Matcha latte
Just over three weeks ago I embarked on the Teapigs matcha challenge. For two weeks I was to take a daily dose (a tiny spoonful) of a vivid green powder that is ground-up green tea, to see if it could deliver health and happiness (or at least health, vitality and a svelte figure). At the time, January was shaping up to be its usual, long, rather wearisome self and I needed a boost that would deliver results without resorting to my usual extremism. You can read about how I felt about the challenge at the beginning here.
So, nearly a month later, how was it? Well, for a start, it tasted nicer than I expected. If you happen to like the taste of green tea, which I do, it’s great as it’s similar only more concentrated. That said, the flavour is fairly easily masked, so if you don’t happen to be partial to the green stuff, all is not lost.
I took it in lots of different forms. Some days I went for the easy shot with water. On others I chose the matcha latte – mixed with hot milk and honey (much tastier than I expected). I also experimented with matcha with hot water as a green tea (OK, though not marvellous), in smoothies (couldn’t taste it) and in yogurt (just don’t). In the end I found myself resorting more and more frequently to matcha porridge, largely because the crazy green sludge appealed to my Shrek-like aesthetic. I’ve even, for my own amusement, been doubling the quantities to make the colour more intense, but there’s no need for that.
Fruit smoothie - you can't see or taste the matcha
Matcha porridge - to make it even greener add another spoonful
Most importantly, though, did it work? Unlike some others, I didn’t notice an instant buzz or boost of energy on taking it, but there’s no doubt that I have been irritatingly full of beans this month. Just yesterday two friends commented on how well I looked and one asked if I’d been on holiday. How often do you hear that in January when you’ve spent the last four weeks in a dark, damp, Welsh valley? I have definitely had a spring in my step and have often awoken before my alarm (almost unheard of).
As to its slimming properties, I can’t say that it’s made a huge difference. I’ve been eating pretty sensibly, with the odd dip into ill-advised but delicious excess, and have dropped a couple of pounds, but that’s to be expected after the lardathon that was my Christmas and New Year.
But will I carry on taking it now the challenge is over? The answer is a definite yes. I should point out that it is expensive (though you only use a tiny amount every day so it doesn’t work out that wildly expensive if you break it down), and I was lucky enough to have been given a sample by the nice people at Teapigs. You also need a whisk (Teapigs recommend a bamboo or electric one). But I really do suspect that my chirpiness is due at least in part to my daily fix of green powder, so I’m going to stick with it.
