If you have been to a coffee shop lately, you might have noticed that matcha green tea is becoming very popular in the United States. Although some people might only be familiar with Starbucks’ matcha green tea latte, many are drinking matcha prepared via the traditional technique. A lot of the powdery green tea’s popularity can be attributed to the wide array of health benefits that come with drinking traditional matcha. Matcha gives its drinkers a calm alertness and is packed with antioxidants. Some studies have linked matcha to other health benefits such as weight loss and the reduction of cancer and other diseases.
The only real drawback with matcha tea is that it takes a small set of traditional utensils to make and the process is difficult when on the go. Luckily, a new product called Pret-A-Matcha has launched a Kickstarter campaign to create travel bottles that contain all the tools you need to brew high-quality matcha tea anywhere.
What is Matcha Tea?
Chinese tea drinkers during the Tang dynasty (618-907) first created matcha tea, which is brewed using special tea leaves processed into a matcha powder. The processing and preparation were pretty basic until Zen Buddhist monks turned it into a proper ritual and ceremony. It was brought to Japan in 1191, where it grew in popularity in contrast to declining popularity in China.
Matcha tea is different from traditional green tea in several ways. First, the tea leaves are grown in the shade for three weeks before they are harvested. Unlike other green teas, the veins and stems are removed from the tea leaves after harvest. After drying, the leaves are stone ground into a powder using specialized mills. The leaves must be ground very slowly because the flavor and aroma of the tea will be altered if it is heated during the grinding process. All of this creates a bright green matcha powder that has a rich umami flavor and lots of health benefits.
The Health Benefits
Matcha’s leaves contain about three times more caffeine and L-theanine than traditional green tea; about the same amount of caffeine as one cup of coffee. L-theanine is an amino acid that induces relaxation without drowsiness. Because of the L-theanine and caffeine, matcha tea gives its drinkers increased calm energy and mental focus and clarity. Matcha also contains vitamins, minerals, nutrients and antioxidants. It contains five times more antioxidants than other foods and super fruits. Some studies have shown that these antioxidants can help protect against cancer and heart disease. Other studies have shown that drinking matcha tea regularly can increase metabolism and help with weight loss.
Preparing Traditional Matcha Tea
Matcha powder is not steeped in water like traditional green tea. First, the matcha is sieved into a bowl to break up all the clumps. Then the hot (not boiling) water is added to the bowl and the mixture is whisked. This suspends the powder in the water (as the powder never dissolves) and also creates a nice froth to the tea. The mixture can then be poured into a tea cup. Brewing it the traditional way requires a bowl, cup, whisk, sieve, and scoop and therefore it is difficult to brew your own matcha tea away from home.
Pret-A-Matcha
Fortunately, Pret-A-Matcha founder Lisa Henderson and her team have created the perfect solution for those who want to brew matcha on the go. Lisa once worked in IT consulting and was constantly on the move. Because of this, she found it hard to keep up with her daily matcha ritual. Last July, Lisa came up with an idea for a bottle specifically designed to brew matcha on the go.
The Pret-A-Matcha bottle is a double-walled, stainless steel bottle that features a rubber-sealed compartment which can hold two ounces of matcha powder, a second compartment that holds a small sieve and matcha scoop and a whisk attached to the bottom of the vacuum sealed lid. The compact bottle contains everything needed to brew matcha and can keep the brew warm or cold for hours. The bottle also comes in three different artistic designs.
Lisa and her team have started a Kickstarter campaign to turn her hard work into a reality for all the matcha lovers out there. The campaign started in July and is already well on its way to becoming funded. Their goal is $60,000 needed for the development, tooling, production and shipping costs of the product. Over the past year, Lisa has worked with a product designer to create two prototypes, which led to the current and third iteration of the bottle. This design has been field tested and is made with high-quality materials.
Anyone pledging $60 to the Kickstarter campaign will get his or her very own Pret-A-Matcha bottle. Pledge soon and the reward also includes 20 grams of Matchaeologist ceremonial matcha tea. The bottle and high-quality matcha tea are a $90 value. The Kickstarter page has a great video that shows the bottle in action and also has a list of other rewards for those interested in contributing. If you want your very own travel matcha bottle contribute now before the August 15 deadline.
- Matcha latte photo: Pexels
- Matcha photo: BigStock
- Pret-A-Matcha product photos: Pret-A-Matcha
