According to a global industry analysis report, the matcha market is expected to reach nearly £4bn by 2024. Roots is here to tell you why.
Getting your caffeine fix used to be simple: go to a café and order from the four or five options provided. But over the years, we’ve seen café menus expanding – from turmeric to bullet lattes, the world of caffeinated drinks has changed hugely. The once mundane caffeine fix now presents exciting and endless possibilities. Among the latest drinks to come onto this scene, are matcha lattes.
Matcha is a green tea powder first popularised by Chinese Zen Buddhist monks hundreds of years ago and is a key part of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. The taste of matcha is unique, and the taste for matcha is an acquired one. It differs from the stronger tastes and aromas of black teas. It’s earthy, with mellow grassy notes and subtle sweetness. In a latte, it’s creamy and has a nuanced taste. If you don’t like green tea, there’s a chance you won’t like the taste as it has a similar flavour profile.
Like all tea, matcha powder comes from the plant Camellia Sinesis. Despite it being a green tea powder, matcha is being hailed as a coffee alternative. This is because matcha contains nutrients from the whole tea leaf, meaning it contains more caffeine and antioxidants than regular green tea powder.
Another difference between matcha and regular tea is its nutrient profile as it’s harvested and grown differently. For example, for matcha production farmers cover their tea plants 20-30 days before harvest, protecting them from direct sunlight. This increases chlorophyll production, boosts amino acid content, and gives the plant a vibrant green colour.
For those who love coffee but hate the shakes, the rush of anxiety and impending doom of a coffee crash, matcha is a great alternative as it contains a slow-release caffeine. Matcha has an amino acid, 1-theanine, which helps your body absorb caffeine more slowly. So while matcha does on average contain less caffeine than coffee (40-50mg depending on the strength and serving size, versus 95mg in a cup of coffee), the slow release means it raises alertness without making you jittery. Matcha has also been shown to have other health benefits, such as protecting liver health, reducing cholesterol and boosting brain function.
It seems that matcha is a gentler and healthier alternative to coffee. So next time you pop into a café and see a mysterious green latte, try it and you might just find your new favourite caffeinated drink.
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