After being a classic drink in Japan for many centuries, matcha has also become popular in the Western world. But can you mix kratom and matcha? The answer is yes. The synergy between these natural products will help you increase your energy levels and boost motivation. In this article, we will explore the benefits of this combination. And you will also learn the best way to combine matcha and kratom.
What Is Matcha Tea?
Whilst nowadays premium matcha tea comes mostly from Japan, matcha was first produced in China, during the Song dynasty in the 10th century. Matcha is a powder consisting of green tea leaves that have previously been steamed and dried. Thus, when drinking matcha tea, you are also ingesting almost the whole leaf of the plant.
In the 12th century, Eisai, a Buddhist monk, brought matcha to Japan. Since then, matcha has been an important part of Japanese culture. Even today, matcha green tea is also part of the Japanese tea ceremony.
Just like white, green, and black tea, matcha comes from Camellia sinensis, which is a small tree in the Theaceae family. But harvesting and producing matcha tea requires a lot of work and resources. That is why real matcha tea is not cheap.
How Is Matcha Tea Made?
First, matcha farmers cover the tea leaves that are going to become matcha. By doing this, they make sure that the sunlight will not affect the leaves. As a result, these leaves produce more chlorophyll. Thus, the green color of the leaves is darker. Moreover, due to this process, the leaves produce more amino acids. Thanks to these higher levels of amino acids, matcha tea is sweeter than other teas.
Harvesters hand-pick the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and select only the finest ones. Then, they separate the leaf from the stem. The leaves then undergo a steaming process before being dried again. The leaves at this time of the process get a new name, aracha, which is also a kind of tea.
After the steaming process, the leaves undergo a final stage before the grinding: the removal of the veins. Thus, they are completely clean before finally reducing them to a fine powder.
The last phase of the process is the grinding of the leaves that will turn them into a fine powder. Traditionally, farmers used millstones to grind the leaves. However, today, industrialization has led to faster, more modern methods. Nonetheless, you still can find artisanal matcha.
Properties of Matcha Tea
Matcha tea has become popular thanks to its properties and benefits. In fact, matcha is a “superfood”. When drinking matcha, you are ingesting the whole tea leaf. Therefore, you will obtain more nutrients (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants) than by drinking a regular green tree. But the lack of direct sunlight also provides matcha green tea with a higher number of antioxidants.
And of course, matcha tea is also rich in magnesium, zinc, and vitamin C. It also has diuretic properties and can help lose weight and manage cholesterol levels. In general, we can say that one cup of matcha tea has ten times more nutrients than a cup of regular green tea. Moreover, thanks to its stimulating effects, matcha is also a healthy natural alternative to energy drinks. So, the combination of kratom and matcha will bring a lot of healthy benefits.
Kratom Stimulating Properties
Many people use kratom to get an energy boost and struggle with fatigue. Kratom’s major alkaloids and other compounds provide stimulating effects that its users love. But that is not all. Many users report that kratom also helps them improve their focus and even increases motivation. Thus, many kratom lovers take kratom to carry out tasks that require a lot of concentration and engagement.
Moreover, kratom is not only a natural stimulant. In fact, kratom has many other properties, and that is why so many people love this herb. Other kratom effects include pain relief, euphoria, relaxation, and mood-lifting. And of course, these effects are usually very potent. Therefore, kratom is now a natural alternative to treat different ailments and conditions, such as:
- Chronic and acute pain
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress
- Insomnia
- Fibromyalgia
- Lyme disease
- Lupus
- RLS
Thanks to the combination of its stimulating effects and its healthy properties, kratom is helping millions of people manage their everyday life.
Can I Mix Kratom and Matcha?
If you are wondering whether you can mix kratom and matcha, the answer is yes. The combination of kratom and matcha can help you enhance the energizing properties of kratom. And needless to say, matcha is an amazing food. So, this mix might bring a lot of benefits to your health.
However, there are some factors to consider before mixing kratom and matcha. Let’s explore them!
Best Time of the Day to Mix Them
Both kratom and matcha have strong stimulating properties. Therefore, you should not use this combination in the evening or at night. Instead, this mix is great to start your day off. Thus, you can add matcha and kratom to your breakfast to get the most of their energizing effects and to improve focus throughout the day.
What Strains You Should Use
A combination of kratom and matcha is a great way to get an energy boost and to improve concentration and mental focus. Therefore, it is only logical that you look for kratom strains that promote these effects: the white and the green strains. White Maeng Da, White and Green Borneo, White Sumatra, or Horned White Kratom are just some of the strains that can potentiate their effects when mixed with matcha. So, in that sense, matcha could act as a natural kratom potentiator.
How to Mix Kratom and Matcha
Now, this is a tricky question. Kratom does not taste good. In fact, many users find its bitter, earthy taste very unpleasant. But many people also find matcha bitter. Hence, for those people, consuming kratom and matcha together is not a good experience. However, many users find that matcha can help mask the taste of kratom. So, whether you want to mix your kratom directly with matcha or if you prefer to take them separately, it is a personal question. Many people also opt for adding some ginger to the mix. Not only will ginger improve the taste of your tea; it will also protect your stomach from nausea and other issues.
Mixing Kratom and Matcha: Things to Consider
There are other things that you should bear in mind when mixing matcha and kratom, such as:
- Kratom Dosage: Be careful with your dosage. Since matcha will boost some of kratom’s effects, you will not need a large dose. Think of matcha as a kratom potentiator. Moreover, kratom stimulating effects may be too much when mixed with matcha.
- Be careful with your stomach: Matcha can also increase the levels of stomach acid. Therefore, it may cause nausea, reflux, or heartburn. So, you may want to avoid taking kratom and matcha on an empty stomach. Like we mentioned above, adding ginger will protect your stomach. And it will also improve the taste!
- Stay away from constipation: Both matcha and kratom have astringent effects. That is, they both may cause constipation. If you are already familiar with kratom constipation, adding matcha to the mix may make it worse. Eat fiber, leafy greens, and exercise regularly to avoid constipation.
How to Prepare Matcha Tea
Making matcha tea is very simple. You will just need to follow these steps:
- Add 1g matcha powder in a bowl or a mug.
- Pour a bit of hot water into the bowl, just enough to cover the matcha powder. The water must not be boiling. The ideal temperature is 175F/80C.
- Whisk vigorously.
- Add the rest of the water.
- Whisk again until you get a foamy tea.
You can use a regular spoon to make your matcha tea. However, if you want to make it following the traditional recipe, you can use a chashaku and a chasen. The chashaku is a bamboo tea scoop that people use to measure the matcha powder. The chasen is a bamboo whisk that people use to mix and dissolve the matcha powder in water.
