Story: Matcha Madness
Episode: 19
Presenter: Scott Taylor
Air Date: 16th June 2024

Scott discovers the hot new trend of Matcha and learns why everyone is going nuts over the drink.

• In Japanese culture, matcha has a ceremonial significance and is often prepared and consumed during traditional tea ceremonies. These ceremonies emphasise mindfulness, aesthetics, and the appreciation of simplicity.
• Matcha is made from shade-grown tea leaves, primarily from the Camellia sinensis plant. Before harvesting, the tea plants are shaded for about three weeks, which increases chlorophyll production and gives the leaves a vibrant green colour. After harvesting, the leaves are steamed, dried, and ground into a fine powder using traditional stone mills.
• Matcha is renowned for its high nutritional content. Because the whole tea leaf is ingested when consuming matcha, it contains higher concentrations of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals compared to steeped green tea.
• While matcha is commonly enjoyed as a hot or cold beverage, it's also used in various culinary applications. You can find matcha-flavoured desserts like ice cream, cakes, and chocolates. Its vibrant green colour also makes it a popular ingredient in smoothies, lattes, and even savory dishes like pasta or sauces.
• Matcha as a serious challenger to coffee due to its health benefits and calming effects, which include metabolism boosts, mental clarity, and detoxification.