Category: Health

7 Creative Ways to Enjoy Matcha in Japan7 Creative Ways to Enjoy Matcha in Japan

In Japan, the allure of matcha transcends fleeting culinary trends. This vibrant green tea has captivated the hearts of many, even inspiring an entire ceremonial practice around its preparation and consumption. From global sensations like matcha lattes to exquisite matcha-infused delicacies at upscale dining venues, matcha’s appeal continues to innovate and endure.

Beyond the popular matcha-flavored KitKats and chocolates, Japan’s matcha creativity extends into a variety of sumptuous delights. From timeless classics like matcha tiramisu, matcha ice cream, matcha cake, and matcha cheesecake to more adventurous offerings such as matcha ramen or matcha-infused gin, the versatility of this tea knows no bounds. Join us as we explore some of the most intriguing and imaginative ways to savor matcha that are currently making waves in Japan.

Matcha Water

The concept of matcha water might initially seem perplexing, given that traditional matcha itself is a blend of water and powdered green tea. But the comparison stops there, as matcha water carves out its unique identity, much like how lemon water differs from lemonade. A notable establishment in Ningyocho, Nihonbashi called Atelier Matcha has embraced this refreshing beverage, offering cold brew matcha water and a seasonal summer twist with matcha and lychee water. The creativity at Atelier Matcha doesn’t end there; their menu is teeming with inventive matcha concoctions ranging from intense espresso-like shots of matcha to delightful blends like matcha jelly cider, matcha yogurt granola, and matcha affogato.

Matcha Dalgona Latte

In 2020, the dalgona coffee phenomenon swept across the globe, capturing taste buds with its whipped, sweet, and creamy allure. Originating from South Korea and boasting roots in India, this unique coffee preparation found its way to Japan, where it naturally married with the local favorite – matcha. The fusion of matcha with dalgona’s texture created an instant sensation, especially during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, as many took to crafting this delightful treat at home. Recognizing the trend, Japanese brand Mother’s Market introduced an instant dalgona powder, simplifying the whisking process. The matcha dalgona latte became more than a trendy coffeehouse beverage; it evolved into a home kitchen staple, inviting everyone to explore and enjoy it in the comfort of their own space.

Matcha Ramen

While matcha’s delicate flavor is commonly paired with sweet treats or occasionally married with tempura in the form of matcha salt, its venture into savory territory is rare. The Japanese dish ochazuke does feature green tea, but typically employs clear sencha, not matcha.

This culinary landscape shifts dramatically with Mensho San Francisco Shinjuku’s inspired invention: matcha ramen. This creative rendition takes the vivid green matcha and combines it with a light and creamy chicken broth, producing a pleasantly surprising and tantalizing dish. Its taste profile is both savory and smooth, with the matcha’s subtle essence imparting just a whisper of its characteristic powdery texture. Crowned with a succulent slice of wagyu beef, this matcha ramen elevates traditional Japanese cuisine to an extraordinary culinary adventure.

Matcha Cocktails

In the realm of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, tea has emerged as a flavorful substitute, infusing drinks with layers of complexity and richness. Among the various teas, the intoxicating aroma of hojicha, the freshness of sencha, and the vibrant allure of matcha have become favorite cocktail components in Japan. When matched with alcohol, matcha particularly has the ability to enliven a drink, enhancing its taste and lending a lively hue.

While traditional tea-based cocktails like ryokucha-hai (green tea flavored chuhai) or oolong-hai are commonplace, more audacious establishments in Japan are taking matcha to inventive new heights. From matcha-infused beer and matcha mojitos to matcha gin and tonics, the creativity is boundless. With matcha’s compatibility with a diverse array of ingredients, including fruits and milk, the potential for crafting unique and unforgettable cocktails is truly endless.

Matcha Protein Powder

While vanilla and chocolate are typically the go-to flavors for protein powder, Japan has elevated this supplement with a matcha twist. Introducing matcha protein powder not only infuses a unique flavor but also encapsulates all the renowned health benefits of matcha. Several innovative brands, both local and international, such as Mariness, Alpron, Koredake, Konami Sports, Eume, and Canadian brand Nova Scotia, have embraced this green tea-enhanced option.

