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My friend and now business partner Nicholas has introduced me to Matcha Maiden: Matcha Maiden is cultivated in Kyoto’s Uji area with magical soil and climate elements. It follows a strictly traditional mean of production which helps it include all its nutritional elements to the fullest, making it special worldwide. In contrast with other brands, Matcha Maiden don’t dry or “fry” the leaves. They stay true to the traditional method and keep the Tencha leaves to dehydrate in their own time, so that they maintain all nutritional elements and a light green matcha powder is created. In addition, it has been reviewed as a 100% Organic Japanese Matcha product from a strict certification organism, JAS – Japanese agricultural Standars.
What I liked most in this matcha is the fact that it comes in 3 different blends with other superfoods, aiming to benefit health. Except from all those anti-oxidants and energy matcha offers, one taste protects the immune system and the other tones energy and metabolism. Based on the Matcha Maiden family and its benefits, I was inspired with 3 special beverages to share. Two hot beverages and a refreshing smoothie to start off your day with the best way possible.
For the classic matcha taste, I suggest a Bulletproof matcha latte. Matcha with loads of coconut milk and coconut oil according to bulletproof coffee’s policy. Bulletproof coffee is a special way of producing coffee as the filtered coffee blends with butter and coconut oil in the end. The oil and coffee combination is a very powerful way to power your mind; coconut oil is quickly metabolised by the liver and instantly gives energy, and caffeine instantly tones the body and mind. It’s like fuel for the mind! In addition, coconut oil is easy to digest, is not stored as fat and has a thermogenic reaction which positively affects our metabolism and fat burning. It’s therefore one of the healthy fats which doesn’t make us gain weight but helps us lose weight instead. Imagine what would happen when you combine it with matcha which also has thermogenic abilities and boosts metabolism. I’ve told you about how important healthy fats are despite their reputation during the previous decade. Adding healthy fats in your diet is a healthy way to reduce hunger and cravings, adjust your hormones and protect the health of your mind. This matcha latte is the best way to start your day with energy that will keep you going until lunch time.
“Fly me to the immune” is a matcha blend with ginger, dandelion, mint and fennel seeds which tone our immune system. Our favourite ginger is rich in vitamins and has unique anti-inflammatory abilities, while studies have shown that it’s exceptionally effective with most common analgesics. It’s ideal to protect us from the cold and the flu, as well as helping us overcome the flu in case we contract it. It stimulates blood circulation and reduces feelings of cold, sweating and fevers. Mint helps in curing colds and facing the flu. Studies have shown that it effectively kills bacteria and viruses. In addition, it projects a sedative effect, providing pain relief. Its menthol effectively dissolves mucus, relieves cough and congestion. Fennel seeds offer vitamin C which contributes in the smooth operation of the immune system, acting against free radicals. Dandelion helps protecting against pneumonia, bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses, as it has a disinfecting ability. Combine all these together along with matcha’s anti-oxidants and you will understand how powerful the mixture is. It smells like matcha and has a light acidic aftertaste which I personally love.
I broke down “Fly me to the immune” in a very stimulant beverage from nettles. Nettles are one of the most nutritional natural herbs; its dried leaves boiled in water become stimulant infusions, an essential element for any nature pharmacies. Nettle is known for its haemolytic abilities. It’s also a very nutritional plant: its long roots have many trace elements from the ground, making it rich in iron, calcium, selenium, zinc and potassium. It also includes vitamin A and C, a fact that classifies it as a super food available at any moment in our backyards. It has the ability to stimulate blood, nourishing cells and helping the body maintain its wellness, improving energy, circulation and spiritual clarity. IT also has antihistaminic abilities, so consuming it helps in allergies. If you have excess nettle beverages, don’t drink them, pour them on yourself instead! They say that if you wash your hair using nettle water, it becomes thicker and shinier, with less dandruff. This powerful beverage with matcha and nettle is the absolute stimulant if you get sick.
Finishing, this blog couldn’t have made a dedication on beverages without including a smoothie. For Matcha Maiden’s second “child”, “Light my fire”, which includes cayenne pepper and cinnamon to make your metabolism work at crazy speeds, I made a super refreshing smoothie with frozen mango, ginger and fresh kale. This blend from Matcha Maiden, Cinnamon, Cayenne pepper, olive leaf extract and Siberian Ginseng is a mysterious and fiery mixture designed to increase thermogenesis and boost your body’s metabolism. Cinnamon improves glycaemic control, adjusting blood’s sugar levels. Cayenne pepper is a very known circulation stimulant. It helps in calorie consumption and reduces appetite during the day. In addition, it operates as a detox as it warms up the body. Siberian ginseng operates as a natural appetite repressive. It also boosts metabolism and helps the body to burn calories faster, while fighting fatigue and exhaustion, relieving headaches, improving he memor, offering a better mental clarity, improving libido, and stimulating the immune system at the same time. All these things are combined with mango’s vitamin A and all nutritional elements found in kale. Now tell me, is there a better way to start your day than this fulfilling smoothie that not only gives energy but also helps burn fat by activating your metabolism?
You will find Matcha Maiden Classic and its magical “siblings” in biological product shops.
Bulletproof matcha Maiden Latte
Ingredients for 1 cup
– 1 cup of coconut milk
– 1 tsp Matcha Maiden Classic
– 1 spoon extra virgin coconut oil
Preparation:
– Boil the coconut milk in low temperature, adding the oil to melt within it
– When the milk is heated, remove it from the stove and add in the matcha
– Stir well using a frappe mixer until the matcha dissolves and turns into foam.
– Serve in your favourite cup
Stimulant nettle beverage using Matcha Maiden’s “take me to the immune”
Ingredients for about 2 cups
– A handful of dried nettle leaves
– 1 tsp Matcha Maiden light my fire
– 500ml water
– Boil the nettle in the water for about 10 minutes. Don’t let it boil a lot because nettle has an extremely bitter taste that not everyone likes
– Strain the nettle and throw in the matcha maiden and stir well until it dissolves
– Add a sweetener of your choice and serve in cups
Smoothie with mango, kale, ginger and Matcha Maiden’s light my fire
– ½ mango, chopped in pieces that were frozen the night before
– 10 centimetres of fresh ginger
– 1 handful of kale
– 1 tsp Matcha Maiden Light my fire
– 1 glass of coconut or almond milk
Preparation:
– Blend all the ingredients in the blender.