Matcha green tea

siochain

interesting article in last sundays times

http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/body_and_soul/article1979994.ece

Q I am a recent convert to green tea, and have seen details of a Japanese version, matcha, on the internet. It is said to be a superfood. Could you explain its relative merits in comparison with conventional green tea?


A Matcha green tea was brought to Japan at the end of the 12th century. Since then, Zen monks have drunk it to keep themselves awake yet relaxed during meditation. Muzi Organic Matcha green tea (£25 for 30g, from Origins at Harrods) is estimated to have at least 10 times the nutrients of regular green tea and to contain up to 137 times more antioxidants. It also contains theanines (amino acids that may help to reduce stress) and is thought to be more nutritious than green tea sold in tea bags.

The results for the latest oxygen radical absorbance capacity test, or Orac – which aims objectively to compare the antioxidant potency of different foods and drinks – shows that organic matcha green tea contains 1,573 Orac units per gram, considerably more than many other superfoods, including pomegranate (105) and wild blueberries (93).

In addition, many of the nutrients naturally found in tea are lost after infusing then removing a tea bag, as some of the nutrients in tea leaves are not water-soluble. Matcha tea is a ground powder that dissolves in water, so the body absorbs more of the nutrients.


http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/body_and_soul/article1979994.ece