Among these brands, Innocect stands as a remarkable player, intertwining sustainability with future-forward thinking in their matcha protein products. Their blend of crickets and pea protein crafts an environmentally conscious alternative, underlining their commitment to both taste and ecological responsibility. In addition to matcha protein powder, Innocect further extends its sustainable offerings to protein bars and coffee enriched with cricket powder.

Matcha Cosmetics

Matcha’s myriad health benefits extend far beyond the dining table, finding a revered place within the world of beauty and skincare. Its antioxidant-rich composition has spurred many cosmetics brands to incorporate this precious green tea into their products. Among the notable ones, Kyoto-based Gion Tsujiri stands out for utilizing the exceptional Uji matcha in creations such as their nourishing lip balm. Yojiya, another renowned Kyoto brand famed for their blotting paper, offers an exclusive matcha-infused blotting paper product. Additionally, Kitao Matcha, committed to harnessing the essence of matcha, has a comprehensive range of matcha-centric products available for international shipping. The fusion of tradition and innovation in these products symbolizes matcha’s enduring appeal and versatility.

Matcha Bath While Playing Online Games

In Japan, the love for tea transcends mere drinking, giving rise to the luxurious concept of tea baths. One could say the desire to immerse oneself entirely in a favorite beverage inspired this unique spa experience. The renowned Yunessun Spa in Hakone offers a selection of unusual baths, including those infused with green tea, coffee, sake, and wine. Among them, the green tea bath and tea ochazuke bath hold particular appeal, lauded for their benefits to skin, circulation, and overall well-being.

These baths, a blend of water intermingled with aromatic teas and other elements, offer a sensory indulgence like no other. However, it’s important to remember that the appeal lies in the experience, not consumption, as drinking the bath liquid is strictly off-limits. This intriguing matcha-infused practice reflects a deeper connection to the celebrated tea, bridging the gap between nourishment for the body and solace for the soul.

A Matcha enthusiast named Yatto shared with us how he divides his love between Matcha and Online Gambling. Every weekend, Yatto regularly visits tea baths, indulging himself there while engaging in another activity: playing judi slot online. Besides spending time there, he often wins several games. He also explained to us why online gambling has become a widespread phenomenon across Asia. Some popular online gambling types in Asia include sports betting, online casinos, and online slots.

Where sports betting has managed to attract millions of soccer fans who place bets on their favorite matches, creating a highly competitive and dynamic market. Meanwhile, online casinos offer various table games such as blackjack, roulette, and poker, all of which can be enjoyed from the comfort of home. Online slots, with almost limitless variations and attractive graphics, add an exciting and fast-paced element to the range of online gambling options.

From his story, we can conclude and suggest to you other ways to enjoy matcha.

Matcha Café in Jakarta, Heaven Green Tea with Instagenic SpotsMatcha Café in Jakarta, Heaven Green Tea with Instagenic Spots

Matcha is indeed not an original culinary from Indonesia. Even so, many people like preparations made from matcha. It tastes fresh and is suitable for various sweet dessert preparations. For you matcha lovers, there are several recommended places to visit. Where are the locations of matcha cafes in Jakarta?

Honu Eats

Another matcha cafe in Jakarta is Honu Eats. The location is quite new and has very fresh food. Examples of menus are Two & Two, Pink Matcha, Matcha Latte, and others. In Jakarta, there are three Honu Eats locations that you can visit, in Kemang, BSD, and also Menteng.

For those in Kemang, opening hours are from 10:00 to 21:30 WIB, every Monday off. Hours of operation differ from place to place. For the price, starting from IDR 40,000. Oh yes, the place is also beautiful suitable for OOTD’s.

Nokcha Jakarta

Nokcha is a perfect place for you who love matcha and don’t like crowds. Here serves a variety of delicious matcha preparations. For example, there are Green Tea Latte, Devils Cake, Ice Matcha Latte, and others. Besides serving a variety of matcha preparations that tempt the tongue, this place is also Instagenic, you know. Lots of fun spots that can be shot into beautiful photos.

