It is very likely that you have seen it on Instagram, blogs or social networks because it is having success and becoming very fashionable. And you’ll recognize him by his too deep green color, which is precisely one of the big keys to weight loss. But the secret of him lies not only there, as it has EGCG catechins, which is an antioxidant related to fat burning, since it also speeds up the metabolism and blocks the growth of fat cells.
But it also fights type 2 diabetes, it has L-theanine, which stimulates alpha brain waves thereby improving concentration, improves cholesterol and triglyceride levels and fights the signs of aging.
Also, according to a study by The American Journal of Clinical Nutritionthe consumption of this drink has increased the thermogenesisi.e. fat burning, 8 or 10% up to 43% of the daily expenditure. But as if that weren’t enough, it contains caffeine, which in addition to helping us awaken our senses in the morning, is also very suitable for weight control, provided you don’t overdo it.
Alsoin 2009, an experiment with two groups took place. One of them drank a daily drink with catechins that came from green tea and the other didn’t, and it was concluded that the former had higher rates of weight loss and lower rates of fat.
All these rich properties are attributed to matcha tea, which is still green tea but in powder form, through a different process of making and growing it. The two, both the matcha (which in Japanese literally means crushed) and the green one come from Camellia Sinensis, only one month before cultivation it is covered in the case of our protagonist so that it does not receive direct sunlight. This stimulates the generation of chlorophyll, which gives it its characteristic intense green colour. The leaves are then ground into a powder.
How do you prepare?
Despite being ground, its preparation really It is very similar to that of a regular, ordinary tea. We are used to steeping the leaves in a bag which we then remove over very hot water, close to the boiling point.
To make it, the water should be like in any tea, almost boiling, but since it’s powdered, just add a dessert spoonful of matcha tea and stir. You will see how a layer of foam is created at its apex which is completely normal.
Now, if you are a real tea lover, it can be prepared in the more traditional way, like it is done in Japan. To do this you have to put the tea measure in a chasauku and pass it into a small bowl. Then add the hot water and mix gradually with a bamboo whisk until the foam layer appears and the lumps are eliminated. For very little money there are kits with everything you need to do it in the most classic way.
It can also be used as a condiment for desserts, in smoothies or milkshakes, but to lose weight the ideal is to use water.
