What In The World Is Blue Matcha?
And is it as healthy as its green cousin?
Blue Matcha: The New Green Matcha?
A new beverage trend is on the rise: blue matcha.
Taking over coffee shops and Instagram feeds all over the world, the vibrant-hued drink is certainly eye catching, but what is it, exactly?
Green matcha is made by grinding green tea leaves to a fine powder. So called blue matcha is made in the same way, but with a plant called clitoria principissae, or butterfly pea flower, instead of green tea.
Therefore, it's not technically even matcha, as this is a Japanese word that refers directly to finely ground green tea leaves.
What exactly is matcha tea, anyway?
Ok, so it's not matcha, but are the health benefits the same? In short, no.
There is some evidence that butterfly pea flower may have health benefits like improving memory and reducing stress, and it has traditionally been used as an aphrodisiac, but the research is very limited so the true impact of consuming the plant remains mostly unknown.
Green tea, on the other hand, is packed full of antioxidants, and has been linked to blood sugar regulation, improved metabolism, anti-aging benefits, protection against cancer and heart disease and blood pressure reduction.
In the end, while "blue matcha" can add a welcome burst of color to your food, it's not likely to displace green matcha in the health food aisle any time soon.
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