8 Reasons Why You Need to Start Drinking Matcha Now

Okay, Babes.  For those of you  who follow me on Instagram (And if you don't...what are you waiting for? Geeet over there and click follow.  Go ahead.  I'll wait. ~~> IG:lindseyandcoco), you know that my lack of caffeine variety has been driving me a little nuts lately.

I am not a coffee snob but I am definitely caffeine dependent and I love to spice up my daily routine.  Well thanks to quarantine, that was no longer a reality…until I recently decided to take the matcha plunge.

I'm sure many of you have heard of matcha and several of you are probably thinking I am so late to the Matcha Cha Cha Cha Party.  But for those who are later to this revolution than me, please allow me to introduce you to matcha green tea.  We'll cover 8 reasons why you need to grab a tin of this bright green powder now.

So first off though: What is matcha?

Matcha has been around in Japanese culture since around the 12th century.  It's a type of tea.  But unlike other common teas which only steep the leaves, matcha uses the whole leaf (stem included) and grinds it down into a fine powder.  So when you consume matcha, you are actually ingesting the leaves.  It's also minimally processed and never heated during preparation.

8 Amazing Benefits of Matcha

1. Antioxidant Power Punch

Because the whole leaf is used, matcha is packed with chlorophyll.  You remember 3rd grade science and photosynthesis?  Yeah that stuff.  While in plants chlorophyll captures sunlight for growth, in humans chlorophyll helps reduce wrinkles and sun spots.

2. Inflammation Fighter

Matcha also contains high levels of Vitamin K which helps reduce inflammation.  It also improves blood circulation which can also lead to the reduction of dark circles.

3. Slow Timer

For those caffeine addicts like me, don't worry.  Matcha is in fact a tea and does contain caffeine.  However, unlike coffee which gives an immediate energy rush and makes you crash later (just like a no good ex-boyfriend), matcha gives a much gentler ride.  It releases its caffeine boost over a longer time and at a more gradual pace.  It then lets you down gently so you avoid any caffeinated crashes.

4. Laser Focus

The more even rise and fall of the matcha energy boost allows you to focus for longer periods of time.

5. Golden Hour

That magical hour at sunset isn't the only think to get your skin glowing.  Because it can help with blood flow and reducing inflammation as mentioned earlier, matcha can also help you achieve a glowing and clearer skin complexion.

6. Immunity Boost

Thanks to its heavy roster of antioxidants, matcha also helps to boost your immune system.  This helps your body fight common bacteria and viruses.  Sayonara sick days!

7. Kick Start Your Metabolism

Matcha also helps to fire up your metabolism.  This means you burn more calories.  And burning more calories means smaller numbers on the scale!

8. The Zen Effect

Matcha also contains a high density of amino acids which promote calmness.  Combined with the elimination of the common caffeine jitters, you've got a recipe for soothing relaxation.

So there you have it.  Eight benefits of drinking matcha.  Oh and did I forget to mention that it tastes great?  

There are so many ways to incorporate matcha into your routine.  I'm sensing another matcha blog post in our future.  But if you are looking for some quick suggestions, here goes:

1.Drink it straight as a hot tea.

2. Pour it over ice for a refreshing iced tea.

3. Add it to your decaf coffee for a smooth boost.

4. Add it to your normal coffee as an extra shot.

5. Froth your milk/creamer of choice and do the Matcha Cha Cha Cha with a latte!