The best ceremonial grade Matcha Powder

matcha tea

Matcha is a type of powdered green tea that’s rich in antioxidants. With traditional green tea, the leaves are steeped in hot water and then discarded. But with matcha, the dried leaves are actually ground into a powder, mixed into the drink, and consumed. It is made from shade-grown tea leaves that also are used to make gyokuro. The preparation of matcha starts several weeks before harvest and may last up to 20 days, when the tea bushes are covered to prevent direct sunlight².

Matcha is low in calories, macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals but rich in a variety of antioxidants. One teaspoon of matcha powder (the amount used in many recipes to make a single serving of matcha tea) contains about 3 calories and 0.5 grams of protein³.

Matcha is a type of powdered green tea that’s rich in antioxidants. With traditional green tea, the leaves are steeped in hot water and then discarded. But with matcha, the dried leaves are actually ground into a powder, mixed into the drink, and consumed. It is made from shade-grown tea leaves that also are used to make gyokuro. The preparation of matcha starts several weeks before harvest and may last up to 20 days, when the tea bushes are covered to prevent direct sunlight².

Matcha is low in calories, macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals but rich in a variety of antioxidants. One teaspoon of matcha powder (the amount used in many recipes to make a single serving of matcha tea) contains about 3 calories and 0.5 grams of protein³.

Most of the products in the market are saturated with the claims of the best in the market. But how can you tell? Reviews? The answer is yes. This product is the best that I have ever tried. It might not be the cheapest ( don’t go for the cheapest product) because cheap usually means low quality.

Try this brand called MatchaBar

Source:
(1) Matcha – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matcha.
(2) Matcha: Benefits, Nutrition, and Risks – Health. https://www.health.com/nutrition/what-is-matcha.
(3) . https://bing.com/search?q=matcha.
(4) Health Benefits of Matcha – WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-matcha.

How to find the best culinary matcha powder for cooking and baking?

Matcha tea powder can be used in baking and cooking. Here are some ways to use matcha tea powder in your recipes:

  • Baked goods: Matcha tea powder can be easily incorporated into baked goods like muffins, scones, healthy cookies, and more¹.
  • Seasoning: Mix matcha tea powder with garlic, cumin, lemon, mustard or other seasonings and sprinkle it over cauliflower pieces and bake it in a 400F oven for 20 minutes or so until it’s crisp-tender².
  • Extra-thick matcha: Scoop 3 ladlefuls of high-grade matcha powder into your strainer and sift. Pour boiling water into a teacup (about 2 ounces), then add half of the water to your powder. Circle back and forth with your whisk, carefully combining the powder with the water. Don’t add all the water at one time—it will clump³.

Our recommendation:

Naoki Matcha Organic All Purpose Blend

With over 800 plus reviews, you will love adding this powder to your ice cream, early morning beverages and desserts. It has all the benefits you get from caffeine and L-Theanine. Added with all the benefits of drinking matcha to your daily routine will improve your lifestyle in many ways.

Try Naoki Fine Japanese Matcha

Source:
(1) Matcha Powder Benefits | How To Use Matcha Powder – University Health News. https://universityhealthnews.com/daily/nutrition/matcha-tea-benefits-7-tips-for-how-to-use-matcha-powder-for-better-health/.
(2) 8 Techniques to Use Matcha or Sencha Green Tea Powder … – SEI MEE TEA LLC. https://groundgreentea.com/blog/8-techniques-to-use-matcha-or-green-tea-powder-in-your-daily-cooking/.
(3) How to Make Matcha, Japanese Green Tea, Step by Step. https://www.bonappetit.com/drinks/non-alcoholic/slideshow/how-to-make-matcha.
(4) How to Cook and Bake with Matcha Green Tea Powder—and Why. https://www.bonappetit.com/trends/article/how-to-cook-and-bake-with-matcha-green-tea-powder-and-why.

