Matcha Vs Green Tea

What are matcha vs green tea most important differences?

Green tea is a king among teas. People from the entire world drink it every day for pleasure and for different kinds of reasons.

Matcha is also a very popular drink these days; we can see its recipes all over the internet.

But what are the differences between these two types of teas? What is better to drink, matcha or green tea?

Let’s see what these two powerful drinks have in common and what are their characteristics.

Matcha tea

Matcha is a type of Japanese green tea that has been used for many years as a natural refreshment. It is primarily prepared as a tea.

Did you know that it is also used in Kit Kat Chocolates, and even in the Coca-Cola in Japan?

Versatile use

This green tea powder is prepared from a special type of tea leaves that has many positive effects on physical and psychological well-being while it supports the body’s natural resilience and vitality.

This tea is the most popular these days and people love to prepare matcha as a tea, latte, in a face mask, and in different culinary recipes.

Monks and samurai drink it

Green tea powder allows monks to go into a higher state of consciousness because of the L-theanine amino acid.

It stimulates the formation of alpha brain waves, which are characteristic of the awake and at the same time relaxed state.

In addition, it promotes the formation of dopamine and serotonin, which improve mood, memory, and concentration. Samurai drank it before the fight, which provides them the necessary energy.

Matcha will surprise you with its taste, as it is very specific, nutty and slightly bitter. The darker the shade of the drink is, the stronger aroma it has.

It is highly appreciated because it increases concentration and preserves cleverness. It balances energy and improves body metabolism. Matcha grows and prepares in a very special way.

Why is matcha powder good for you?

It has many health benefits and these are just a few to consider:

Contains many different antioxidants, including effective EGCG
Stimulates metabolism and calorie consumption
Efficiently and naturally detoxifies the body
Calms and relaxes the body
Rich in fiber, chlorophyll, and vitamins
Improves well-being and helps with concentration
Contains vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium
Prevents the development of the disease
Lowers the level of cholesterol and sugar in the blood

How to prepare matcha tea in a traditional way?

If you want to prepare it on a traditional way you should have a matcha set that includes a matcha bowl, a bamboo spoon, and a bamboo whisk.

Green tea

It is one of the world’s healthiest beverages, proving the long and healthy life of the Okinawa inhabitants, who place this fragrant drink on their menus daily.

Numerous scientific research confirmed its exceptional healing powers.

It is made of a plant named Camellia sinensis. It is the only tea that is not fermented.

This tea is heated immediately after harvesting, which prevents fermentation. In this way, it also keeps all natural substances and characteristics.

China and Japan produce the most of this real tea in the world. Most of the production is done manually in China. It is very expensive and the most wanted.

Drinking green tea for health

Green tea has a positive effect on our health. It contains many antioxidants that actively affect well-being.

Catechins, polyphenols, vitamin C and E, selenium, amino acids, and other medicinal substances are found in this drink.

Therefore we consume important ingredients for health by drinking it. In addition, we can enjoy and relax at the cup of tea at the same time.

This slightly bitter yellow-green potion has been known in Asia for thousands of years as a source of health and youth.

In addition to protecting body cells from free radicals, it also helps them to protect themselves from damage caused by sunshine, which is why it is recommended to drink in the summer.

Regular consumption of the tea should significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, relieve symptoms of diabetes, and increase the possibility of getting pregnant.

Efficient with cancer, diarrhea and skin health

The beneficial effects of this tea on cancer include testimonies of many cancer patients who have managed to overcome the disease.

Scientists have also confirmed its preventative properties in this disease. It is a helpful companion in discomfort, such as diarrhea.

As an antioxidant, the drink is an excellent anti-aging tool for maintaining a youthful appearance.

Thanks to an exceptional combination of caffeine and other active ingredients; it also helps with weight loss.

Green tea types

In general, we know over 1500 types of green tea. Let’s just mention the most appreciated ones.

Chinese teas

Chinese green tea is harvested only in the early spring, which means that the tea leaves have a short time to grow.

Chinese doesn’t harvest just the leaves, but also young buds. More than 600 different varieties of this type of tea are grown in China, thus providing a rich choice of this fragrant drink.

How is it processed?

When processing it, the leaves are mostly roasted in a pan to dry them well. In rare cases, they are dried in ovens, on the sun or with steam.

Further processing is done manually. The farmers twist the tea leaves into various shapes, such as balls, curves, spirals, spears, etc.

How to prepare it?

When preparing Chinese green tea, use water with a temperature between 70 and 80° C and soak up the leaves for up to 3 minutes.

This helps to extract a flavor that is stronger and richer than in a grassy Japanese version.

What is the best Chinese green tea?

Long jing or dragon well is the most famous and respected green tea in the world. It is considered as a number one among Chinese teas.

Farmers harvest the tea leaves in the spring before the rainy season starts.

They pick only the youngest ones that give the drink a characteristic emerald color and a gentle aroma.

Bi Luo Chun is an exceptional tea, which occupies the second place in terms of popularity and quality.

The farmers pick it close to the fruit trees that give the tea a special flavor. It is processed manually in a typical snail form. It has a fresh and sweet taste.

Japanese green teas

Japanese harvest the leaves for a longer period that lasts from late spring to autumn. This allows the leaves on the tree to grow longer.

