Matcha is made from only the top 2-3 leaves of the plant and uses the entire leaves. These leaves are carefully ground into a very fine powder. As a result, the tea is easily absorbed into the bloodstream.

I’ll list some of the nutrients and benefits here:

* Vitamins A, B-complex, C, E and K.

* Trace amounts of the minerals calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, sodium.

* Strong blood detoxifer due to high chlorophyll content.

* 70 times the antioxidants of orange juice.

* Nine times the beta carotene of spinach. and 4 times the beta carotene of carrots

* Extremely rich in polyphenols (antioxidants) and catechins, especially EGCG, which helps fight cancer. In fact, according to a study at the University of Colorado, match has 137 times more catechins than regular tea.

* Boosts metabolic rate by 35-40%, thus assisting in weight loss.

* 2 cups of regular green tea has approximately twice the antioxidants of red wine, 7 times that of orange juice and 20 times that of apple juice. Matcha has approximately 10 times the polyphenols and antioxidants of regular teas.

* Adds fiber to the diet.

After reading that list it should be no surprise that it’s the most potent green tea in the world. It has been consumed in Japan for more than a thousand years. Buddhist monks first discovered it and this is the type that is served at Japanese tea ceremonies.

Matcha tea has to be carefully grown and shaded. Weeks before the harvest, the plants are covered to protect them from directly sunlight. The leaves turn a darker shade of green as a result, which in turn increases the production of amino acids. Amino acids increase the sweetness. So if you feared that it would be more bitter because it’s more potent, it’s not. In fact, matcha is now a common ingredient in sweets. The leaves are harvested by hand and are also ground by hand with stone. Outside the US it is often not ground properly so it’s best to purchase matcha from Japanese growers.

Even though it is so potent it only contains a small amount of caffeine (25 mg). It also contains L-theanine, which has a calming effect. Therefore the caffeine won’t raise your blood pressure. The L-theanine also helps increase the powers of alertness and concentration.

If you are already a lover of green tea you might want to consider adding match to the mix. Even if you aren’t a fan of the regular, brewed versions you might want to give this a try because the taste is pleasant and sweet. The health benefits are so great that everyone should at least give it a try.

Ready to try some matcha tea? Click here for affordable matcha tea delivered right to your door.

Bottled Green Tea

Obviously a hot, fresh cup of green tea is the best way to enjoy all the benefits of the tea. In our hectic society, however, it’s not always possible to take the time to prepare a hot cup of tea. Rather than reach for a can of soda or a cup of coffee you might want to consider some bottled tea.

Some bottled teas have fruit flavorings in them that contain anti-oxidants. Drinking one of these bottles is the equivalent of a serving or two of vegetables.

Republic of Tea carries 14+ fruit-flavored tea with no sugar added. You can never go wrong buying tea from this company. Their tea can be found at most grocery stores. Lipton Green Tea to Go (add it to bottled water to make instant green tea).

Arizona and Snapple make good bottled teas but they are sweetened.

Honest Tea carries sweetened and flavored organic bottled teas.

Keep in mind that bottled tea has significantly less polyphenols (anti-oxidants) than brewed tea. This is because of the corn syrup and sugar that is added to the tea; it dilutes the anti-oxidants. It makes for a great thirst quencher on a hot day and is certainly better than sugary drinks but don’t completely abandon cups of hot tea in the warm weather.

Green Tea Bags

Tea bags are not as convenient as bottles but are more convenient than loose tea. It only takes a couple of minutes to heat up a cup of water and then another couple of minutes for the tea bag to brew. Used tea bags even serve a useful purpose. If you have a canker sore or cut yourself, place a used tea bag on it. Green tea is know for its anti-biotic properties.

Republic of Tea sells a variety of green tea bags; one flavor for each day of the week, in fact. Check out some of the flavors: Honey Ginseng, Orange Spice, Pineapple Ginger and more.

Loose Tea

True tea connoisseurs prefer loose tea. Loose tea has several advantages. It’s cheaper than tea bags and also requires less packaging so is easier on the environment. Used tea leaves serve many useful purposes too. From removing rust on iron pots to removing odors in the refrigerator to keeping pests away from rose bushes. There’s an almost endless use for used tea leaves.

Are you put off by loose tea because of the added preparation time? Brewing loose tea is easy. Use filtered or bottled water, if possible. The water need to be hot, to aid in the extraction of the anti-oxidants, but don’t boil the water. Boiled water will make the tea taste bitter.

Allow the tea to infuse for 2-5 minutes. The longer it infuses the more polyphenols (anti-oxidants) you’ll get.

Republic of Tea sells many different types of loose tea. Their tea is available in most grocery stores and health food stores.

If you would like the convenience of green tea shipped to your door you should try Mellow Monk’s Green Teas. I highly recommend their starter kit if you are new to green tea. They offer many flavors of tea and there is one that is sure to please your palette.

As you can see, there are healthy alternatives in all the forms of green tea. Try to incorporate green tea into your diet every day. You’ll notice the benefits immediately.

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Get more information about green tea from the Complete Guide of Green Tea. Available for immediate download.