Top 20 Fruit and Herbal Tea Remedies For Your Immune System

Herbal Remedies

There are ways to boost the immune system. You can support your health with natural remedies since it existed. Now, finding a great alternative to make one’s health great enough to withstand any possible virus that comes your way. There are alternative options for us to pump up our inner defenses.

This is what I call teas good for the immune system when consumed regularly helps you and your family’s health thrive. I ranked it according to the tea’s popularity and consumption rate.

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links which I get commission if you click and purchase through my links.
  1. Chaga Tea – is an exceptional tea that they call the King of Mushrooms. The perfect herbal tea that has a smooth and rich flavor you will love. You are on your way to a great well being consuming this ancient healing miracle. This tea soothes intestinal upset and supports a sluggish or failing immune system. To get a cheaper option, try Chaga Loose Leaf.
  2. Elderberry Tea – an old herbal remedy to boost your immune system. It boasts proteins to heal cold and flu viruses. The only tea with the largest Phytochemicals to maintain our overall health. Its exceptional flavonol levels make it an immune system powerhouse.
  3. Burdock Root Tea – include this as part of your diet to improve your well-being. Its unique flavor and healing properties are essential to deeply nurture your body.
  4. Holy Basil Tea – from health to spiritual concerns, this peppery basil tea is famous to be miraculous and fortifies your body with good adaptogens. In Ayurvedic medicine, it spiritually protects and physically heals your body.
  5. Ashwagandha Tea – it comes from Indian root, what they called an ancient medicinal herb. Drinking this tea reduces anxiety and stress, helps fight depression, boosts fertility and testosterone in men, and includes improving brain function.
  6. Hibiscus Tea – this refreshing beverage contains Vitamin C and bioflavonoids. It is famous for its Anthocyanin pigments (Anthocyanin pigments and associated flavonoids have demonstrated the ability to protect against a myriad of human diseases) that protect you against potential conditions.
  7. Matcha Green Tea – one of my favorite teas. Matcha gives you that energizing effect and boost whenever you feel tired. It is popular in Japanese tea houses during tea ceremonies. Pack with antioxidants including the powerful EGCg, calms the mind and relaxes the body, provides vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc, and magnesium and prevents disease.
  8. Mullein Leaf Tea – it has been used in centuries to treat a variety of ailments including chronic coughs, colds, and asthma. Some studies said the tea may possess powerful antiviral properties. It posses antibacterial properties and may treat infections caused by bacteria.
  9. Organic Astragalus Root Tea – in history, they used this root tea as an immune booster. It is used for the common cold, upper respiratory infections, seasonal allergies, swine flu, fibromyalgia, anemia, HIV/AIDS, and to strengthen and regulate the immune system.
  10. Licorice Root Tea – a popular tea flavor and a cure-all concoction for the Egyptians. It is used to soothe gastrointestinal problems, food poisoning, stomach ulcers, and heartburn. This root tea can speed the repair of the stomach lining and restore balance. In addition, it cleanses your respiratory system.
  11. Nettle Leaf Tea – is a gentle diuretic to flush away toxins from the body. It contains a wide variety of nutrients that act as antioxidants in your body. It helps you heal and fight infections and may even reduce inflammation.
  12. Ginger Root Tea – an invigorating tea that soothes your senses. It fights off respiratory problems, improves stomach performance, strengthens your immunity with its high antioxidant levels, improves blood circulation, and with a lot of health benefits that come along with it.
  13. Calendula Flower Tea – is popular to treat minor ailments like gastric and intestinal inflammation from infection. Known to soothe digestive issues and used as a natural remedy to fight the bacterial infection.
  14. Organic Red Clover Tea – contains “isoflavones” when consumed it changes in women’s body to phytoestrogens to get relief from reproductive issues or hormone imbalance. Known as an excellent blood purifier that detoxifies and purifies your body from toxins.
  15. Eucalyptus Leaf Tea – are a great source of antioxidants, particularly flavonoids that protect your body from oxidative stress and free radical damage. It can decrease mucus and alleviates you from common cold and cough.
  16. Digestive Nirvana Blend – this organic and spicy flavored tea supports a healthy digestive system. The main herb components of this tea are a) Anise seed – known as an expectorant b) Ginger Root – fights respiratory problems and more health benefits c) Papaya leaf – as an antifungal and antimicrobial herb d) Licorice root – to ease muscle cramps and support the respiratory tract e) Fennel seed – for digestive, respiratory and vision support.
  17. Hyssop Tea – known as an aid to soothing problems in the digestive, intestinal, and respiratory problems including liver and gallbladder conditions.
  18. Rose Hips Tea – is rich in antioxidants and may support a healthy immune system. It has been linked to numerous benefits, you can read more here.
  19. Divine Immunity Blend – a blend of herbs and fruit. This is easy to drink tea that strengthens your system. The herbs that combined this refreshing drink; Hyssop, Elderberry, Nettle leaf, Lemongrass, Wild Cherry Bark, Rose Hips, Lemon balm, Astragalus root, and Cranberry.
  20. Cranberry Tea – improves immune function, reducing inflammation, and flush our toxins out of your body.

