The miracle coffee alternative we love so matcha

For the longest time, my morning coffee has been one of my most cherished rituals – it’s like a dear old friend who picks you up when you’re down. But especially after facing some of the health challenges of adrenal fatigue, coffee would also often leave me with the jitters, a racing heart and interrupted sleep. In a fast-paced world and with a jam-packed schedule, imagining a life without caffeine conjured all sorts of nightmares. But then, I discovered Matcha Maiden and the many miracles of matcha powder.

Why matcha beats coffee

Imagine a product that delivered a decent dose of caffeine without the dreaded “crash” and burn, while promoting calmness, focus, metabolism and immunity. Matcha contains a unique amino acid called L-theanine that slows the release of caffeine and produces a relaxing, calming effect.

With half the caffeine of coffee and double the caffeine of regular green tea, matcha has become my go-to coffee alternative. Caffeine aside, matcha boasts an amazing range of healing properties including 137 x the antioxidants of regular green tea and 10 x the overall nutritional content.

Matcha contains a unique amino acid called L-theanine that slows the release of caffeine and produces a relaxing, calming effect.

Why I love Matcha Maiden’s matcha

Matcha Maiden’s matcha is my favourite, particularly as it is 100% pure and Japanese certified organic. The highest quality of matcha comes from the lush rolling hills of Japan, so beware lower quality alternatives sourced from China or elsewhere. There are also many versions that contain sweeteners, additives or other fillers like brown rice powder. Matcha Maiden’s powder has no nasties whatsoever and has a beautiful smooth flavour that can be enhanced or muted depending on your palate.

How I love to use it

If you don’t know what it is, matcha is basically just green tea leave stone ground into a fine powder. This means unlike regular green tea where you throw out the leaves and only consume brewed water, you consume the whole leaf and all its green goodness. It is originally a ceremonial tea, which can be consumed alone just with hot water. However, its powdered form gives it a wonderful versatility beyond just a plain tea so you can use it as a “superfood”.

I like to use it in lattes, smoothies bliss balls, raw desserts and even salad dressings. Matcha Maiden has even brought out a range of matcha-based blends including a matcha mint choc chip slice mix, Slice to Meet You, that you can easily whip up at home.