Matcha vs. Traditional Green Tea: Health Benefits and Brewing Techniques

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Both stemming from the Camellia sinensis plant, it's natural to wonder what the difference is between traditional green tea and matcha. You'll notice immediately that green tea is usually loose or bagged, whilst matcha is a fine powder, but what are the other differences? Which is healthier? And what's the best brewing technique for each? Rest assured that we have you covered. Here's everything you need to know.

Let's Begin with Understanding the Differences in Processing

As just discovered, green tea stems from the Camellia sinensis plant, which is also used for other types of commonly consumed tea such as black, white and oolong. Leaves are harvested, then quickly heated, before being processed through steaming, pan firing or sun drying. To finish the process, they are rolled and dried, becoming the green tea leaves that we all know and love. If you enjoy green tea, you will be familiar with the subtle earthy taste and a yellowish to brown colour depending on how long you have left the leaves to brew.

Although a type of green tea, matcha is harvested and processed differently. The Camellia sinensis plant is grown in the shade in the latter stage of harvest to slow down growth and protect it from excess sunlight. The leaves are dried quickly during manufacturing before the stems and veins are removed, and the rest is ground into the vibrant powder that makes matcha instantly recognisable. This powder dissolves in hot water, leaving a smooth, sometimes foamy appearance. The taste is often stronger than traditional green tea, because the powdering process really magnifies the flavour.

Health Benefits of Traditional Green Tea

Green tea has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years, providing users with antioxidants and minerals including potassium and magnesium. Regular consumption of green tea has been associated with many health benefits including:

An increase in mental alertness
An improvement in working memory
Headache reduction and relief
Weight loss
Blood sugar management
A reduction in stress levels
A relief in digestive symptoms

It has also been associated with managing blood sugar, preventing heart disease, lowering the risk of some cancers and more, but results are inconclusive.

Traditional Green Tea Brewing Techniques

You will find green tea most commonly as loose leaves or tea bags. More delicate than black tea, you should never use boiling water when brewing. This creates a bitter, astringent flavour. Instead, you should let your kettle water sit for five minutes after boiling before infusing. Once the water has cooled slightly, you should let your green tea leaves or bag infuse for two to three minutes. And it's as simple as that. You will be enjoying a perfectly brewed cup of green tea in less than 10 minutes.

Health Benefits of Matcha

When drinking green tea, you are drinking just the water-soluble elements of the outer leaf. When you drink a cup of matcha tea, you are consuming the entire leaf. As a result of the difference in harvest and production, matcha contains a much more concentrated level of compounds than traditional green tea.

Matcha is rich in:

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which enhances your metabolism
Antioxidants, which help to strengthen the immune system
Polyphenols, which reduce skin damage and slow down the ageing process

Although many of these are also found in green tea, the matcha contains higher levels of concentration for better benefits. Rich in antioxidants, matcha has been associated with improved physical and mental health.

Other health benefits include:

Improved cognitive function
A reduction in stress levels
A reduction in inflammation
An improvement in metabolic health markers
Strengthened blood vessels in the heart
Improved digestive health

Matcha Brewing Techniques

When you drink matcha, you are consuming the entire leaf, which makes it different to other teas. Here's the best brewing technique for a smooth, tasty cup of matcha. You should begin by sifting your matcha into a small bowl or mug. This is the key to an evenly dispersed drink that's free from lumps. You should then add a small amount of hot but not boiling water. It's recommended to leave your water for up to five minutes after boiling to let it cool a little. Using a bamboo whisk for optimum results, you should whisk the solution from side to side in a zigzag motion until a frothy layer has formed on top. If you whisk in a circular motion, the mixture won't foam. You can then top up the mixture with more hot water for a traditional cup of matcha or add steamed milk to make it into a latte. Sweeten as needed, then sit back and enjoy.

Other Differences to Consider

Caffeine

One of the main differences to consider when deciding whether you consume traditional green tea or matcha is the caffeine levels. A cup of green tea typically contains between 30mg and 50mg of caffeine whereas a cup of matcha has approximately 70mg. But rest assured that the effect of caffeine in both green tea and matcha is less prominent than coffee. Many consumers report that they enjoy the caffeine boost, feeling alert and awake without the buzz that is associated with coffee.

Longevity

The difference in consumption impacts the longevity of the product. As green tea comes in loose leaves or a tea bag, you can infuse more than one cup at a time before disposal. On the contrary, when making a cup of matcha, the entire product is dissolved. You are in control of the amount of matcha powder you choose to use when brewing, but you will always be limited to the one cup.

Texture

When drinking traditional green tea or matcha, you will notice a difference in the texture and consistency. As green tea is infused in water, the consistency is very light, smooth and watery. This differs to the consistency of matcha, which is thicker - much like milk. And if you don't whisk enough during the brewing process, you might find there are lumps in it too.

So Which is Better?

It's almost impossible to determine whether traditional green tea or matcha is better because it's based on personal preference. Some consumers prefer green tea for its watery consistency and more subtle taste. Others prefer matcha for its caffeine boost, concentrated levels of antioxidants and minerals, and magnified taste. The best way to determine which is better for you, is to try both.

Find High-Quality, Organic Tea at Teavision

Are you ready to explore traditional green tea and matcha to find which you prefer? For an organic range of tea, look no further than Teavision. Offering a diverse selection of both products, you can browse for your favourites. Try Organic Japanese Matcha for a high quality matcha tea, known for its vibrant colour. With quantities for sale as low as 50g, you can test to see if it's the right product for you. For traditional green tea consumers, we have a variety of strains from Japan, Korea, Rwanda and more. Browse online to learn more.

Optimise your health by incorporating even one cup of green tea into your daily routine. Get started today with Teavision.

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