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Caution: reading this post will leave you craving matcha green tea.
Are you looking for an alternative to coffee, or perhaps want to add variety to your arsenal of energizing beverages?
I’m on a massive matcha kick after listening to Dr. Andrew Weil, one of the top natural medicine doctors in the world, talk about matcha on the Ben Greenfield podcast and then in my interview with Dr. Weil.
He shared about green tea benefits, drinking matcha as an anti-inflammatory coffee alternative, and why matcha is an important part of his morning ritual.
There are lots of things to love about matcha – my favorites are its energizing effect, and the fact that it doesn’t make you jittery or give you a caffeine crash.
In this post, Dr. Weil shares with us how he makes his daily morning matcha, which I was lucky to try when I visited him in Tucson, Arizona. Doc also shares 5 health benefits of drinking matcha green tea.
If you’re not familiar with Dr. Weil, let me introduce you: he is the world-renowned pioneer in Integrative Medicine, founder of Matcha Kari (super high-quality matcha sourced through one of Japan’s finest tea-farms in Uji, Japan, matcha’s birthplace) and True Food Kitchen.
Dr. Weil’s influence in the world of wellness and self-care that we know today runs incredibly deep. He is the creator of the anti-inflammatory diet, a best-selling author, and he developed an interest in matcha’s health benefits almost 60 years ago while abroad in Japan.
Get to know Dr. Weil and learn his top wellness practices in my interview with Dr. Andrew Weil.
What is matcha?
Matcha is processed green tea leaves that have been stone-ground into a powder (typically in Japan, where it’s been used in the legendary tea ceremonies by Zen Masters for centuries).
Matcha is the only form of tea that includes the whole leaf rather than a water extract of leaves. Its health benefits correlate with higher levels of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, including L-theanine.
Learn more about matcha green tea and get the best matcha recipes here.
Dr. Weil’s Simple Ceremonial Matcha Recipe
Watch Dr. Weil make matcha here!
How to make matcha green tea:
- Heat water in a kettle until steam first appears; this will be well below boiling, about 180°F. Turn off heat.
- Pour about ½ cup of hot water into a matcha bowl to warm it; discard the water and dry the inside of the bowl.
- Use a tea scoop to measure 3 scoops (1 teaspoon) of sifted matcha powder into the warmed bowl.
- Add about ¼ cup (2 ounces) of hot water.
- Use a tea whisk to mix the matcha tea into the water. Begin with a slow, back-and-forth stroke, then agitate the mixture to a froth with quick strokes.
- Sip and enjoy!
Note from Ksenia:
The above recipe will make a small, concentrated matcha tea – a matcha equivalent of espresso. When you’re drinking a high quality matcha, it feels complete and satisfying as is. That said, you can add hot water to make a “matcha Americano”, or steamed milk of your choice to make a latte. I especially love oat milk with my matcha.
Other matcha tips I learned from Dr. Weil:
- Use high quality ceremonial matcha! You can usually tell the quality by its color and smell. You can’t go wrong if you get the same matcha that Dr. Weil drinks here.
- Warm not only the matcha bowl, but the whisk as well.
- Keep your matcha in the freezer to keep it fresh.
- Slurp while you drink. Dr. Weil explains why here (I’m conflicted about this one :)
Why drink matcha?
Here are the top 5 health benefits of drinking matcha green tea, according to Dr. Weil:
Reason to drink matcha #1: Cultivate Presence
There’s an ancient Japanese proverb “Ichi go ichi e” that roughly translates to “for this time only,” or “one time, one meeting.”
It describes how matcha is traditionally prepared and experienced during Japanese Tea Ceremony. We also see it as a reminder to appreciate each of our daily rituals and create value in any or all moments. No two moments are the same – so cherish each one!
By starting the day with matcha, you choose to carefully mind yourself and appreciate your individual needs. There’s an opportunity to reconnect with all the senses. As matcha’s earthy, floral, and umami notes cross the palate in novel ways, we cultivate more presence.
Reason to drink matcha #2: Potent Antioxidants
You care about your health journey. Matcha is the most potent and purest form of green tea, different because you consume the whole leaf instead of brewing it.
Also, with close to 1,000 years of dedicated harvesting practices in Zen Buddhism, the nutrient content, flavor, and antioxidants in matcha far surpass brewed green tea. Studies demonstrate a 137x increase in important antioxidants like EGCG, and significantly elevated levels of L-theanine, a natural, neuro-modulating amino acid unique to matcha.
Reason to drink matcha #3: Honor Your Body’s Clock
You need an afternoon pick-me-up that won’t disrupt your sleep. Matcha is a great morning energizer, but unlike coffee, the caffeine regulating properties of L-theanine make it an optimal midday or early-evening beverage. That means less worry whether you’ll have it in you to make that yoga class after work, or whatever your hustle may be!
Reason to drink matcha #4: Biohack Your Workout Recovery
You’re a performance optimizer. Matcha is a proven source of sustained and optimized energy output. Did you know that exercise releases damaging free radicals which the body then works to eliminate?
While the benefits of exercise are always worth the effort, the antioxidant catechins and polyphenols in matcha reduce recovery time by neutralizing them faster. It also improves the rate of glycogen replenishment, translating to less time between sets or cardio intervals, and thus results you can feel and see, sooner!
Reason to drink matcha #5: Manage Anxiety
You’re cool with a little brain boost each day. Research directly involving Japanese matcha tells us that it improves our dopamine and serotonin levels (that’s why I call it “the feel-good tea.”) The composition of micronutrients, antioxidants, trace minerals, and well-documented amino acids makes matcha a lifestyle improvement for immediate and ongoing benefits.
That includes reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, a more stable mood, and a greater attention span. That same research also tells us 3 months of daily use (2 or more servings per day) are associated with the most significant improvements. Don’t worry, you’ll still feel great after the first bowl!
Ready to experience ceremonial matcha for yourself in a whole new way?
Buy ceremonial matcha approved by Dr. Weil and Breakfast Criminals.