One of the most amazing things about Sydney is the variety of cafes and cuisines, with the high quality of food across the city. However sometimes this can also be a pitfall as it can be an overwhelming task of knowing which place to choose!

So we decided to venture out and sample as many cafes to try a cup of matcha all over the city, so we could find the top 10 matcha cafes in Sydney for ourselves.

Next time you’re looking for a cafe for brunch in Sydney where you can get your antioxidant hit and favourite matcha latte, hopefully one of these 10 matcha cafes will do the trick.

1.    Café Cre Asion

A delicious way to sample the treats of Japan right here in Sydney, Cafe Cre Asion serves up an incredible brunch menu alongside matcha treats. Here matcha is used in so many dishes as a standard flavour option with a dessert menu full of matcha green heaven. Try the matcha tart for a decadent mid afternoon treat.

Address: 101/21 Alberta St, Sydney, NSW

Opening Hours: Mon–Fri 8am–4pm, Sat 9am–4pm

Phone number: (02) 8021 1629

2.    Oh! Matcha

As a speciality matcha cafe you will not find a bigger selection of Matcha treats outside of Japan. With lattes, cappuccinos, frappes and a selection of desserts to satisfy any tastes, Oh! Matcha fulfils all your greenest desires. Our particular favourite for an over-the-top instagrammable treat is the Matcha Parfait topped with fruit and served in an old school sundae glass, fulfilling those teen American diner dreams.

Address: 1/501 George Street (Bathurst Street), Sydney, NSW

Opening Hours: Every day 10am – 10pm

Phone number: (02) 9261 1094

3.    Edition Coffee Roasters

Cool and hip style is the name of the game at Edition with incredible Japanese dishes served up in fresh and creative ways.

The names of the dishes are sure to raise a giggle when you try to pronounce them to your server but when your plate of matcha pancakes arrives all worries will melt away!

Address: 265 Liverpool St., Darlinghurst, NSW

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 7am – 5pm, Sat & Sun 8am – 5pm

Phone number:  (02) 8313 1000

4.   Haven

Another speciality coffee place on our list is Haven over in Surry Hills and with the menu changing with the seasons you are sure to always find something fresh and delicious to taste.

They take their coffee very seriously here and each bean is brewed to its own personal requirements to give you the very best flavour from your roast. For Matcha treats try the Hakkaido egg waffle with matcha sauce and ice cream.

Address: 30-34 Chalmers Street, Surry Hills, NSW

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 7am – 4pm, Sat & Sun 8am – 4pm

Phone number: (02) 9281 9300

5.   Le Monde Café

Bright and colourful dishes whizz out the kitchen at this Surry Hills gem. With a brunch menu perfect for Saturday catch up with friends you will be sure to find something for the most varied of taste buds. The vanilla chia seed pudding is a real delight, but our matcha favourite is the Matcha hotcakes topped with fresh fruit and seeds.

Address: 83 Foveaux St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 6.30am-4pm, Sat 7am-2pm

Phone number: (02) 9211 3568

6.    Yasaka Ramen

Classic Japanese food such as bao and gyoza can be found alongside a variety of incredible ramen dishes. The spicy ramen is rumoured to be the hottest around, only to be conquered by the strongest of spice lovers, but we recommend tackling this dish and cooling your palate with their delicious matcha ice cream. You can also wash down your food with a great selection of asian beers and rice wine.

Address: 126 Liverpool St., Sydney, NSW

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 11.30am – 10pm

Phone number: (02) 9262 9027

7.    Juan Bowl and Tea

The hugely popular Juan Bowl and Tea is packed every opening hour so be sure to book ahead.

With a limited menu you may think it too niche to go with friends but rest assured this small but perfectly formed restaurant is a testament to Japanese culture down to the last detail.

Each dish is served in elegant and original ways with our favourite Matcha Tiramisu served on a slate in a wooden cube. Truly Japanese!

Address: 94A Pitt St, Redfern, NSW

Opening Hours: Lunch – Thu-Sun 12pm – 3pm, Dinner – Wed-Sun 6pm – 10pm

8.    The Q on Harris

Started as a project to supply the very best in Indonesian coffee, The Q on Harris has blossomed into a cool cafe perfect to spend your Saturday. The food offers a creative twist on Asian classics, giving you a menu difficult to choose a favourite. Of course as matcha lovers we appreciate the matcha desserts from cakes to tarts, served with a smile.