Besides that, it is very suitable as a place to hang out with friends. Here you can exchange ideas or even play online games, such as mobile legends, free fire and card games like gaple. If you’ve ever played gaple, of course you know kartu yang digunakan dalam permainan gaple are very unique. So, hurry up and visit this cafe and spend time with friends.

Amausaan Uji Matcha

Amausaan Uji Matcha is also another matcha heaven in Jakarta. There are a variety of delicious Japanese desserts available here. There are various cakes and drinks made from matcha. Examples of the menu are Fuji Matcha Crushed Ice, Kanten Matcha Sundae, Strawberry Matcha Towel Roll, and many others. Preparations made from matcha that make you excited.

Even the matcha menu here reaches 50 typical Japanese desserts. The address for Amausaan Uji Matcha is in Central Park, West Jakarta. The matcha preparations here are very fresh and delicious. The price is under IDR 100,000. Even though there are many menus, one of the favorites is Matcha Infused Cheesecakes.

Sugoi Japanese Ice Cream

Sugoi Japanese Ice Cream is also a matcha cafe in Jakarta that you shouldn’t miss. Here, it provides a variety of matcha preparations that make lovers spoiled.

The matcha processed menus here are also unique, for example, there are Green Tea Waffles, Lava Cookies, and many others. For the price, around IDR 60,000. The address is on the 2nd floor of Warung Bali Bu Gede, on Jl. Raya Guest House No. 8B, West Jakarta.

The taste of matcha that is served is authentic and the location is Instagenic. How, where do you want to visit first?

The Best Matcha Cafe in Tokyo for Green Tea LoversThe Best Matcha Cafe in Tokyo for Green Tea Lovers

Matcha has become a very popular culinary product among all generations and also the culture has grown rapidly outside of Japan, thus gaining fans all over the world. It’s a perfect drink for every occasion, hanging out with friends, playing online games, betting on some good game slot, and many more and it’s never failed!

For those of you who want to enjoy a very delicious matcha taste, here are some carefully selected matcha cafes in Tokyo, where they serve matcha as the main ingredient of drinks and recommended desserts.

The 5 Best Matcha Cafes in Tokyo

Nana’s Green Tea

Matcha cafes in Tokyo, which have become increasingly popular these days, can also be found in many other areas of Japan. They offer the finest matcha sweets and high-quality Uji Kyoto Tea, renowned worldwide for their first-class elegant taste and variety of desserts, from wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets), to chocolates and parfaits.

For those who like extra toppings, here you have many options to choose from and one that is recommended is the warabi mochi.

You should also try the matcha and houjicha (roasted green tea) “Nama Chocolate” and pair it with a matcha latte or sugar-free matcha americano. The strong taste of bitter chocolate will go well with any of these drinks, but of course, you can try experimenting with any combination and find the best one to suit your personal taste.

Nana’s Green Tea does offer a lot of matcha and tea based drinks and sweets, but you can also find regular coffee or discover new flavors like black sesame latte with shiratama.

Saten

Satén is a matcha tea house located in Nishi Ogikubo and opened in the spring of 2018. The cafe looks very cute and welcoming, with its interior a mix of concrete and wood, elements that give a very peaceful vibe to the space.

At this cafe, we ​​recommend matcha latte, matcha pudding, and matcha latte ice cream to try. The ice matcha latte here is not only delicious but also has a beautiful green and white contrast, making it perfect for an aesthetic depiction. Besides that, what’s interesting is that you can even sit at the counter and enjoy the process of making matcha latte right in front of your eyes.

Jugetsudo Tea Shop & Cafe (Ginza)

Next on the list of matcha cafes in Tokyo is Jugetsudo in Ginza. Located on the 5th floor of the Kabukiza Tower, this place is perfect for matcha lovers and those who want to taste Japanese cuisine.

The sweet treats are beautifully presented and we recommend you try the Matcha Mont Blanc, one of the most popular desserts here.

