Where to Buy Matcha Green Tea Powder in South Africa
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You’ve probably heard a lot about the benefits of green tea. It’s touted as a superfood and praised for its ability to aid in weight loss, improve memory, and even reduce the risk of heart disease. So what is green tea? It’s simply the leaves from Camellia sinensis trees that have been fermented and then dried. Matcha is an especially high grade of green tea that is distinguished from other types of green tea because of its use of shade-grown matcha leaves. What is matcha? It’s a special type of green tea that’s isolated through shade-farming, which helps protect against environmental damage while producing the highest quality leaf possible. Instead of harvesting this plant once it blooms each spring, it is grown again after blooming annually in the fall. This allows farmers to manage the amount of nutrients released by planting just enough shade-tolerant plants to sustain their viability but not more so than that. The result is a higher concentration of chlorophyll and amino acids like l-theanine than other types Of Green Tea Powder available on the market today.
What’s the difference between Matcha and other types of green tea?
There are many different varieties of green tea, but matcha is the highest quality. You’ll notice that matcha is the only type of green tea that has the word “powder” in its name. This is because the two primary differences in its fermentation method and shade-grown environment is the result in a higher concentration of nutrients, particularly chlorophyll and amino acids. The other difference is the smoothness of its taste. Other types of green tea typically have a grassy taste, but matcha has a strong and distinct umami taste that can’t be tasted in other types of tea.
Where to buy matcha powder in South Africa
There are two main ways to get matcha powder in South Africa: You can buy it online or you can buy it in a store. Some grocery stores may have a few different brands of matcha powder, but they are likely to be off-brand and not as high quality as what you can find online. There are also many Instagram and Facebook pages dedicated to selling matcha in South Africa. You may have to do a little searching, but it’s worth checking out if you want to buy matcha and don’t live near any stores that sell it. You can also find matcha powder at tea shops or health stores. While you can get it in some larger grocery stores, these stores usually carry only off-brand matcha powder. Most of the time, the higher quality powder can only be found in specialty stores.
How to prepare matcha powder
Before you can enjoy your matcha tea, you need to prepare the powder. This can be done in a traditional mortar and pestle, but you can also use a high-powered blender or a matcha tea bag. The bag method is the easiest method and should be used if you want to make a cup of matcha tea for one. With a mortar and pestle, you need to grind the powder down into a fine powder. This can be done by placing the powder in a bowl and then crushing it with a pestle. This is a slow process, so you’ll need to move the pestle around to crush the powder evenly. The bag method is a quicker and easier method to use if you’re making a cup of matcha for more than one person. You simply pour some matcha powder into a small bag, tie the bag shut, and then add the powder to your cup of hot water. For each cup of matcha, you’ll need about 3 tbsp (45 ml) of matcha powder.
Matcha Benefits and Uses
– Elevates metabolism – The high amounts of antioxidants and amino acids present in matcha can help to speed up your metabolism. This can aid in weight loss, making it a great addition to breakfast smoothies or as a pre-workout snack. – Lowers blood pressure – Matcha is a very high source of magnesium and calcium. This can help to lower blood pressure, making it a great addition to your daily diet. – Good for memory – The high amounts of antioxidants and amino acids present in matcha can help to improve your memory and reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline. This can make matcha a great supplement for kids and the elderly. – Prevents heart disease – While there is not enough evidence to prove that matcha actually prevents heart disease, the high levels of antioxidants present in matcha can help to prevent oxidative damage.
Should You Drink Matcha?
If you’re interested in trying out matcha, definitely do so! It’s a great addition to your diet and can be used in a variety of ways. But remember to drink it fresh and don’t wait for it to go bad because it only lasts for a few weeks. If you want to use it in a lot of recipes, it’s best to use it within a few weeks of purchasing it. You can also buy matcha in powder form and keep it in an airtight container in your cupboard. This is a great way to ensure that you always have some on hand. If you plan on consuming it regularly, it can be a good investment to buy a larger container.
Conclusion
Green tea is a very popular drink all over the world, and for good reason! With so many health benefits and so little effort, it’s definitely something you should add to your diet. While there are a lot of green tea options out there, make sure you get the best by buying matcha green tea. This high-grade matcha contains more nutrients than the others and is also slightly smoother in taste thanks to the shade-grown process.
