Matcha or Maca? You’ve probably heard of both of them, but you may not know that despite sounding similar, they are completely different.
The healthy food industry has boomed in recent years, and that has made things such as Matcha and Maca more popular than ever.
In this article, we’re going to take a close look at both Matcha and Maca to explain exactly what they are and what they are commonly used for.
We’re going to break this article up into the following sections:
• What is Matcha?
• What is Maca?
• Matcha vs Maca
• Anything Else to Consider?
• Wrapping Things Up – Our Final Thoughts
So now that we have the introductions out of the way, let’s start taking a closer look at Matcha and Maca.
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What is Matcha?
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The chances are that if you’re reading this article, you’ve probably already heard of or tried Matcha before, but let’s cover the basics anyway.
Matcha is a type of Green Tea that is ground into a fine powder and mixed into a liquid.
The Green Tea plants used for Matcha are grown and processed in a specific way which makes it different to regular Green Tea.
The Green Tea plants of Match are grown in the shade for three or four weeks before harvest – and the stems and vines are removed during processing.
Because it is grown in the shade in the final few weeks before processing, the Green Tea plant produces more Theanine and Caffeine.
Also, unlike regular Green Tea, the powder is mixed directly into the liquid, meaning that you are actually consuming the tea leaves.
Matcha powder is rich in antioxidants. As mentioned above, Matcha Green Tea leaves also contain Theanine and Caffeine.
This is different to regular Green Tea, which is simply brewed in hot water.
Matcha Green Tea contains more Caffeine than regular Green Tea.
What is Maca?
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
Maca is a root (cruciferous) vegetable which grows in central Peru. It is in a similar family of vegetables to broccoli, cauliflower and kale.
It is touted as a supposed ‘superfood’ and is often served as a fine powder, which is light brown in color.
Maca has a high nutritional profile. It contains a lot of important vitamins and minerals, including Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium and Zinc as well as some B vitamins.
Maca is also a good vegan source of both Copper and Iron.
Maca is commonly sold as a supplement or as a powder.
Matcha vs Maca
So, now that we’ve had a look at both Matcha and Maca in a bit more detail, it’s time to compare these two popular powders.
In case you hadn’t realised, Maca and Match are very different things.
Matcha is a powder made from grinding up special Green Tea leaves, while Maca is (usually a powder) form of a root vegetable.
Maca is rich in certain nutrients, such as Iron, Copper and some B Vitamins.
Matcha contains some Caffeine and other things such as Theanine and antioxidants.
Some people choose to add Maca and Matcha to smoothies or energy bites.
It’s important to note that because Matcha powder contains quite a lot of Caffeine, it’s probably best not to consume it too close to bedtime, as the Caffeine could affect your sleep.
Anything Else to Consider?
As we always like to remind our readers, sticking to a healthy and balanced diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle overall.
Your should always speak to a medical professional before taking Matcha or Maca for the first time, especially if you are taking any prescription medications.
Sticking to a good diet, exercising regularly and getting plenty of rest should always be your priorities before thinking of taking any new supplements for the first time.
Wrapping Things Up – Our Final Thoughts
So, that brings us to the end of our look at Matcha vs Maca.
They may sound similar, but these two powders are actually very different.
We’ve walked you through the basic points about both substances, and have also discussed some of the nutritional benefits of both of them.
All in all, we’re big fans of both Matcha and Maca, but be sure to do your research before trying either of them for the first time.
