Growing the Matcha under shade increases the volume of healing chlorophyll as well as the L-Theanine, amino acids and polyphenols such as EGCG (epi-gallo-catechin-gallate). These natural compounds add to the sweet and savoury-mineral flavour, known as umami- umami, helping to reduce the bitterness of the iridescent green Matcha. The rare amino acid L-Theanine helps to nourish neurotransmitters in the brain having a positive influence on our mood and sense of inner peace. L-Theanine works synergistically with the low levels of caffeine in green tea and Matcha; it is one of the reasons why it brings such a deep sense of calm as well as alertness. (L-Theanine is five times higher in Matcha than green tea). It actually increases serotonin, dopamine and GABA – all essential neurotransmitters associated with the feel-good factor bringing happiness, inner peace and the general all-round clarity of shanti-ness. We all know that these qualities help us feel at our best in the midst of our over-stimulated world because they help us focus and feel centered. These more subjective experiences flow into measurable affects such as lowering blood pressure, reducing anxiety and influencing alpha-waves (associated with a relaxed state of mind and also regulated by deep meditation).

We get these effects because humans and plants have evolved so closely together. We can benefit from eating plants that have developed these special compounds because they evolved the ability to protect themselves from invasion by microbes as well as adapting to stressful environments to be successful reproducers. For example, many of the colourful pigments in plants that protect them from extreme climates help protect us from extreme stresses. It’s now well known that the traditional Indian diet full of healthy spices such as turmeric, cinnamon and ginger help to protect from inflammatory disorders such as heart disease and cancer that are the scourge of modern healthcare. And green tea is a powerful addition to this protective diet with Matcha being the king of all green tea protectors; one cup of Matcha has 100 times the antioxidants compared to green tea (and green has about double the levels in black tea). Gram for gram it is about 15 times more antioxidant than pomegranates and 100 times more than spinach. So a little goes a long way.

In fact a little can help you to become a little more little because Matcha also helps to burn body fat through a process known as thermogenesis. By enhancing metabolic processes the nearly calorie-free Matcha helps you burn fat four times faster than your usual metabolism.