Matcha vs Green Tea
We’ve all heard of Green Tea and Matcha. They’re both known to be great for your health. But most people aren’t aware that though there are some basic similarities between the two, Matcha and Green Tea are vastly different.
In this blog, we will explore in detail -
- What is Green Tea
- What is Matcha
- How they differ
- Growth
- Processing
- Colour
- Preparation Method
- Taste
- Texture
- Composition
- Benefits
- Trends
- Versatility
Let’s start with the basics and then delve deeper into how and why they’re so different.
What is Green Tea?
Green Tea comes from the camellia sinensis plant. Black tea and Oolong tea are also derived from the same plant. However, the only difference is that green tea is harvested at an earlier stage of the overall life cycle of the plant. After harvesting, the green tea leaves are steamed or pan-fired to help stop the oxidation process. That’s how this tea maintains its beautiful green colour.
It’s low in caffeine but high in antioxidants. This makes it a healthy alternative to regular tea and coffee. It’s deemed a great dietary supplement that helps improve digestion, improve cognitive function, and even help with weight loss. But of course, it’s just a supplement and these benefits rely on healthy lifestyle habits.
What is Matcha?
Matcha is derived from the same camellia sinensis plant and is a type of green tea. The green tea leaves are ground into a fine vibrant green powder. It’s been a staple in Japanese tea ceremonies for centuries but has recently skyrocketed in popularity in other countries. The many health benefits that this tea offers as well as its versatility as an ingredient made this a top choice for tea lovers.
It’s high in caffeine and antioxidants, making it an ideal drink to have in the morning to boost your energy. This makes Matcha a great alternative to coffee and tea, even green tea. Matcha is known to help boost metabolism, ease digestion, and help you get your caffeine fix without the jittery feelings.
How They Differ
While Matcha is a type of powdered green tea and has a somewhat similar colour, they are far too different in every other way. There are a lot of factors that can be used to differentiate between Matcha and Green Tea. Some of them are -
Growth
Matcha is a type of Green Tea in the sense that it comes from the same plant. However, Green Tea thrives in sunlight while Matcha is shade-grown. This affects their composition and subsequently their taste and benefits as well.
Processing
After harvest, green tea leaves are sent for processing where they are steamed or pan-fired to immediately stop the oxidation process. Whole leaves of the plant are used for this purpose. For Matcha, the leaves are steamed and ground into a fine powder to create the Matcha that we know.
While most of the initial processing steps are similar for both, the main difference in consumption is seen in the fact that Matcha is processed into a powder while green tea is consumed as whole leaves. This affects its taste, benefits, and how we can consume both of them.
Colour
Green tea has a dull, almost brown colour while Matcha has a more vibrant green colour. This is mostly because it is shade-grown in the weeks before harvesting. This allows the chlorophyll in the leaves to thrive. Increased levels of chlorophyll give Matcha its signature green hue.
Preparation Method
Green Tea leaves are steeped in hot water to bring out the flavour. Hot water is added to Matcha powder which is then frothed up with the help of a traditional Matcha whisk (for best results). This frothy tea can be prepared hot or cold but green tea is generally consumed only while hot.
Taste
They both inherently taste very different, which is further enhanced by their preparation methods. Green Tea is quite light, and fresh, and has a grassy undertone. It can also be kind of bitter, depending on the quality of the leaves and their steeping time. Matcha on the other hand is much richer than green tea and has a smoother, sweeter flavour.
Texture
This is one of the most apparent differences between both. Green tea is seen to be “watery” as it is just tea leaves steeped in water. Matcha on the other hand is whisked to create a frothy and smooth texture which is then consumed in several different ways.
Composition
The chemical composition of both Matcha and Green Tea has been researched to figure out how and why these are considered to be healthy. Many studies have been conducted to figure out which components and factors are responsible for their unique properties.
Both Green Tea and Matcha are full of polyphenols, which are extremely powerful antioxidants. They also contain many other components such as -
- Tannins (catechins)
The catechins in Matcha are phenolic compounds that positively affect human health.
- Caffeine
Caffeine levels in Matcha are higher than in green tea. This can be due to its growth and processing differences. Higher caffeine levels indicate higher antioxidant properties.
Caffeine is said to have strong anti-inflammatory properties and is also known to lower stress levels.
- Chlorophyll
High levels of Chlorophyll are credited with giving Matcha its signature green colour. It also has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
- Theanine
This is an amino acid that affects the taste of the tea. Since Matcha is shade-grown, the theanine does not break down too much. This increased concentration of theanine, combined with the caffeine, gives Matcha its non-bitter and rich taste.
They also contain varying levels of phenolic acids, rutin, vitamin C, Quercetin, and more. These antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances make them the best tea for everyone to consume. The varying levels of these components give different flavours and benefits in both Matcha and Green Tea.
Benefits
Both Matcha and Green Tea are popular due to their benefits. They both share many of the same benefits, such as -
- Promoting weight loss
- Reducing stress levels
- Increasing mental alertness
- Easing digestion
- Reducing headaches
However, Matcha is said to be much more beneficial to our health than regular green tea. Studies have shown that the chemical composition of Matcha has further properties, such as -
- Anti-inflammatory
- Anti-carcinogenic
- Possible Metabolic Regulation
- Cardioprotective
- Anti-viral
- Improved cognitive function
They can also have beneficial effects as more than just a drink. Matcha has also been shown to have great effects when used in skincare!
Trends
Matcha has quickly become a social media phenomenon. Its benefits coupled with the beautiful aesthetics of its vibrant green colour make it perfect for social media posts.
Living a healthy lifestyle is one of the main priorities for people these days, and Matcha helps them achieve their goals. It’s a delicious and easy way to make any recipe so much healthier.
People are finding more and more ways to experiment with Matcha. This ensures that the “trend” of consuming Matcha will not be going away any time soon.
Versatility
The versatility of Matcha is one of the main factors that has helped it gain popularity across the world. Matcha, unlike green tea, has a ton of different variations in how it can be consumed. There’s always the basic Matcha powder in water or milk but so much more can be done. Some of the most popular ways Matcha is prepared are -
- Tea
- Milkshakes
- Iced Lattes
- Ice cream
- Cookies
- Cake
- Brownies
- Pancakes
People are always exploring more recipes with this versatile ingredient. Its unique taste and texture make it possible to experiment much more than with green tea. The Matcha Powder from Teami is a certified grade of Matcha. This means that it is of the highest quality, has better taste, and has the most benefits.
Teami also provides more flavours of Matcha other than just the original. They are - Mango, Blueberry, and Chocolate flavoured Matcha. This allows you to experiment further and find incredible new ways to make your recipes taste better!
Conclusion
Green Tea was all the rage a few years ago, and Matcha has now taken its throne as the healthiest tea. Both have incredible benefits for you, but Matcha takes the cake (maybe even literally!). It has a smoother and less bitter taste and has proven to be much more popular among the masses. Since it’s also pretty versatile and can be used in many more things, people are inclined to consume this more and experiment further with it.
At the end of the day, the choice lies with every individual. But Matcha seems to be the clear victor, and Teami Matcha Powder is even better than the rest!
Matcha Green Tea Powder
133.18 AED
Our Matcha Tea Powder is a Ceremonial Grade, USDA Tea powder that has endless benefits. Smooth and lightly sweet. Our Stone Ground Matcha Green Tea powder has several strengthening properties. One cup of matcha contains 6 times the antioxidants in goji berries,… read more
