There’s no doubt about it – all tea leaves are good for you, but matcha is even better. Matcha is unlike any other tea because the entire tea leaf is ground fine into a power, which means in contains more vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and powerful antioxidants than loose leaf tea. For example, one cup of prepared matcha has the nutritional equivalent of 10 cups of brewed green tea.

Here are some of the unique health benefits of matcha green tea:

• Mental clarity Per teaspoon serving, matcha contains about 70 mg of caffeine, roughly half the amount of a cup of coffee. With just the right amount of caffeine, it’s the morning or afternoon perfect pick-me-up.

• Steady energy and relaxation without the jitters Matcha contains L-Theanine, a rare amino acid that contains alpha waves in the brain to help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. When combined with caffeine, it helps you feel alert and awake with the “shakes” or jitters. Matcha provides hours of steady energy without crashing.

• Metabolism boost Rich in dietary fiber, matcha helps to support a healthy metabolism.

• Heavy metal detox Because matcha is shade grown, the leaves are rich in chlorophyll, which helps the body eliminate heavy metals and other toxins.

• Mega dose of antioxidants Because the tea leaves are ground into a fine powder, matcha has 137 times more antioxidants than traditional green tea. Similarly, matcha contains nearly 29 times more antioxidants than blueberries, a well-known, antioxidant-rich super food. In fact, the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) or antioxidant content of matcha is higher than many other well-known superfoods, including pomegranates, acai, and spinach.