"Taken from Dr. Weil

What's So Special About Matcha Tea?
Matcha - literally, "powdered tea" - is a precious green tea that is whisked with hot water in a bowl to make a frothy beverage. Preparation of matcha is the focus of the Japanese tea ceremony and has a long association with Zen.

Matcha is the only form of tea in which the whole leaf is consumed, and because it is made from top-quality leaves that are treated with great care, it delivers more of the healthful elements of green tea than other forms.

In addition to providing trace minerals and vitamins (A, B-complex, C, E, and K), matcha is rich in catechin polyphenols, compounds with high antioxidant activity. These compounds offer protection against many kinds of cancer, help prevent cardiovascular disease and slow the aging process. They also reduce harmful cholesterol in the blood, stabilize blood sugar levels, help reduce high blood pressure and enhance the resistance of the body to many toxins. The most important polyphenol in matcha is EGCG (epigallo-catechin gallate), which is the subject of many medical studies. Matcha also has a significant amount of dietary fiber and practically no calories.

Note from editor:

If you would like to get ahold of some matcha tea, let me know! I can get it for you straight from Japan!

A Matcha au lait is really nice, and a great popular in Japan is matcha ice-cream! Pretty good actually!"