Shimokita Chaen Oyama

This cozy cafe is a 2-minute walk from the north exit of Shimokitazawa Station. Matcha kakigoori (shaved ice) is their mainstay in the summer. So, don’t be surprised if there are many people waiting in line. And of course to try this menu, you have to be patient.

Patience will not be in vain and will be replaced by the delicacy of the matcha kakigoori ice cream which is rich in flavor.

Matcha Tokyo at Omotesando

This matcha cafe in Tokyo does specialize in matcha dishes. You may have realized it once you read the name of the cafe.

The interior of the cafe is very stylish and blends well with the sophisticated area of ​​Omotesando. One of the recommended menus is matcha soft cream and matcha latte (you can also ask for soy milk as an alternative to using cow’s milk).

In addition, add the popular tapioca topping to your drink, and enjoy a variety of traditional Japanese desserts that go well with the drink you ordered.

Here are the top 5 recommended matcha cafes in Tokyo, and if you try any of the cafe’s drinks or sweets, don’t forget to share your experiences in the comments!

9 Types of Tea that are Good for Skin Health and Beauty, Have You Tried it?9 Types of Tea that are Good for Skin Health and Beauty, Have You Tried it?

Tea has many health benefits. This delicious-tasting drink is known to help lose weight and lower cholesterol levels in the body.

Besides being good for overall body health, tea is also claimed to help create glowing skin because most teas can naturally detoxify the body so that it can bring freshness to the skin.

Can be drunk directed, or applied externally to the skin in need, here are 9 types of tea that you should try to improve skin health and beauty, as reported by Merindah Botanicals.

Chamomile tea

Drinking chamomile tea can reduce redness, irritation, and help you feel relaxed. For years, this tea has been used to help relieve dry, flaky, and even acne-prone skin.

In addition to drinking it, you can also use chamomile tea by using it topically to treat dark circles under the eyes. Place a warm chamomile tea bag on the area under the eyes that have dark circles for 10 minutes. And, your under-eye area will slowly return to light as long as you are patient and consistent in doing this treatment.

Jasmine tea

Jasmine tea or jasmine tea is suitable for you to drink if you want to keep your immune system healthy. This is because this super aromatic tea has antiviral, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties.

For the skin, jasmine tea can help prevent signs of aging and can serve as a remedy for skin diseases such as eczema and acne.

Black tea

The high level of caffeine in black tea or black tea can strengthen the immune system against viruses that can cause damage to the skin. Diligent consumption of black tea will slow down the aging process thanks to the antioxidant content in it.

If you don’t really like drinking it, you can use black tea by brewing it and then applying it to your face when it cools down to see its amazing effect on the skin.

Green tea

Green tea or green tea is one of the best medicines and protection for the skin against the bad effects of sunlight. This tea can reduce the aging process of the skin, prevent wrinkles, fight sun damage, and help the skin cell renewal process.

Miraculously, green tea can help overcome skin inflammation and neutralize free radicals, which help UV rays to damage the skin. To enjoy the benefits, you can drink a cup of green tea every morning or use products that contain green tea extract.

Dandelion tea

If you want to keep looking young and fresh, then don’t forget to include dandelion tea in your daily menu.

Dandelion tea has amazing benefits for your internal organs. This tea can also help the digestive process which in turn will have a positive effect on your skin.

Ginger tea

Ginger is famous for its properties that can help the digestive process. When processed into ginger tea, this warm drink will have an amazing effect on your skin.

When you regularly drink ginger tea, your digestion will automatically improve because the toxins in your body will be removed regularly. As a result, your skin will also feel the positive effects of a good digestive process so that it looks fresher and radiant.

Peppermint tea

Peppermint tea is the best internal treatment for people with oily skin. The reason, this tea contains menthol which can reduce excess oil production in skin cells.

Not only that, but peppermint tea can also remove dead skin cells and help maintain hormonal balance in the body. So, are you interested in trying it?

White tea

White tea or white tea has the highest content of catechins and antioxidants compared to other types of tea because this tea goes through the least processing.

