There’s nothing more refreshing than a sip of freshly made lemonade. We emphasize the “freshly made” part because so many bottled juices, lemonade included, contain tons of added or refined sugars and artificial sweeteners. The worst part is that you don’t even reap the benefits of lemons because store bought lemonades are all processed!
This post isn’t just about lemons, though, it is also about matcha, which is a Japanese green tea that comes in powder form. It actually contains 137 times more of the EGCG antioxidant than regular green tea. People love to drink matcha tea because it has life-lengthening properties. But let’s return to that powerful antioxidant for a second.
EGCG, or Epigallocatechin gallate, is more potent in matcha because farmers shade the tealeaves for about three weeks before the harvest. In doing so, the tea plants boost chlorophyll production by utilizing as much sun as possible. This strong antioxidant content has been known to help those with ovarian, breast, lung, and prostate cancer.
Matcha also contains the compound known as L-theanine, which helps to lower stress, nourish the brain, and improve focus. This compound also causes caffeine to be released steadily so that you are naturally energized throughout the day. This helps you avoid crashing. There are also anti-inflammatory benefits associated with drinking matcha.
The Best Matcha Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 cups hot water
- 6 cups cold filtered water
- ½ teaspoon matcha powder
- 2 lemons, juiced
- Raw agave to taste (optioal)
Instructions:
- In a large mug, stir the matcha and agave into the hot water until the powder is dissolved.
- In a pitcher, add the lemon juice and cold filtered water. Pour the hot matcha liquid into the pitcher with the lemon water. Place the pitcher in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Enjoy!
Note: Limes and mint are pictured, but use the ingredients that we have listed.