Sources:

Rxlist

Webmd

Healthline

BuddhaTeas

Honey Boba Matcha Tea Drink Review

Honey Boba Matcha Tea Drink Review
Honey Boba Matcha Tea Drink Review
Honey Boba Matcha Tea Drink Review 2019

We have been going to this cafe for quite some time. I feel they deserve to have a nice review of their matcha beverage. Just to let you all know, this is my first time to try their matcha drink. I tried all the other flavors which are good. I want to make sure I specifically want the matcha tea boba I always wanted.

This Honey Boba cafe is located in Monterey Park, CA. The place is very spacious. I love the chandelier decorations and how everything feels like cool. Not too hot inside. You can bring your laptop or work even there. A place you can relax.

About the matcha boba drink, I tasted it and it seems like green tea. The quality of the matcha is not strong enough for me. Personally, I would have called this green tea boba. How they mix it with milk and other concoction makes it really taste good and sweet. I like my matcha strong enough to last me throughout the day.

It was not the best matcha experience for me. I had expectations that the drink would surpass the ones in Little Tokyo. It was just not too strong. The container made me happy because it was easy to drink and put a cap on it while driving. It’s spillproof and the lid makes sure it doesn’t leak.

The disadvantage of the canister, I had to open it to put my straw in to drink. Little spills on the cup holder can be quite a hassle to clean. It was messy. I had to drink half of it put the lid on and get back on the road. The wait was okay. I don’t mind the detail. It’s just that I have to open and then close it.

Buying the drink was not too expensive. We have tried really good ones that have to buy one get one free promotion. They don’t have any promotion. You have to buy the drink individually. They have a lot of options that are around $5 or more. Better flavors and mixes.

The advantage is the amount of drink you have. It’s more than a cup. We usually get large size plastic cups. The size is times two. Though we paid for two, we absolutely love the idea of having plenty of matcha tea blend in our container. My husband said it’s like paying for $10 if it was cup size.

Overall, I was happy with my drink not with the amount of ice inside it. It was very tasty and I would love to order it again. Even if it’s not too strong, there is caffeine on this drink. Not good for kids. Perfect for a hot day and just lingering inside the cafe. A must-have drink for students or anyone who wants to feel refreshed and energized all day.

ITO EN Oi Ocha Unsweetened Green Tea Review

Oi Ocha Unsweetened Green Tea Review

I have seen the ITO EN Oi Ocha Unsweetened Green Tea at supermarkets and some online. The reviews I read about this drink was fair. I found no reviews to read that would convince me to buy it. This drink on sale at Daiso near me. I grab the chance to get one. Make a good review of the green tea drink.

This drink does give you an extra boost of calm energy on a hot day. It is loaded with vitamin C to keep you away from getting sick. It is made from green tea leaves that gives you 100% nutrients you need.

What makes this product different is that it taste like real tea. It is delicious as it gets cold. The other products may have milk or additional sweeteners. This one hardly has any sugar on it.

