GROUNDING MORNING RITUAL WITH MATCHA KARI

Today’s topic is all about matcha because I am a huge matcha lover and matcha advocate! During these unprecedented times, I have created a grounding morning ritual involving Matcha Kari. I love carving out an hour in the morning to myself and my routine usually starts with drinking matcha, journaling and meditating. The way you start your morning is important as it can be telling how your day will be. I am also sure that most of us have more time in our hands, so I think having a slower and quiet morning is a way to take of ourselves mentally, emotionally, physically and most importantly, spiritually.

There are tons of matcha options in the world, but I have realized that the quality of matcha plays a huge role in the taste and overall experience. I am picky about my matcha and I have been on the hunt for a good ceremonial matcha grade for a while. This is where Matcha Kari comes in because I reached out as I had an interest in reviewing their matcha self starter kit. 

Let me first explain what matcha is. In basic terms, matcha is essentially a high-grade green tea ground into powdered form. The main difference between matcha and green tea is that matcha is more concentrated in antioxidants and actually contains more antioxidants and nutrients than green tea since matcha is made by grinding the entire tea leaf into powder.

MATCHA TEA BENEFITS

• high in antioxidants (especially EGCG)
• boosts metabolism and burns calories
• calms the mind and relaxes the body
• is rich in fiber, chlorophyll and vitamins
• prevents disease
• lowers cholesterol and blood sugar
• boots immune system
• detoxifies body
• boosts concentration
• improves skin

HOW TO BREW MATCHA

1. Heat water in a kettle until steam first appears; this will be well below boiling, about 180°F. Turn off heat.
2. Pour about ½ cup of the hot water into a matcha bowl to warm it. Dip the tea whisk into the hot water to soften it. Then discard the water and dry the inside of the bowl.
3. Use a tea scoop to measure 3 scoops (about 1 teaspoon) of sifted matcha powder into the warmed bowl.
4. Add about ¼ cup (2 ounces) of hot water.
5. Use the tea whisk to mix the matcha tea into the water. Begin with slow, back-and-forth strokes, then agitate the mixture to a froth with quick strokes.
6. Rinse the scoop and whisk.
7. Sip and enjoy.

*you can also watch this video from Matcha Kari that shows how to prepare the perfect bowl of matcha

WHY MATCHA KARI

As I mentioned earlier, when it comes to matcha, it’s all about quality! Matcha Kari excels in this area and is very transparent about where they source their matcha.

Matcha Kari’s teas come from the fields around Uji City near Kyoto, Japan, the birthplace of Japanese tea traditions. Tea produced in the Uji region is prized for its bright color and rich flavor and is often considered Japan’s best.

The company was founded by Dr. Andrew Weil, an internationally recognized expert on medicinal plants, integrative medicine and wellness and André Fasciola, a matcha expert and enthusiastic. Their main mission is to share knowledge on the merits, health benefits, and spirit of matcha. And as a consumer, I can truly say their brand promise is very apparent as evident on their website. I actually don’t even feel like their website is just a place where you can shop for matcha. More than that, it’s a platform that has extremely useful information about matcha and wellness and is also backed up my science and facts.

MY GROUNDING RITUAL

With all that being said, it’s no surprise that I have been drinking matcha from Matcha Kari to ground me in the morning. There is so much noise and chaos in the world right now and in order to shut it out, I think it’s critical that we turn inwards. Here’s a friendly reminder to check in with yourself. Don’t turn on the news or check your phone first thing in the morning. Instead, put yourself first. Use this time to take care of yourselves. There are many ways to do this and there’s no right or wrong way to approach it either.

I want to shed light on not only the benefits of matcha for your body but also for your mind. If you’ve never tried matcha, this is the time to do so! And if you’re usually not a fan of matcha, why not give it another go and perhaps experiment with different recipes instead of drinking it straight up as a tea. I find myself more and more in the kitchen and I also plan on exploring different ways I can use matcha so stay tuned for recipes coming soon!