The farmers harvest both smaller and younger leaves (for sencha) as well as mature and larger leaves (for bancha).

It is interesting that for a variety of Japanese teas only one species of tea tree is grown, and that is Yabukita.

We know gyokuro, sencha, bancha, macha, tamaryokucha (guricha), and others. What does matcha vs green tea have in common? They both come from the same plant.

Gyokuro

Gyokuro is a quality drink from Japan, which definitely belongs to the very top of green teas. Tea shrubs grow in the bamboo shade.

Therefore the leaves produce more chlorophyll and contain less thein. The result is a sweet and softer taste with a subtle floral aroma.

Sencha tea

Sencha is a green Japanese tea, which is one of the most popular and recognizable.

It has an extremely strong flavor with a subtle flavor with a dominant note and is therefore especially suitable for those who enjoy the aroma of more powerful teas.

Since sencha is harvested in the spring, it has a higher content of thein and also contains a lot of antioxidants.

Bancha

Bancha is a tea, which undoubtedly belongs to Japanese classics. This tea is harvested at the end of the growing season and contains less thein.

It is also known as a daily drink because you will not have problems with insomnia while drinking it. Bancha is a basic drink at a macrobiotic diet.

Tamaryokucha

Tamaryokucha is a green Japanese tea, which is a good choice for all tea lovers. Its taste is extremely rich in aromatic, it stimulates and contains antioxidants.

Due to all its characteristics, tamaryokucha ranks at the very top of Japanese teas.

Japanese vs Chinese green teas

The main difference between Japanese and Chinese green tea is processing. In Japan, the leaves are steamed after harvesting to prevent fermentation.

The dried tea leaves form into elongated needles of the same size and shape (sencha) or grind them in fine powder (matcha) with a special machine.

How to prepare Japanese green tea?

For the preparation of Japanese tea, soak the leaves in a hot water, which has 70 to 80° C, but no longer than 2 minutes.

Its taste and the fresh and grassy aroma remind us very much of the spring. It has slightly more antioxidants than Chinese, making it a healthier choice.

There are some crucial differences between these two drinks. Let’s see which features make matcha even more powerful than green tea.

Production Facts

Matcha and green tea are made from the same plant – Camellia Sinensis. However, there is a difference in the production process of green tea powder.

Its special production process begins a few weeks before collecting the leaves when tea trees are covered with tarpaulins to protect them from direct sunlight.

It slows down their growth, while the leaves retain a lot of chlorophyll, which is also evident in the vibrant green color of the drink.

The price

Harvested tea leaves are processed with steam, dried and all stems and impurities are removed. In the end, the leaves are grounded with fine stones so we get the powder.

Green tea is not grounded so this is one of the vital differences. Due to a low crop quantity and demanding production of matcha, it is reasonably more expensive than green tea.

Nutrition Facts

Matcha is a sort of green tea. When we prepare a classic green tea, we soak the leaves of the Camellia Sinensis in the hot water and then remove them.

When we drink matcha, we consume whole leaves because they are ground in powder.

So, with drinking it you consume whole leaves and not just their extract as in green tea, which means more antioxidant intake.

Matcha nutrition facts

One cup of this powdered drink is equivalent to 10 cups of normally cooked green tea in terms of nutrition.

We take the whole leaf and consequently all its nutrients when drinking it.

The powder contains 137 times more antioxidants than usually cooked green tea.

100g of the tea has 5 times more L-theanine than an equal quantity of green tea, which means more creativity, learning ability, and memory.

Losing extra weight

If you are considering a detox or weight loss, you should get matcha. It has more chlorophyll than green tea because of tarpaulins which cover the tea trees before harvesting.

Chlorophyll is wonderful for detox because it will purify your body of toxins, heavy metals and help your digestive system.

It has a more concentrated amount of antioxidants which should have a greater fat-burning effect than green tea itself.

Tea preparation

Here are ways to prepare both types of teas.

Green tea recipe

When preparing this drink, all you need is to boil the water and leave it for so long that it will reach the temperature between 70 and 80°C.

Take a tea bag or loose leaves and pure them with water. Wait for about 2-3 minutes, remove content and your hot drink is ready.

Matcha tea recipe

It prepares differently and is a little more demanding than green tea preparation. It is best to prepare the drink in a matcha cup with a bamboo whisk and a bamboo spoon.

Boil the water and cool it down to a maximum of 80 and at least 60 degrees. Pour about 100 ml of hot water over 1-2 tablespoons of powder (1-2 g).

Take a bamboo whisk and mix it immediately in a W shape and don’t let the whisk touch the bottom of the cup. You can sift the powder and prevent the formation of lumps in the tea.

Drink the most powerful tea in the world

Drinking each of these teas is a very healthy choice to make. Both are perfect hot beverages as a morning or afternoon drink that you can prepare for yourself and your friends.

Nevertheless which you decide to drink for relaxation, good health or other reasons, green tea leaves will do you much good.

Both real teas contain a lot of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and caffeine, just that matcha is more powerful regarding taste, health benefits and the way of preparation.

I invite you to try both and decide which you prefer as your daily relaxation drink.

Matcha Vs Green Tea – What Are The Main Differences?