Hands up if you too, suffer from anxiety? Many are surprised to learn that I have moments of crippling anxiety. My calm demeanor on the outside is often a cover for the spiraling thoughts and worries on the inside. My way to calm is through the ocean, exercise, music and of course, matcha. Over the past 8 years of matcha drinking, I’ve seen how matcha helps me center my thoughts when they get away from me. Making matcha equals a break. It’s a time for me without judgement. What’s in matcha that allows the anxiety to melt away? The game changing magic of L-theanine.
L-theanine is an amino acid, and the key phytonutrient in matcha, that helps promote calm instead of amping up and increasing anxiety levels. There is zero L-theanine in coffee, in contrast. It should also be noted that the L-theanine (also commonly called theanine) in matcha occurs in greater quantities than other tea, because of the shading technique used in the final weeks of tea leaf growth; this removes all sources of light to the plant, forcing the plant to go into overtime, producing more L-theanine and the bright green chlorophyll goodness which gives matcha it’s beautiful hue.
The chaos of everyday life can be overwhelming, even in the best of times. This year in particular has been a difficult one. With so many unknowns in the world right now, the one thing I know for sure, is that a bowl of matcha is exactly what I need to center myself before taking on the next task.
Take Your Moment,
Tiffanie Home