Address: 597 Harris St, Ultimo, NSW

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri – 6:30am-3pm, Sat – 9am-2pm

Phone number: (02) 8957 3527

9.   Café Kentaro

Chef Kenny Takayama serves up an incredible array of dishes in this Surry Hills cafe, with many featuring a delicious Matcha coconut cream. There is even a dish made with organic Matcha noodles available as veggie or meat lovers option. It is clear the chef really understands the joy of Matcha and has created a menu featuring our green goodness in many dishes.

Address: 616 Bourke St. (at Mort St.), Surry Hills, NSW

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 7am – 3.30pm, Sat 7am-3.30pm, Sun 8am-3.30pm

Phone number: (02) 9699 2665

10.  Shortstop Coffee and Donuts

When you think of donuts, you might not necessarily think of matcha – but why not add an antioxidant boost to these snacks and reap a few health benefits at the same time.

These Halloween donuts are their triple matcha flavour which obviously we can’t get enough of! 

The store also caters large deliverable boxes perfect for sharing around the office or offering up at the next big company meeting.

Address: Shop 3, 23 Barangaroo Ave (at Shelley St), Sydney, NSW

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat & Sun 9am-5pm

Phone number: (02) 499 366 883

Well there you have it, our top 10 matcha cafes in Sydney – sure to tantalise your tastebuds and keep your brunch options varied for a few weeks! Try them out and find a boost for your health within delicious meals, desserts and lattes!

It’s important to ensure that the cafe is using high quality matcha, as this contains the maximum health benefits. You can tell this from the low-bitter taste and vibrant green colour. And if you’d like to recreate any of these dishes at home, then check our matcha green tea powder. It’s premium grade, fresh and vibrant green, and sourced from sustainable farms in Japan. This ensures you are getting the maximum nutritional and antioxidant profile.

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As Australians, we have always been way ahead of the game with delicious and healthy food. And Melbourne has always been one of the hubs for this – being full of so many Instagrammable cafes, it’s often difficult to know which one to choose.

It’s no surprise that matcha has found its way into so many menus in Melbourne. As a superfood with so many incredible health benefits (including boosting the metabolism, increasing energy levels, and fighting diseases), matcha green tea powder is now added to many dishes – not just to spice up the colour, but to add antioxidants and improve health. From a simple matcha tea to speciality matcha desserts, you can get your matcha fix in many tasty ways all over the city.

Check out the list of our 8 favourite matcha cafes in Melbourne for inspiration for your next brunch!

1. Mr Mister

Having a recent venue change and revamp, Mr Mister is a hipsters dream of industrial chic and Instagrammable food. The menu boasts every kind of egg you could wish for and a delicious array of smoothies and juices. The matcha latte is blended to perfection, the perfect way to start a healthy day. However, if you want your brunch with a kick they also have a decent selection of wines, beers and cocktails.

Address: 159 Chapel Street

Opening hours: Monday-Friday 6:30am-3:30pm, Weekends 7:30am-3:30pm

Phone number: 03 9529 3902

2. Journeyman

With a twist on favourites such as avocado hummus toast and eggs benedict with pork belly, this cool cafe serves up a hefty dose of chill vibes alongside its menu.

The turmeric latte is a soothing treat for those who don’t want to fire up the caffeine and sits alongside an extensive drinks menu with something for everyone.

Address: 169 Chapel Street

Opening hours: Monday – Saturday: 7am – 4pm; Sunday: 8am – 4pm; Public holidays: 8am – 4pm

Phone number: 03 9521 4884

3. Operator 25

Some of the most beautiful food in Melbourne, this top rated brunch spot serves up matcha recipes including matcha waffles with artisan ice cream and fresh fruit, and homemade matcha granola with chia and coconut yogurt.

With beautiful presentation and well thought out blends of flavours, you feel you are eating something utterly indulgent yet most dishes are healthy and packed with goodness. Luxury food in a simple setting!

Address: 25 Wills Street

Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 7am – 4pm, Weekends: 9am – 4pm

Phone number: 03 9670 3270

4. YOMG

Positively sinful burgers are balanced out with delicious healthy frozen yoghurts at this bright, fun cafe.

With 4 locations across Melbourne you are sure to be close enough to grab a burger, topped fries or fro-yo. Try the tropical mango matcha frozen yogurt for a taste of vacation!

Address: Ground Floor 65-67, Kingsway Glen Waverley, VIC 3150

Opening hours: Mon-Thu: 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 11am-Midnight

Phone number: 03 9560 2288

5. SMAK Food House

SMAK Food House has a real heart as well as a menu packed with nutritious and indulgent options.