Its distinctive natural tea flavor makes me really like it. I don’t go for sugary drinks. The Oi Ocha Unsweetened Green Tea is my winner. Without artificial sweetener, for me, it is the best green tea beverage I have ever drink.


Its natural taste of tea makes me want to drink it over and over again. This product is great. Perfect for people who want to cut down sugar on their diet and want to find healthier beverage options.

The flaw I see in this product is that its made in Taiwan, not in Japan. The label says its Japan’s No. 1. I was assuming this was manufactured in Japan, not Taiwan.

Product intention is to provide a non-sugary tea beverage for individuals who had diet restrictions. To people who are diabetic and wants to enjoy tea on the go. This is perfect for anyone who drinks tea, hot or cold. The only beverage you enjoy without the sugar.

Where to find this product? You can purchase it on our store using this link. Please note that buying using my links gives me a commission.

Snack: Matcha Peejoy Review

matchapeejoyreview

I got this snack from my husband who went to the Japanese market, Marukai Market. The name of the snack is Matcha Peejoy Snack. The design is patterned after the stick filled snacks. Instead of filling it with chocolate, they filled it with matcha cream. I thought this would be another simple snack. They made it too small. I kinda like it because it was easy to eat. I could taste the light matcha cream inside the lightly baked stick.

This snack is not something I want to buy every time I get cravings. Comparing it with the other matcha stick snack available online. This brand did not stand out. I was hoping it was delicious. It was okay. No wow factor. The taste did not remain on my tongue. Unforgettable. I might include this on my top 100. Nothing too special that leaves a lasting mark.

The good thing about this snack since it is light and easy to carry. You can easily put this in your bag for a quick no-nonsense snack. It is good to fill you up for an hour or two. The next thing you know you need to find a heavier snack to partner it with. The cream really makes this snack worthy tasting. The texture and crunch are amazing.

I think the only people who would love this snack are children. It is not high in sodium or any other artificial flavoring. The sugar level is not too high (above 100 mg is too much). You would not let your children eat sodium rich foods. Kids would love eating this using melted chocolate. Since it is a great complement to matcha.

You can purchase this snack online or any Japanese market. Whenever I go to the Japanese market, they sometimes change their product offerings. I suggest finding it online first. This is a good light snack for kids and adults who needs matcha energy.

Teaologists UK Ceremonial Grade Matcha

Here is some information about the company:
Company: Teaologists UK
Product type: Ceremonial Grade
Year Established: 2016
Type: Usucha (Thin)
Location: United Kingdom

copyright by matchatea-lover

Flavor Rating: 9/10
Aroma Rating: 9/10
Color Rating: 9/10
Taste Rating: 9/10

Ceremonial grade matcha tea is being compared to kitchen or cooking grade. There is a huge difference. Ceremonial matcha tea is rich in taste. Try to compare superior, premium and ceremonial matcha tea together. They are not the same in taste, flavor, and color. Even with the price.

There is also a difference when a product says ceremonial organic grade than the ceremonial grade. The place where it came from is also considered. This is my first ceremonial grade that can be made into Koicha or Usucha. Great for people who want to change their coffee routine to matcha tea. I started with a premium grade of koicha matcha tea. Though, I still love my first matcha tea compared to the ceremonial grade.

I purchased the sample of 5g for the price of £5. Now I check again, they change it and it’s less than $5. Hurrah! Matcha tea beginner’s who wants to try matcha tea should be on the lookout for samples. In case, your taste buds do its choosing for you. You may not anticipate the taste of it at the beginning. You will love it once you consumed all of it.

This product is one of their best sellers. The reason I bought their sample. I opened it and smelled the bursting aroma. It smelled good. I made a simple drink without whisking it. Check the picture above. The tea is rich, aromatic and smooth. It has warm notes to it. Personally, it is delicious, sweet and worth drinking over and over again. The great thing about drinking matcha tea is that it gives you a relaxing feeling you want. I like this matcha tea.

