Matcha has been trending in cafés for some time now and I just couldn’t get on the trend. I tried it once or twice and it tasted too… green if you know what I mean. I love coffee but in 2025 I want to step up my health game and try different health trends! I’m probably late to the game but I decided to take a deep dive into the health benefits of matcha and I figured out what the whole health hype was about! So if you too have been curious about what makes matcha so special, let’s dive into the hype together !

What is Matcha?

Matcha has been around for centuries, especially in Japanese culture. Matcha is a finely ground powder made from specially grown green tea leaves. Unlike traditional tea, where you steep the leaves and discard them, matcha allows you to consume the whole leaf, which means you get all its nutrients that come directly from the leaves. Matcha extraction starts with shading the tea plants to boost flavor and nutrients. The youngest leaves are picked, then steamed to prevent oxidation. After steaming, the leaves are dried and ground into a fine green powder.

Health Benefits of Match:

1.Rich in Antioxidants:
Matcha is loaded with catechins, a type of antioxidant that helps fight free radicals in the body. To be clear, free radicals or so called “bad substances” circulate in our body. Over time these bad cells tend to survive and transform into diseases. Nonetheless, these antioxidants found in matcha help to promote healthy skin, support your immune system, improve overall cell function and may even lower your risk of chronic diseases.

2.Sustained Energy Boost:
Matcha contains caffeine, but unlike coffee, it releases energy gradually and not in a big spike like the effects of caffeine ! The amino acid L-theanine is also found in matcha helps to slow the absorption of caffeine, providing a calm and focused energy boost without the jitters or crash. This is the one fact that caught my interest to get on the match bandwagons. I absolutely love the taste of coffee, so I might miss that (although there’s decaffeinated coffee for that…) but I hate the dreaded side effects of the post caffeine crash or afternoon jitters. So perhaps matcha could be the (almost perfect) solution to help with just that!

3.Supports Mental Clarity: 

Thanks to the infamous L-theanine that helps with regulating our energy, matcha promotes relaxation and mental clarity without the anxiousness that is brought on with the side effects of caffeine. This makes it a favorite for people looking to stay sharp and productive throughout the day

4. Boosts Metabolism!
This was a fact that I also found super interesting. Studies suggest that matcha can enhance fat burning and increase metabolism and as a health enthusiast, I had to look into this more. Matcha boosts metabolism thanks to its high levels of EGCG (a powerful antioxidant) and caffeine, which work together to increase fat burning and calorie use. EGCG helps break down stored fat, while caffeine boosts thermogenesis, which is how your body burns calories to produce heat. Together, they make your body more efficient at burning fat, even during exercise. Matcha can also help regulate blood sugar levels, preventing fat storage and keeping your energy steady throughout the day. This makes it a great natural way to support weight management and overall health.I don’t recommend this to be your only source for fat loss but it could help facilitate any efforts you’re already making to maintain a healthy weight.

5.Detoxifying Properties: 
Matcha is grown in the shade, a process that boosts its chlorophyll levels. Chlorophyl is what gives matcha its rich green color. When ingested, ingredients with high levels of chlorophyl help detoxify the body by removing toxins and heavy metals. Which helps your body function more efficiently and reduces the burden on your liver and other organs to do all that work for us!

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Ok so the big question, why choose matcha over coffee? Alongside the health benefits, I just went through there are a couple more interesting findings that might sway me to the matcha trend!

• Gentler on the Stomach: 

Coffee’s acidity can be harsh on sensitive stomachs, whereas matcha is more alkaline and soothing for your stomach.

• Less of a diuretic effect:

Matcha can have a mild diuretic effect, similar to coffee, but it is generally less pronounced. So no post coffee bathroom rush! This is because matcha contains caffeine, which stimulates the kidneys and promotes urine production, just like coffee. However, the diuretic effect of matcha is typically gentler compared to coffee due to its lower caffeine content and the presence of other compounds like L-theanine, which can help balance its stimulating effects.

• Added Nutrients: 

While coffee provides a caffeine boost, matcha comes with an array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for an overall health kick. This includes: including vitamin C, potassium, iron, calcium, and a rich supply of catechins.

Have you tried matcha yet? Let me know your favorite ways to enjoy it. I’m on the hunt for a perfect cafe or the perfect recipe to make it at home and hopefully it can become a staple !!