The verdict on matcha tea is in – blue is the new green! Blue matcha is all the craze now, especially with its calming and aesthetic turquoise shade that mirrors a miniature ocean. Made from all-natural indigo-coloured powder, this new drink not only tastes great, but may also offer a range of nutritional and health benefits, similar to the ones offered by green matcha.
Blue matcha is made from the plant clitoria principissae, better known as butterfly pea flower, which aids in protecting the skin from premature ageing and consists of high levels of anti-oxidants. This mesmerising drink also contains anthocyanins and proanthocyanins, which are antioxidants that – according to research – could have the potential to lower the risk of heart disease and cancer, improve cognitive functions such as memory, and increase the amount of collagen in skin cells.
However, not much research has been conducted on the health benefits of blue matcha, at least for now. According to dietitian and author of Low Fad Diet Jo Travers, “There isn’t much research on the benefits of blue matcha unfortunately. Although blue matcha may contain some antioxidants and looks pretty on Instagram, I would stick to green matcha if it’s health benefits you are after.” For instance, it has been proven that green matcha contains anti-oxidants that aid in calorie burn and increase in metabolism rates, whilst reducing blood pressure for better overall health.
Though you will need to keep in mind that the benefits it offers is not likely to be equivalent to the advantages offered by green matcha, opting for blue matcha isn’t a bad option if you’re looking for something novel to sip on. These jaw-droppingly beautiful drinks could also help embellish your Instagram feed, where you’ll be the envy of friends and social media followers, just for the aesthetics of this refreshment!
Blue matcha may be the latest craze, but until more research has been done on it, we wouldn’t recommend that you swap out your daily dose of green tea entirely. However, if you’re looking to switch things up just for the sake of change, then there certainly isn’t any harm with going with something as pretty as blue matcha or even white tea!
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