Aging Backwards Tuesday Tips #65: Matcha Power

by Jackie Silver with Tracey Tarrant

Tell your "regular" green tea to move over and make room for the King of green teas - Matcha. One glass is equivalent to ten glasses of regular green tea. You actually ingest the entire leaf, unlike all other green teas, and it has amazing health benefits that can certainly help you start AgingBackwards! Matcha is higher in antioxidants than even blueberries or spinach. Antioxidants are truly beneficial in staving off aging. Matcha has a natural detoxifier built in - chlorophyll. It's loaded with it! Oh, and it ranks zero on the glycemic index, is high in fiber and has virtually no calories! You can even add the leaves to your food - sprinkle over rice or add it into your omelet. Can it get any more perfect?

Matcha Suggestions:

1) Tea - Matcha is so respected that it has its own ritual. The Japanese tea ritual requires a bowl, sifter and bamboo whisk. Sift the Matcha into the bowl and add heated spring or filtered water. Stir with the whisk. Enjoy the whole ritual of the preparation. The ritual itself has great meditative qualities about it. For thin tea, use one teaspoon of thick or thin Matcha in 1.5 ounces of water. For thicker tea, use one to two teaspoons of thick Matcha to one ounce of water.

2) Smoothies - Add one to two teaspoons of thin Matcha to your all-natural fruit smoothie. It turns a fun shade of green, but tastes fabulous!

3) Latte - Add one teaspoon of Matcha to six ounces of milk (hot or cold), include natural sweeteners and whisk. Or use a blender and make it frothy.

4) Baked goods - Experiment adding Matcha to various baked goods such as cookies, cakes and other pastries.

5) Mixed Tea - Add small amounts of Matcha to other teas for a tasty combination.

Next time you're looking for a creative recipe to serve family and friends, check out these Matcha recipes instead of reaching for that traditional cookbook.