They donate 1% of their profits to MND research, so you can drink their delicious tea while contributing to charity too. Their Jasmine Pearl tea with floral notes and a matcha tea base is one of our favourites.

Address: 6c Daly Street

Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 7:30am – 3:30pm, Weekends: 8:00am – 3:30pm

Phone number: 03 8560 2146

6. KUU Cafe

This Japanese cafe has an extensive selection of matcha options on the menu. Our favourite is their Matcha Breakfast, coated in their special matcha sauce – served with seasonal fruits, a perfect start to the day!

Address: 190 Park Street

Opening hours: Mon: 9am – 4pm, Tue – Fri: 9am – 9pm, Sat & Sun: 9am – 4pm

Phone number: 03 9686 0819

7. Purple peanuts

For a truly authentic Japanese cafe, be sure to hit up Purple Peanuts on Collins Street.

The food is an assault on the senses with every colour of the rainbow and flavours to tempt! Their Matcha pannacotta is a dreamy, creamy and delicious perfect healthy treat. They also have incredible lunch packs to take away and devour at your desk!

Address: G20/620 Collins Street

Opening hours: Mon-Sat: 10:00am – 9:00pm, Sun: closed

Phone number: 03 9620 9548

8. White Mojo

Last but certainly not least, we have the incredible White Mojo.

Creating a variety of speciality coffees such as a black latte and delicious matcha latte, there really is something very the most discerning of tastes.

Each dish has a drink perfectly selected to compliment the dish. They have also created a selection of desserts featuring matcha. Our particular favourite is the creatively named ‘Forest Floor’; a fruity, chocolatey dream with their very own ‘chocolate soil’ and ‘matcha sponge’. The forest has never tasted so good!  

Address: 115 Hardware Street

Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 7:00am – 4:00pm, Sat-Sun: 8:00am-5:00pm

Phone number: (03) 9078 8119

Well, there you have it! 8 of the best cafes to get your matcha fix in Melbourne!

Try them out for health-boosting brunch, lunch, breakfast, dinner or a replacement for your daily coffee run! With something to suit every taste, you can indulge while boosting your health by taking in all those wonderful antioxidants in the matcha. 

It’s important to ensure that the cafe is using high-quality matcha, as this contains the maximum health benefits. You can tell this from the low-bitter taste and vibrant green colour. And if you’d like to recreate any of these dishes at home, then check our matcha green tea powder. It’s premium grade, fresh and vibrant green, and sourced from sustainable farms in Japan. This ensures you are getting the maximum nutritional and antioxidant profile.

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A steamy mug of coffee in the morning is a perfectly acceptable practice and delivers caffeine in moderation that most people can easily process. With the hustle and bustle of modern living it seems people are reaching for the coffee pot time and time again throughout the day and they are starting to notice the unwanted health effects including:

• High Cortisol Levels: Caffeine in coffee can increase the level of this stress hormone in your body. Elevated cortisol is associated with weight gain, moodiness and over the long run it has been associated with heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
• Low Energy: Caffeine stimulates the adrenal system which initially boosts energy but subsequently crashes it to leave you fatigued and usually reaching for the sugar.
• Mineral Deficiency: Coffee affects iron absorption in your stomach and particularly your kidneys ability to retain calcium, zinc, magnesium and other important minerals.
• Impacts Sleep: Caffeine stays in your nervous system for 4-6 hours so even if you are in a fatigued slump you may often still find it disrupts your sleep.

Fear not- here are three great alternatives to help keep your coffee fix to once a day but your energy levels souring!

Matcha Green Tea Powder

When you drink matcha you receive an incredibly high level of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals as well as a long and steady release of caffeine which, unlike coffee, does not leave you with the “jitters”, energy slumps or sleepless nights.

With matcha, the caffeine is absorbed and released slowly by the body over a period of 6-8 hours. This means that matcha provides a sustainable energy boost without the rapid 30-minute spike, slump, and jitters associated with coffee.

In addition, tea is the only plant that makes the amino acid theanine. Theanine is known for its ability to increase alpha waves in the brain and promote calmness and alert concentration, giving matcha users a great “zen” state.  Controlled experiments have shown that theanine has a positive effect on the mind and improves memory by increasing dopamine levels. Additionally, the alpha brain waves increase 40 minutes after a person consumes theanine, making this a great drink for students or professionals.

