GREEN TEA VS MATCHA: WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU CHOOSE

Matcha Tea or Green Tea? What Are the Differences and Which One Should You Choose?

Matcha tea has become very popular in recent years among tea enthusiasts, thanks to its unique properties and distinctive flavor. But what exactly sets it apart from classic, well-known green tea?

1.Cultivation & Processing

Both matcha and green tea come from the same plant , Camellia sinensis , but their properties differ due to the way they are cultivated and processed.

Green tea is grown under the sun. Its leaves are harvested, quickly heated, dried, and typically sold in tea bags. When steeped in hot water, they produce a tea with a dark green to brown color.

Matcha, on the other hand, is grown in the shade before harvest. The whole leaf is used rather than just steeped. After harvesting, the leaves are stone-ground into a fine powder with a vibrant green color.

2. Calories

Both green tea and matcha are very low in calories, making them excellent choices for those watching their weight. For reference, 1 cup of green tea contains about 2 calories, while matcha provides approximately 4 calories per serving, depending on the variety.

3. Nutritional Value

Green Tea:

• It contains catechins, part of the flavonoid family, which have powerful antioxidant effects. EGCG is the most abundant antioxidant in green tea and helps protect against oxidative stress.
• Thanks to its antioxidant content, it has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
• Regular consumption of green tea has been shown to boost metabolism and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
• It appears to enhance mental alertness, improve memory, and reduce anxiety.
• It helps relieve gastrointestinal symptoms.
• It is beneficial for the skin, helping to reduce signs of aging by fighting free radicals.

Matcha Tea:

• Matcha is a concentrated form of green tea, since you consume the entire leaf. As a result, it delivers more nutrients and greater health benefits.
• It contains higher levels of caffeine, L-theanine, and chlorophyll.
• It has a significantly stronger antioxidant profile, matcha appears to contain at least three times more antioxidants than green tea.
• It’s especially rich in catechins, with EGCG found in particularly high concentrations.
• It may help prevent diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, lower cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar levels, and strengthen the immune system.
• It is a natural anti-inflammatory due to its antioxidant content. It may reduce inflammation, protect against cancer, and support liver health.
• It contains much more caffeine than green tea, but thanks to its combination with the amino acid L-theanine, it provides calm, sustained energy , alertness without the jitteriness of coffee, along with stress and fatigue reduction.
• It improves memory and cognitive function.
• It helps reduce photoaging of skin cells.

Safety and Potential Side Effects

Both green tea and matcha are generally considered safe. Potential side effects are mostly related to their caffeine content.

In Summary both are excellent sources of antioxidants, low in calories, and offer numerous health benefits. The main difference lies in the fact that matcha uses the entire tea leaf, which means it delivers higher concentrations of caffeine, antioxidants, and overall potency.

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