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Does matcha really live up to the hype?

Get the inside scoop on the health benefits of matcha, plus recipes to try at home.

matcha powder
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If you’ve scrolled through social media lately, you’ve likely seen countless images of a jade-colored substance called matcha. A powder derived from green tea leaves and traditionally used in Japanese tea ceremonies, its popularity has boomed in the United States in recent years. That's largely due to its supposed health benefits, such as lowering the risk of heartShow More

Matcha tea in a mug with a scoop of matcha sitting right next to it.
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What is matcha?

Matcha is made when dried green tea leaves are ground into a fine powder and dissolved in liquid. Matcha fans say that you’ll get more nutrients from consuming matcha than you would from regular green tea. It’s more concentrated, since you’re consuming the whole tea leaves.

“Matcha is basicallyShow More

Man sipping a cup of tea while on this phone.
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What are the health benefits?

Matcha's health benefits are still up for debate. While few clinical studies have looked at the benefits of matcha, numerous reviews have explored the benefits of green tea. Even then, experts do not have enough information to reach concrete conclusions. The National Center forShow More

woman pouring cup of matcha tea
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How to make matcha tea

You can add matcha powder to just about anything. Tiller says the best way to reap the health benefits is to consume it in its purest form, which you can do by making tea:

  • Sift 1 to 2 tablespoons of green tea powder into a cup.
  • Add 2 ounces of hot water.
  • Froth with a bamboo matcha whisk in a zig-
  • Show More
Three scoops of matcha ice cream in a bowl.
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More matcha recipes

In addition to making traditional matcha tea, it’s easy to infuse some of your favorite treats with matcha. Here are some ideas:

  • Matcha smoothies: Try blending bananas, spinach, mango, and green tea powder together for a refreshing treat.
  • Matcha lattes: Whisk together hot water and two
  • Show More
grocery store aisle, man shopping for matcha tea
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How to choose the right matcha

If you’re going to give matcha a try, opt for products with the fewest ingredients, says Tiller. Choose vibrant green powders without added sweeteners or preservatives. You’ll also want to be sure that your matcha is high quality, since you’re consuming the whole leaf. So, look for Japanese matchaShow More

Slideshow sources open slideshow sources

Matcha Source. “How to Prepare Matcha Green Tea?” 2021. Accessed May 14, 2021.
Breakaway Matcha. “How to Store Matcha.” 2021. Accessed May 14, 2021.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. “Green Tea.” October 2020. Accessed May 14, 2021.
Tod Cooperman. “Green Tea Review: Supplements, Brewable, Matcha, and Bottled.” ConsumerLab.com. September 29, 2020.
National Cancer Institute. “Tea and Cancer Prevention.” November 17, 2010. Accessed May 14, 2021.
Cochrane. “Green tea for the prevention of cancer.” March 2, 2020. Accessed May 14, 2021.
Cochrane. “Green and black tea to prevent cardiovascular disease.” June 18, 2013. Accessed May 14, 2021.
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. “Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss.” March 29, 2021. Accessed May 14, 2021.
TM Jurgens, AM Whelan, et al. “Green tea for weight loss and weight maintenance in overweight or obese adults.” Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. December 12, 2012. Accessed May 14, 2021.
Jian-Min Yuan. “Cancer prevention by green tea: evidence from epidemiologic studies.” The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 98, Issue 6, December 2013, Pages 1676S–1681S.

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