THE JAPANESE ART of tea reaches its highest and most revered state in the potent brew that is matcha. As the centrepiece of the tea ceremony – a ritual devised by Zen Buddhist monks during the 14th and 15th centuries – it’s as integral to traditional Japanese culture as ikebana (flower arranging), calligraphy and martial arts.
Today matcha is prized for its health benefits as much as its cultural significance. The monks imbibed it to keep them focussed during long sessions of meditation, although they probably didn’t know why. We now understand that a bowl of matcha contains about half as much caffeine as an espresso and is rich in an amino acid credited with lowering anxiety, enhancing mood and improving sleep.
Western ‘wellness’ gurus have embraced this bright green super-cuppa, adding…
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The Simple Things (Digital) - 1 Issue, February 2016 - Issue 44