Mar 8

Mar 8 matcha matcha matcha!

Even though matcha seems to be a newer trend these past few years, it's been around since the Song Dynasty (for those of you who aren't brushed up on your Chinese History, the Song Dynasty is the 10th-13th century). The tea leaves were ground and consumed in powdered form, and termed "matcha" literally meaning, "powder tea". (In Japanese, 'ma' means powder and 'cha' means tea). Before meditating, Zen Buddhists took part in the matcha tea ceremony, noticing that it made them more focused, calm and present.

These days, most people drink matcha because it doesn't have the same crash effect as coffee, and is more versatile than tea in that it can be taken as a shot or made into a latte or cappuccino. Specialty matcha cafes are popping up all over country (Cha Cha Matcha anyone?), and matcha is available on most health restaurant menus.

Besides the trend factor of this popular beverage, it's become a staple in the world of wellness because of it's tremendous health benefits! Matcha is packed with fiber, chlorophyll and antioxidants and encourages the body's natural detoxification system.

Before you rush off to purchase matcha at your nearest bodega, remember quality is key. Here are the top three things to look for:

1. Origin: The best matcha comes from Japan. Period.

2. Price: Most matcha starts at about $25 for apx. 30g. Anything much cheaper than that just won't be very good quality. For example, a 40g tin of matcha sold at $18 is not great quality.

3. Color: The chlorophyll in the tea leaves are what creates that vibrant green color in matcha, since the leaves are shade-grown. The less shade they get, the less chlorophyll and the less color. Matcha should be bright and vibrant green, not the color of day-old peas.

Here is an example:

Thus far, my absolute favorite matcha is from Ippodo. They do have a NY post (cover photo) which allows you to taste the different varieties. Some are more umami style while others are a bit sweeter. If you live in NYC and drink matcha I highly suggest that is where you purchase your tea from.