Matcha can be made as a delicious hot tea, or as a great iced tea. Here is our favourite matcha iced tea recipe: https://zengreentea.com.au/sugar-free-iced-tea/

Water

A large number of people do not know that a major symptom of dehydration is fatigue. Often when you are feeling tired, have a head ache or cannot concentrate you are actually just dehydrated. Most people do not drink their daily recommended level of 2 litres of water per day and only drink when they are thirsty which is a symptom that usually appears last after fatigue.

Without sufficient hydration, bodies can experience more muscle soreness, the need for longer recovery times and less desire to push oneself – in short, dehydration can make you feel less motivated to achieve at any activity. One study of athletes found after limiting fluids for 15 hours, 92 percent felt tired, had lapses in memory and difficulty concentrating.

When dehydrated, the fluid loss causes a drop in blood volume, which makes the heart work harder to push oxygen and nutrients through the bloodstream to the brain, skin, and muscles.

Green Smoothie/ Juice

Introducing more greens into your diet can often see a dramatic boost in your energy levels from all the nutrients and antioxidants. Start your morning or afternoon with a green juice – kale + cucumber + celery + parsley + mint and half a green apple and you’ll notice your energy levels rising as well as other great effects including glowing skin. For an added energy kick you could add in a superfood supplement like spirulina, barley greens or matcha green tea powder.

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Zen Green Tea’s founder Erin spent the month of May in Japan for the Zen Green Tea Spring matcha harvest.

She want’s to share with you her top Japan travel tips!

In May this year I was lucky enough to spend a month in Japan during the Spring matcha harvest to meet all our wonderful tea farmers and be a part of all the action!

During this month I took quite a few trips around Japan and I discovered some really great experiences I wanted to share with you! Here they are!

Tokyo

Shinjuku Yakitori Alley: When you exit the train station at Shinjuku in Tokyo your senses are bombarded with billboards and masses of people. Just 1 minute walk away however you will see a little alleyway with cherry blossoms across the top. This entrance way leads you into Yakitori Alley cladded in traditional Japanese style wood there are gorgeous little bustling four- eight seater restaurants with one cook behind the bar. It’s a brilliant experience
to sit at the bar and sample delicious sizzling  meats on sticks or gorgeous Udon Noodles!

Golden Gai: Just a ten minute walk from Shinjuku station is Golden Gai, a small block of over 200 bars. These bars are tiny- generally only housing four to eight people at a time. It’s great to bar hop drinking Sake, Plum Wine and also sampling the bar snacks and chatting with the owners.

Izu Penninsula 

While visiting the World Tea Festival in Shizuoka I took a little overnight trip to the Izu Penninsula. It really surprised me with its blue coastlines and beauty. I stayed at a gorgeous hotel/hostel called “K’s House” which was a hundred year old tradional inn. It was right on a stream so at night you can hear the trickling of water. It also had beautiful hot spring baths – both a private one to enjoy on your own or a larger one to enjoy with other guests. I did a beautiful walk around Mount Omuro- you catch a cable car up to the top and there is a short walking track around the rim of the grass covered volcano. Stunning views!

Mirajima Island (off the coast of Hiroshima)

I took a half day trip from Hiroshima by ferry to Mirajima. It’s a gorgeous little island that houses a famous floating Tori Gate, it has all the beautiful traditional style Japanese buildings and some great Shrines. The island is full of friendly deer too! I took a 2 hour hike up the mountain to reach a lovely view point and Shrine at the top. Highly recommend a trip here and if you can afford it a stay overnight in a traditional Japanese Ryokan.

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How Matcha Green Tea Powder Helps with Anti Aging

Everyday our bodies are subject to stresses from our environment from foods we eat, sun exposure and just natural wear and tear. These stresses produce free radicals which are known to damage healthy cells by depleting them of oxygen and breaking down the levels of collagen – which is essential in keeping skin supple and young-looking.

There is a type of green tea that is offers incredible anti aging benefits both through drinking and applying it as a face mask. Matcha green tea is the whole tea leaf stone ground into a powder which dissolves in water. As a result you consume the whole tea leaf so matcha has 137 times the antioxidants of a standard green tea bag.  This means that every time you drink a cup of matcha you are flooding your body with antioxidants that are combatting free radicals and removing these from your system, preventing them from damaging your skin cells helping to prevent cell degeneration and premature ageing.

Matcha can be applied to the skin as a face mask which due to it’s strong anti bacterial and anti inflammatory properties can help reduce the appearance of blemishes and also helps brighten skin.

