What Is Matcha And How Does It Compare To Coffee?

Have you seen people with these weird-looking green drinks and wondered "what the heck is that!?"

That's at least what happens to me whenever I get a matcha tea from any various coffee establishment.

I first tried matcha a few months ago when I kept seeing people raving about it and doing research about its health benefits compared to coffee. While I'm not the biggest tea-drinker I decided to give it a go and now I'm obsessed. 

So what even is it? Well, in it's most basic form, it's just green tea!

However, according to Cosmopolitan, it actually is the Japanese green tea leaves but ground into a powder instead of brewed like we're used to with most teas.

Because of it's "ground" status, it keeps all of it's antioxidant, mineral and just-plain-good-for-you properties.

"One cup of matcha has as many antioxidants as 10 cups of brewed green tea and far more than coffee, which doesn't contain catechins, a family of antioxidants that have been linked to improved ageing and cancer fighting," says Cosmopolitan.

It also contains caffeine, about the same amount as a cup of coffee but because of it's amino acids, it's a more "clean" type of energy meaning it's released a bit more slowly and lasts a bit longer.

All of the science aside, each coffee place makes it a bit different. The first time I tried it was at Dunkin Donuts as it was around St. Patrick's Day and a green drink was the way to go. Then, once I was hooked from there I decided to try it from Starbucks and now I most regularly get it from Biggby.

My matcha order is usually iced, with soy or almond milk (I'm lactose intolerant) and sugar-free vanilla syrup!

Apparently there are "endless" ways to consume matcha including baking, yogurts, and even can be part of your beauty routine.

In case you are not sold quite yet, because green tea is a "superfood", matcha also has fat-burning qualities and Cosmo says it can even help with bad breath.

I will say you have to at least somewhat like the taste of tea to enjoy this drink. Also, I will add that if you have friends or family not as well-versed in coffee shop trends, you will get the question "what the hell is that and why is it green?" a lot.

Either way, I guess you could say I love it so MATCHA!