30 percent of its nutrients and throwing away the rest. Our green tea powder is simply a fine ground powder of organic green tea leaf. This means that since you are consuming the whole leaf, all of its health benefits can be consumed with nothing left behind.
2. Outstanding Convenience
With our green tea powder, it can be brought anywhere and can be made anywhere: at your workplace, yoga studio, on your travel, etc. No special pot or utensils will be necessary, just powder and water.
3. Incredibly Versatile
Take your imagination to the limit of green tea’s versatility. Not only traditional green tea but can be used in numerous ways to spice up your desert, food, or beverage(Green tea latte, green tea ice cream, green tea cookies, etc.).
What are the Health Benefits of Powdered Green Tea?
a. Powerful Antioxidant And Vitamins Contained In Powdered Green Tea
Green tea (sencha) powder and Matcha powder are a convenient way to access the powerful antioxidant Catechin(EGCG) and vitamins. Espacially Vitamin C and Beta-Carotenes are considered especially abundant compared to other beverages and fruits.
b. Nothing Comparable To Brewed Green Tea
Green tea (sencha) powder and Matcha powder includes Vitamin C, E, B6, B2, and Beta Carotenes and will not be contained in brewed green tea.
*DISCLAIMER. We are not recommending green tea as a cure or remedy for any health ailments. Please consult your physician for any medical problems you may be experiencing. We seek to source current and accurate information for your general knowledge. If you know of any additional informative resources, please contact us.
Which type of green tea contains the most antioxidant?
a. Catechin(EGCG) is contained the most in 2nd to 3rd Harvest Green Tea (Sencha) Leaf
Within the green tea variety, the powerful antioxidant compound Catechin (EGCG) is contained the most in the green tea (sencha) leaf. Within the green tea (sencha) leaf, the 2nd and the 3rd harvest teas (summer harvested teas), are said to contain the most Catechins. Our organic green tea (sencha) powder is from the second harvest that will provide you with the abundant antioxidants and umami(savory) at the same time.
b. Contains the most Catechins because it is harvested in summer
In green tea leaves there is an amino acid called “Theanine”, this unique amino acid is said to have the potential ability to reduce mental and physical stress. Also this substance is known for being the “Umami (Savory)” of the green tea.
This “Theanine” is decomposed and changed to the “Catechin” when the teas are exposed to the sunlight before the harvest. For that reason, teas such as Matcha and Gyokuro that covers the tea farms with shades that block the sunlight has high “Theanine” and low “Catechin.” On the other hand green tea (sencha) that are grown in full sunlight will contain high “Catechin” and low “Theanine”.
Green teas (sencha) that are 2nd and 3rd harvested, the summer harvest, are grown longer in the full sunlight, for that reason they are considered to have the most “Catechin” within the green teas.
*DISCLAIMER. We are not recommending green tea as a cure or remedy for any health ailments. Please consult your physician for any medical problems you may be experiencing. We seek to source current and accurate information for your general knowledge. If you know of any additional informative resources, please contact us.
Thank you for reading such long post. Hope you enjoyed!