White tea itself can act as a treatment for various skin diseases thanks to its antibacterial properties.

Oolong tea

In addition to its unique taste, Oolong tea also has great benefits for the skin. Oolong tea can help fight damage to the skin from the sun and smoke.

In fact, Oolong tea can improve skin tone and reduce the appearance of dark spots.

Those are 9 types of tea that have extraordinary benefits for the skin. What kind of tea is your choice?

7 Types of Food to Support the Detox Process Naturally7 Types of Food to Support the Detox Process Naturally

The human body is designed to remove toxins and waste products (detoxification) naturally. The organs of the body that are automatically responsible for removing toxins and waste substances in the body include the liver, kidneys, large intestine, and skin. However, there is nothing wrong if you want to help these organs work in cleaning toxins that have accumulated in the body. One of them is by regularly consuming a series of foods to detox the following body.

List of foods to detox the body naturally

Green vegetables

Green vegetables, which are rich in various important vitamins and minerals are still often avoided by people. In fact, green vegetables have a variety of good benefits for the body, one of which is to get rid of toxins that settle in the body.

According to Josh Ax, a founder of Ancient Nutrition, the liver can work optimally in detoxifying toxins, one of which is by combining various flavors in daily food, namely sour, sweet, salty, and bitter. This method will produce a balance of flavors that will help the detoxification process in the body.

In contrast to the sweet and salty tastes that can be easily obtained from food, bitter and sour tastes are the types of flavors that are often avoided by many people. If you want to take advantage of the bitter taste, try completing your plate with lettuce, mustard greens, bitter gourd, and broccoli.

Matcha

In recent times, matcha has started to enter the list of most people’s favorite drinks. In addition to its delicious taste, matcha also has many benefits. One of them helps prevent the accumulation of fat in the body.

The reason is, matcha leaves contain a compound epigallocatechin (EGCG) which plays a role in converting fat into energy through the process of thermogenesis. This process will help you control your weight.

In addition, the high chlorophyll content in matcha also plays an active role in the detoxification process. This substance will help cleanse the body by removing toxins that hide in the liver.

Green tea

Many people think of matcha and green tea as two of the same beverage. Although they both come from the same type of plant, the two drinks are actually different. Matcha contains higher concentrations of antioxidants and caffeine than green tea.

Even so, green tea is no less effective in detoxifying toxins lodged in the body. The antioxidants and caffeine in green tea make this drink have a diuretic effect, which will help speed up the formation of urine to get rid of waste products in the body.

Beetroot

Beets are included in the list of foods for detox. The reason, beets produce nitric acid, which helps increase blood flow throughout the body. That’s why this one fruit is believed to be able to clean the blood in the body.

Reporting from the Reader’s Digest page, beets supply a number of vitamin E, carotene, phenolic acid, and betalain, which is a type of antioxidant that helps repair and regenerate cells in the liver. You can process beets into a snack or juice to increase energy in the morning.

Salad

Fruit salad is delicious to serve as a breakfast companion in the morning. However, occasionally try a salad made of vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, or cabbage as a food menu for detox. The results achieved maybe even better if you replace the salad dressing (dressing) with a few drops of olive oil or lemon juice.

Seaweed

Seaweed is a nutrient-rich food. In addition, seaweed is also high in antioxidants and offers a variety of important compounds, namely polyphenols and fucoxanthin.

Seaweed is also believed to help detoxify the blood and kidneys because it has diuretic properties by removing excess salt and water in the body through urine (urine).

Pineapple

Pineapple is one of the many tropical fruits with a sweet and fresh taste. In addition to its delicious taste and easy to serve in various forms of food and drink, pineapple is also known for its vitamin C content which is not inferior to citrus fruits.

Not only that, pineapple also has a good digestive enzyme, namely bromelain. This enzyme works effectively to relieve stomach problems, smooth the digestive process, as well as help cleanse the large intestine. Therefore, pineapple is often believed to be food for detoxification of toxins that accumulate in the body.

Matcha vs Green Tea, What’s the Difference? Which is Healthier?Matcha vs Green Tea, What’s the Difference? Which is Healthier?

