Matcha powder may well become your “secret weapon” in weight loss. Matcha powder is powdered tea (as opposed to loose leaf tea). The powder dissolves in water, so you’re basically drinking the leaves and getting every bit of their nearly-magical properties.

Matcha tea is made from tea plants grown in the shade, resulting in better-tasting leaves. The leaves are then dried and powdered.

Why Is Matcha Tea So Awesome?

First, matcha tea usually tastes better than loose-leaf or bagged green tea. It tends to be less acidic and has a wonderful nutty flavor that makes for delicious matcha lattes. It’s also packed with potent health benefits:

• Matcha tea is antioxidant-rich: matcha tea supports cellular health by minimizing environmental and dietary effects (“free radical damage”) to the cells; specifically, matcha tea contains catechin (EGCg), and the concentrations of catechin in matcha tea are 137 times greater than loose leaf China green tea.
• Matcha tea helps regulate mood, energy, and attention: matcha tea contains l-theanine, which acts as a nervous system calming agent while simultaneously having a mildly stimulating effect. Caffeine helps with focus, but too much can make you jittery; l-theanine increases focus without the coffee jitters.
• Matcha tea boosts the metabolism, which makes it an essential part of your daily routine if you’re looking to drop a few pounds. The thermogenic properties of matcha tea promote fat oxidation, which encourages the body to use fat stores for energy.
• You can also boost your libido with matcha!

Buying Tips

You can buy matcha powder wherever you buy tea and coffee. Most grocery stores carry matcha tea, although the best varieties are often found at health food stores (pre-packaged or bulk), or in Asian markets.

There are several grades of matcha tea, depending on your taste preferences and budget. The tastiest matcha will come at a fairly hefty price – but since you use very little per serving, a container can last a long time. Whatever grade of matcha you buy, you will get the health benefits. The only differences will be in color and more importantly, taste. We recommend experimenting with a few brands to see which one you like best.

Delicious Matcha Recipes

Most people drink matcha either plain, with lemon, or with milk (or almond milk). If you want to expand beyond tea, here are some fun recipes to try.

3-Ingredient banana matcha ice cream from Tasty Yummies: All you need is a blender to make this awesome ice cream treat. Blend coconut milk, frozen bananas, and matcha powder to make a healthy gluten-free and dairy-free ice dessert with no added sugar!

Chocolate matcha energy balls from Unbound Wellness: A sweet way to say “I love you,” these lunchbox favorites are a delicious macaroon-like blend of coconut (oil, butter, shreds and flour), and of course matcha.

Matcha & lemongrass bars with dark chocolate from Comfort Bites: In the mood for something fudge-y? The matcha and lemongrass combo gives a zesty flavor to these bars, which make a yummy dessert or an afternoon pick-me-up.

Matcha energy green smoothie from Clean Eating Kitchen: if you’re a smoothie fan, this green smoothie can give you a day’s worth of veggies in one delicious package: the recipe calls for veggies, hemp seeds, collagen, and of course matcha. This smoothie will nourish your body and help you feel full until lunch.

Matcha green tea thumbprint cookies from Plaid & Paleo: Jazz up tea time with these little matcha bites. A delicious blend of matcha dough with a creamy dark chocolate center make them unique and festive – and so much fun to eat!

Mermaid popsicles from 40 Aprons: Kids (and adults) love ice pops, and these give you an awesomely green color, along with an energy boost. The recipe features a layer of coconut cream, fresh blackberries, and if you like, freeze-dried blueberries.

Pistachio matcha milk from Real Simple Good: if you want to make your mornings truly delightful, make pistachio matcha milk. You can serve this dairy-free beverage hot or cold depending on the season, and add flavor with cinnamon and coconut milk. You might just give up your coffee addiction for this one!

Spicy matcha margaritas from Wicked Spatula: Matcharitas? You got it! This cocktail is made with matcha, tequila, lime juice and green tea. Add jalapeno for spice, and honey simple syrup for sweetness, and you’ve got a fiesta in a glass!

No-bake chocolate matcha cream tart from I Heart Umami: this yummy cream tart is made with nuts, raw cacao, and dates. The filling is coconut, macadamia, mint, avocado, and banana – basically, this is a superfood tart disguised as dessert!

No-bake matcha protein bars from What Great Grandma Ate: boost your energy and mood with the potent combo of protein and matcha (this is a great weight-loss bar, by the way). Coconut oil, coconut milk, matcha powder, honey, and collagen are easy to make and one of the healthiest afternoon pick-me-ups imaginable.

And don’t forget the morning standby, a matcha latte! Make the matcha according to the package directions, and add hot foamed milk of your choice (dairy, coconut, almond, soy, etc.). Sprinkle with 100% dark cacao powder and cinnamon, and you’re off to a great start to the day! Bonus: the richness of the milk means you won’t even need to add sweetener!

Check out all the varieties available on Amazon below and start brewing some at home!

About Shaun Hudson

Shaun Hudson loves sports, being outdoors, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. After many unsuccessful attempts to lose weight, he finally was able to drop 25 pounds and keep it off. The secret? He kept a journal of his activity, diet, and daily life. That journal changed his life, and has since evolved into this website. Read his full bio.