By Melanie A. Albert, intuitive cooking expert, author, and speaker. Founder & CEO Experience Nutrition Group, LLC
I love, love, love matcha tea and was so excited this week to also enjoy dark chocolate with matcha! I’ve been drinking matcha tea since 2004, 13 years ago, when I started working in branding, marketing, and licensing with Dr. Andrew Weil / Weil Lifestyle. I knew Andy was an advocate of drinking green tea, but honestly, green tea was not (yet) part of my life. I thought it was bitter and I really did not know how to prepare it.
Fortunately, I had the great opportunity to attend the World Tea Expo four years and learned more and more about the beauty of tea, the history of tea, and the benefits of tea.
In my latest book, “New View of Healthy Eating,” includes a chapter on healthy hydration, including green tea.
Excerpt from “A New View of Healthy Eating”: Matcha Tea
Get Ready to Enjoy Green Tea
I began drinking green tea over a decade ago in 2004 when I started working in marketing and licensing with best-selling author and integrative medicine pioneer, Dr. Andrew Weil, who has been a long-time advocate of drinking green tea.
My green tea experience grew from bitter to mindful. When I first started drinking loose green tea, I found it to be very bitter tasting, but I kept experimenting with different teas and even attended The World Tea Expo for a few years. Importantly, I learned the proper way to brew green tea for an enjoyable, smooth taste. Today I love the smooth, grassy taste, along with the mindful experience of brewing and enjoying tea.
Top 6 Reasons Why Green Tea is Good for You
- The antioxidant ECGC, in green tea, is an anti-inflammatory.
- Research has found that green tea benefits heart health and brain health, and helps prevent cancer.
- It is full of catechins and polyphenols, which help the brain relax and stimulate dopamine levels.
- Theanine in green tea helps improve mood and provides a sense of relaxation.
- Green tea has less caffeine than coffee.
- It tastes delicious, so enjoy a few cups every day.
Matcha: Tea of the Japanese tea ceremony
- High quality Japanese green tea is covered before picking to ac¬centuate its vibrant green color and to increase amino acids, as well as vitamins A and C.
- The tea leaves are stone-ground, so we actually eat tea leaves when we drink matcha tea and receive the full benefits of green tea.
- Intense grassy, green taste.
4 Simple Steps to Prepare Matcha Tea
- Place ¼ tsp matcha in matcha bowl.
- Add nearly boiled water.
- Whisk with a bamboo whisk.
- Enjoy the ritual and ceremony.
I invite you to experience matcha green tea. Enjoy the mindful process of preparing it and it’s delicious fresh, green taste. Post your photos of your matcha on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/NewViewHealthyEating
If you are interested in purchasing “A New View of Healthy Eating”, you can buy it here and I’ll ship an autographed (if you wish) copy to you.
Or, stop by one of my cooking classes or demos this month. Would be great to see you!
- April 15, 2017, 9am, Downtown Phoenix Market: Demo Bamboo Steamer Spring Veggies, 721 N. Central Ave, Phoenix
- April 19, 2017, 6-8pm, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, Tempe, AZ; Anti-inflammatory Cooking Class: Seasonal Veggie Stir-fry. 2125 E Broadway Road, Tempe, AZ Learn more. Call to register: 480.222.9620.
- April 22, 2017, 10:30-11:30am, Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market, Demo Cooking with the Aromatherapy of Fresh Herbs, 3806 N Brown Ave, Scottsdale
- April 22, 2017, 5-8pm, Peoria Earth Day Planetpalooza Celebration, Westwing Park, 27100 Westwing Parkway, Demo Raw Kale Salad with Fresh Fruit
- April 23, 2017, 11am-1pm, The Farm at South Mountain, Phoenix, Intuitive Cooking Class: Farm-to-Table: 3 New Ways to Cook Local Spring Veggies. 32nd Street & Southern, Phoenix, Click to purchase tickets.
- April 24, 2017, 4:30-5:30pm, Grandfamiles with Gregory’s Fresh Marketplace (private event)
Join our E-mail list and please let me know if you have any questions or would like to book a cooking event with your organization.