Superior GoldMatcha Review

Superior GoldMatcha

According to the product description stated on the site, Superior Matcha has a smooth, delicate taste with layered sweetness and bitterness. I would say the description fits the product perfectly.

copyright by matchatea-lover

Personally, this matcha tea is strong. It gives out that green tea smell and a bitter kick when I drink it. When I traditionally mix it with small increments of cold water before the hot water. The color of the liquid turns to green, not vibrant green.


copyright by matchatea-lover

Mix it properly if you do not want to end up drinking a bitter matcha tea drink. I like it a lot. Here is my short story on how I came to love matcha and all its goodness.

My sister went to Japan last December and brought with her Koicha Matcha Tea from Uji, Kyoto Japan. It was so good that I instantly became curious about this powdered tea. My fixation drove me to start my own matcha tea blog.

Matcha Tea has changed my lifestyle. Officially, I am a matcha tea convert. Goodbye, coffee! Being not totally equipped with some matcha tools that I need to succeed in mixing matcha the right way. I just went ahead mix match with cold and hot water.

Compared to my first matcha which was Matcha Tea from Uji-Kyoto, Japan. (I consumed everything before I realize I forgot to take a picture). The flavor, aroma, and color of the matcha tea were different. This matcha tea powder from GoldMatcha has a darker color. The texture is smooth and fine. The taste is really usucha which is good for drinking. 

Overall, their superior matcha tea is great. I would it a total score of 8/10. This is good for ceremony tea practice. For people who want to experience less expensive matcha.

Matcha Crunch Review

matcha crunch review

I tasted this candy last week and I find it really good. This Matcha crunch product is made from Japan. A company called Bourbon. I checked their website and it has the Japanese and English version. It is a good sign that this product came from a legitimate company that has standards.

copyright by matchatea-lover

This chocolate treat is crunchy and tasty. No wonder they call it matcha crunch. The thick chocolate cover makes this unique to someone who wants to enjoy matcha and chocolate at the same time. Someone like me!

Inside it is a matcha flavored creme with rice crispies. Pop it in your mouth and you will definitely be wanting for more. I love matcha and chocolate too. I have the best of both on what I love on a candy.

What is more to ask? Concern about calories? It is only 30 kcal for one chocolate. The ingredients are artificial and contain milk, nuts, wheat, and soybeans. It would not harm you. Though it will put fat on your love handles and be there as long as you work out.

There are a lot of snacks that have matcha filling. Try to read the labels first before digging in. Not every package has natural flavors. For some who have allergies especially to nuts. This chocolate crunch may not be for you.

Organic Uji Matcha Tea From Kyoto, Japan

organic-uji-matcha-

Here is the sample of the organic uji matcha product I purchased from Tokyo Matcha Selection online. It is manufactured from Ogura, Uji-Kyoto, Japan. You probably saw one of these on the internet. It is available from various resources online. Most of them offering this type of product are from Japan. You can see them in Japanese stores too.

When I ordered, it took the product to reach me almost two months. I was wondering why it took that long. Not until I read online resources that during the season from March to May orders get heavy and busy. Small to large orders go in and out of Japan. I panicked at some point and glad at the same time when I received my orders.

Kyoto has been popular for manufacturing matcha tea and widely known harvesting green tea. The largest companies who cultivates matcha tea products are from Kyoto. Other companies you have heard are from Shizuokoa, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Nishio.   This brand is different from the other matcha tea I have tasted.

If I would rate the astringency level from one to five where one means it has less astringency and five means it has more astringency to its taste. I would rate it four. You can really taste the bold flavor of the tea. I love it in a way when I drink it in shots. It gives me that extra kick during the afternoon when I feel sleepy.  

It gives me the impression that organic types can be strong. Strong in flavor and taste. This make has passed the JAS and JONA standards meaning it is safe to drink. I would recommend this to beginner’s and it would make a perfect practice ceremony tea.

My overall rating is 8/10. I am not really a fan of tea that has high levels of astringency. This is my personal review of this grade. I love the sweet ones that I was hoping to find for my next reviews.