You must have often heard that green tea aka green tea has many health benefits, such as being good for improving heart health and helping to lose weight. No wonder, people are turning to green tea. However, after green tea was widely discussed, lately matcha has started to attract attention. Unlike green tea, which is usually available in the form of brewed leaves, matcha usually comes in powder form. The question is, is matcha the same as green tea? The following is a full explanation of matcha vs green tea.

Matcha vs green tea, what’s the difference?

These two drinks actually come from the same plant, namely Camellia sinensis, which comes from China. Although the plants are the same, what makes them different is the way they are processed and grown. Making matcha is deliberately prepared differently. The tea plant is covered about 20-30 days before harvesting, to avoid direct sunlight. As a result, the tea leaves become darker in color, and this can increase the production of amino acids due to a large amount of chlorophyll present in the dark leaves.

After going through the harvesting process, the stems and fine veins are separated from the leaves. Both are ground with stones until smooth and become a bright green powder. Because of this process, matcha has a higher substance than regular green tea. In contrast to regular green tea, the tea leaves in matcha are dried for a short period of time, to maintain their green color. Since the tea leaves are ground, and not just brewed, if you drink matcha, this means you are drinking the entire content of the tea leaves.

The difference in content in matcha vs green tea

Regular green tea has only about 63 mg of antioxidants compared to matcha which has about 134 mg of catechins – a type of antioxidant that is strong and contains many health benefits. This means, one cup of matcha contains the same antioxidants as 3 cups of green tea.

The antioxidants in matcha are even higher than all other fruits and vegetables. However, the content in green tea is no less good, it’s just that the benefits produced by matcha are greater than ordinary green tea. Regular green tea also contains polyphenols that can prevent inflammation and swelling, although the content is higher in matcha.

However, keep in mind that in addition to being high in antioxidants, matcha also contains higher caffeine. One cup of matcha consisting of half a tablespoon of matcha powder contains about 35 mg of caffeine.

What are the benefits of drinking matcha?

Matcha and green tea have the same health benefits, only their effectiveness is different. Here are some of the benefits that result from drinking matcha:

The body gets the antioxidant intake

Antioxidants function to prevent free radicals that are formed in the body. Free radicals can cause tissue and cell damage. As explained above, the antioxidants in matcha are known as catechins, a derivative of catechins is epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). According to several studies, this substance can prevent inflammation in the body, form healthy arteries, and help repair cells.

Reduce the risk of heart disease

Heart disease can cause death. Drinking green tea and matcha can reduce this risk, because green tea and matcha can change cholesterol levels, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar. Researchers showed a 31% reduced risk of heart disease in green tea connoisseurs, perhaps even more effective in matcha connoisseurs.

Weight loss

One of the reasons people drink green tea is the ‘weight loss’ claim, matcha has that claim too. In fact, you can find green tea extract in some weight loss supplements. Research cited by Authority Nutrition, shows green tea can increase calorie burning by increasing metabolism, but not all studies agree with this opinion.

Provides a relaxing effect

Green tea contains an amino acid called L-theanine. Matcha contains more L-theanine than any green tea. The benefit of L-theanine is to increase alpha waves in the brain. These waves can help you find calm, as well as fight the symptoms of stress. This substance is also able to change the effects of caffeine in the body, thus making us alert, not causing the drowsiness that usually appears after drinking coffee. Caffeine in matcha is thought to provide a longer alert effect than coffee, but the effect is mild, does not cause heart palpitations. In addition, several studies have also shown that green tea powder can improve brain function and prevent cognitive decline due to age.

Are there any side effects from consuming matcha?

Eating matcha powder means that you digest the whole leaf, no matter what’s in it. During the development period, matcha leaves can be contaminated by heavy metals, pesticides, and fluorine. In addition, more nutrients are not always good for the body. The body’s tolerance for a substance varies, high levels of this substance can cause nausea, symptoms of liver or kidney poisoning. So, it is not recommended to drink matcha more than 2 glasses/cup a day.