September 2008 Archives

Clearly the crescendo of a 2 week matcha challenge is day 14.... ooops!

At the end of the 2 week matcha challenge I was not only more focused, calmer and bursting to the brim with antioxidants.... I was also some what lighter.

Not a miracle cure but I would certainly agree with the claims that matcha helps slimming, I went off on my holiday a little less fearful of lying on a beach semi-clothed.

I am going to keep on sipping matcha perhaps this will be the result - here's hoping.

So no entries for a few days from Louise then? Does this mean that her matcha challenge has gone disastrously wrong? Or has she been in meditation for days? Well actually, she's been taking some well overdue holiday. We're sure she's taken some matcha with her so will be ready to report back as soon as she returns. With some nice holiday snaps too we hope.

Day eleven of the matcha challenge - objective to discover the impact of 2 weeks of matcha

How I took my health kick...
1g added to a shot of luscombe apple and ginger - yum.

How did I feel....

Genius. I think I may have found the ultimate hangover cure.... at last.
The matcha shot gave me a super nutrient blast which appears to has cured for my cracking hangover. Amazing.

Day eight of the matcha challenge - objective to discover the impact of 2 weeks of matcha

How I took my health kick...

Matcha latte.
1 tsp of matcha added to milk and a dash of honey, frothed with a whisk.
The milk can be boiled or I prefer it cold with ice - does that make it a frappe?

How did I feel....

Healthy glow. Despite having spent the weekend at Olympia indoor exhibition hall I am told that my skin has taken on a healthy glow.... this can only be attributed to the matcha.

Matcha has a very high vitamin C content and vitamin C has been linked to reducing wrinkles and improving skin tone - da da dah ten years younger in one matcha latte - well almost.

Day four of the matcha challenge - objective to discover the impact of 2 weeks of matcha

How I took my health kick...

Today I took my 1g shot with apple juice. Very nice. I did find this recipe ( below) for perhaps a somewhat less healthy cupcake. The combo of chocolate and green tea sounds yummy... something for the weekend!

How did I feel....

Focused. Matcha has been drunk as a ceremonial beverage for 900 years in Japan. It is particularly drunk by Buddhist monks to help them focus on their meditation. Although I haven't spent the day meditating it did help me focus on preparing for the fine food show at the weekend.

Matcha and chocolate muffin/cupcakes

You need:

3/4 cup fine white sugar
3/4 + 2/3 cups flour, sifted
8 Tbsp butter, melted
3 eggs, large
3 oz chocolate 70% cocoa, melted
1.5 tsp sifted unsweetened cocoa, diluted with 2 Tbsp cold whole milk
1.5 tsp Matcha tea
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt

Steps:

Melt the butter and keep. Melt the chocolate.
Beat the eggs with the sugar until white in color. Add the melted the butter and mix well.
Add the sifted flour and baking powder, with a pinch of salt.
Divide the mixture in two halves. In the first half, add the Matcha tea, in the second the chocolate and cocoa diluted in milk.
Grease 6 small molds and coat with flour. Remove the excess.
In equal proportions, pour in each the chocolate, then the Matcha tea. Run a fork in the batter to describe a movement. Bake in a preheated oven for 30 min, temperature 350 F.

Day three of the matcha challenge - objective to discover the impact of 2 weeks of matcha.

How I took my health kick...

This morning I added my 1g of matcha to my cereal. My muesli of choice today was dorset cereals.... it turned the milk minty green - interesting.

How did I feel....

Buzzing! Still feeling really energized and also I have noticed there is not a hint of the usual post-lunch slump.Great!

Day two of the matcha challenge - objective to discover the impact of 2 weeks of matcha.

How I took my health kick...

I added my 1g of matcha to my morning orange juice.

How did I feel....

It is only lunchtime on day two but I am pretty sure I have more energy.

Vicky ( the nutritionist from beez-kneez.co.uk) tells me that theannine and theophyline are the reason why!

''Matcha tea is a super-charged green tea, which is packed full of antioxidants and minerals, the stress-busting amino acid L-theannine and a high level of theophyline, which maintains energy levels over a six to eight hour period.''

Since we discovered that the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow and Hilary Swank are knocking back matcha it got us thinking..... how about a matcha challenge.

1g of matcha every day for 2 weeks. Will this turn me into a Hollywood starlet?

Nutritionist Vicky Warr has told us of the super power benefits of matcha....
calming, energising, mood optimising, heightens mental focus and most of all metabolism boosting ( yippee!).

So day one...

How I took my health kick...

Kept it simple today with a matcha shot. 1 g of matcha blended into cold water.

How did I feel....

Pretty excited at the start of a new health regime.