In Partnership with DAVIDsTEA
Find out why this superhero tea tops the wellness list for just about everything, from detox to mental alertness and more.
What’s Matcha?
Matcha is a vibrant powder made from green tea leaves. Though the custom of grinding tea and drinking it as a beverage originated in China, the tradition flourished in Japan, where matcha translates literally to “powdered tea.”
It gets its beautiful colour from the high-chlorophyll content of the leaves.
Making matcha is a labour of love that starts with shading tea plants 2-4 weeks before plucking, which increases the caffeine, L-theanine and chlorophyll levels in the tea leaves.
The leaves are then steamed, dried, deveined and carefully ground to a fine powder—ready to be whisked into hot water and enjoyed.
Matcha goes further than traditional green tea, though, because you are ingesting the leaf, not just infusing it. When finely ground into powder form, the entire green tea leaf is utilized, resulting in more caffeine, colour, and overall benefits.
Loose matcha tea powder is traditionally combined with hot water in a ceremonial bowl and mixed using a bamboo whisk, resulting in a frothy, velvety drink that is refreshing, invigorating, and loaded with nutrients. The taste profile can best be described as vegetal and umami, and with every sip, you’re consuming all the benefits of the entire leaf.
Meet Your Matcha
DAVIDsTEA is home to the largest selection of matcha in North America. Their obsession has led to over twenty different varieties, from unsweetened and traditional to flavoured and sweetened (think strawberry, vanilla and peach). There is literally a matcha for everyone.
DAVIDsTEA matcha is sourced from the Nishio region of Japan’s Aichi prefecture, an area renowned for years as one of the world’s best producers. In fact, matcha has been produced in this region for over 800 years.
UnMATCHAble Benefits
Whether you like it hot or as a green tea latte (delicious), matcha has the power to calm the mind and energize the body thanks to the combo of caffeine and L-theanine, a unique amino acid found in tea.
Every sip you take contains whole leaf benefits—the perfect way to kickstart your day. Matcha is a powerhouse hailed for its antioxidant effects, along with its energizing, detoxifying and natural metabolism-boosting properties.
Matcha contains a plant compound called EGCg, a potent antioxidant that may protect cells from DNA damage, and contains more anti-inflammatory antioxidants than regular green tea.
Green tea powder is also high in vitamin C and fibre, helping aid digestive health. With amino acids such as L-theanine, it is great for mental alertness and relaxation.
It is is a fabulous coffee alternative. It contains less caffeine than the average cup of coffee, and many believe that the caffeine in matcha metabolizes differently, providing a more sustained energy release.
With colourful, modern packaging, sleek in-house designed tea accessories and a friendly, welcoming attitude, DAVIDsTEA offers a tea experience that is fun, fresh and unintimidating. Choose from over 100 types of tea at davidstea.com, including exclusive blends, limited edition seasonal collections, traditional teas and exotic infusions from around the world. Shop the collection.
Matcha-licious
In addition to enjoying as a straight hot tea, frothy latte or mixing into smoothies, you can also use matcha powder in recipes. Here are two of our favourites.
Maple Matcha Granola
Ready to get your crunch on? This sweet homemade granola made with vibrant Maple Matcha tea is just the ticket. Enjoy it for breakfast with a dollop of yogurt or as an excellent afternoon snack.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups of rolled oats
- 1/2 cup almond meal
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1 cup sunflower seeds
- 2 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
- 1 tbsp blueberry syrup
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup chopped dried cranberries
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tsp of DAVIDsTEA Maple Matcha
Directions
- Preheat oven to 250°F
- In a large bowl, mix together oats, almond meal, walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, and cranberries.
- In a separate bowl, mix together melted coconut oil, blueberry syrup, maple syrup and vanilla extract. Pour over oat mixture and toss to coat.
- Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet and bake for 1 hour, stirring twice.
- Remove from the oven, transfer to a bowl and add the Maple Matcha. Toss to coat. Enjoy it straight up or mix it into Greek yogurt for a creamy, crunchy morning treat.
- Keep in an airtight container for 2-3 weeks for maximum freshness!
Matcha Buttermilk Pancakes
Hold onto your maple syrup—here’s a recipe for the weekend win. This fluffy pancake batter features Blueberry Matcha, a mega-healthy green tea infused with blueberries and pure cane sugar.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp of DAVIDsTEA Blueberry Matcha
- 1 1/2 cup of flour
- 2 tsp of baking powder
- 3/4 cup of buttermilk, room temp
- 3/4 cup of milk, room temp
- 1 egg, room temp
- 1 tbsp melted butter, room temp
Directions
- In a bowl, mix dry ingredients: Blueberry Matcha, flour & baking powder. Mix until combined.
- In a measuring cup, add buttermilk, milk, egg, and melted butter. Mix well.
- Make a well in the flour and add the wet mixture into the well. Fold with a spatula just until combined.
- Heat pan or griddle, then add a bit of butter or oil. Scoop about 1/4 cup of batter per pancake.
- Flip when you see bubbles and lightly golden edges.
- Serve with butter and maple syrup or fresh blueberries and whipped cream for full breakfast envy.