You can easily make a matcha face mask with a 1/4 teaspoon of matcha, a teaspoon of coconut oil and a teaspoon of moisture mixed together and applied to the skin. After 20 minutes wash away the mask to reveal beautiful, bright and glowing skin.

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We explain the top 5 reasons to start drinking matcha green tea powder every day!

With matcha you are consuming the whole tea leaf stone ground into a fine powder. As a result matcha contains a phenomenal array of health benefits. I’ve picked just a few to list below.

1. Protects One From Chronic Diseases

Match is a hub of antioxidants. A research report by Tuffs University showed that matcha contains more than twenty times as many antioxidants as is found in blueberries or pomegranates.  You may be wondering what this fuss about antioxidants is all about. Well, antioxidants are the chemical compounds (occur naturally), which help the body to fight against chronic illnesses and aging. When you take sufficient amounts of matcha, you equip your body with a powerful mechanism to fight diseases such as high blood pressure, cancer and heart diseases. EGCG, a type of polyphenol (antioxidant) found in matcha has been shown to slow/ halt the growth of cancer cells while at the same time boosting the body’s metabolism. EGCG also protects your skin from DNA and cell damage often triggered by environmental factors. Matcha will thus act as a natural skin brightener and protector.

2. Helps in Relaxation

In the early days, Japanese people used to drink matcha during their meditation times to improve concentration and focus. This way, they were able to remain calm and alert throughout the sessions. Research conducted on matcha has shown that it contains L-Theanine, a rare amino acid that promotes relaxation and well-being in a person. It does so by promoting Alpha waves in the brain and studies have shown matcha to increase Serotonin levels. L-Theanine is found in green tea but is found in greater amounts (five times more) in matcha. The side effects of caffeine (found in green tea) are counteracted by this amino acid. This way you stay focused, stress free and are able to learn better.

3. A Remedy For Weight Loss

Matcha is renown to aid in weight loss for several reasons. First of all, we have seen that matcha helps reduce stress, a known cause of increased belly fat and appetite. This means that your weight is kept in check. Secondly, it helps the body burn four times more calories than the normal fat burning levels.  According to a study by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, those people who drink match have their calories burning rate improve from 10% to around 40%. Unlike other quick fixes used for weight loss, matcha doesn’t raise blood pressure or heart rate.

4. A Perfect Detoxifier

If you are looking to detoxify your body, then matcha is the way to go. Chlorophyll helps in removing heavy metals and harmful chemicals found in the body. Considering that matcha contains more chlorophyll than any other green tea, it becomes the most powerful daily detox that you should incorporate in your diet.

5. Boosts Energy

Matcha is also a great energy source because of the special way it deliver caffeine to your body in comparison to coffee. With matcha the caffeine is absorbed and released slowly by the body over a period of 6-8 hours. This means that matcha provides a sustainable energy boost and does not deliver the rapid 30 minute spike, slump and “jitters” associated with coffee.

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In the midst of summer and soon autumn the warm weather is the perfect time to host friends for a party. A simple, easy and beautiful way to impress your guests is setting up a gorgeous iced tea station!

The first thing you need is a glass dispenser. Although these look expensive you can pick up one for as little at $29 at Victoria’s Basement stores (can buy in store or online). We recommend getting a glass dispenser that sits on a base which looks much nicer and allows for easy glass filling.

We placed this dispenser on a table and we bought some beautiful fresh green leaves from our local florist and some lemons from the fruit store. Placing these around the iced tea stand creates a natural and fresh look. For serving glasses we recommend you save glass jars you use and clean them well. Mismatched jars look great, and by tying some brown twine around their rims they carry the same theme and look eclectic.

If you are feeling more creative there are so many fabulous creative things you can do like creating name tags, or entirely wrapping bottles in twine and using for decoration!

We also set up a beautiful wooden board and put our hand made granola bars on it (big hit!). Recipe for these is here: Matcha Granola Bars

The Iced Tea Itself

Now that we’ve covered the decorations it’s time for the delicious iced tea! I’m a big believer in reducing the amount of sugar consumed and one of the best ways to do this is to always try and avoid drinking sugary beverages. The iced tea’s you’d buy in the stores or the syrups are all loaded with sugar and lacking in any health benefits. I much prefer an all natural and healthy iced tea.

Matcha Green Tea with Citrus and Fruit

• 1 tablespoon of Zen Green Tea matcha powder
• 2 lemons
• 2 limes
• 2 apples
• 1 handful Mint
• 8 cups ice

Directions

1.  Slice the lemon and lime into thin circles and add to the dispenser
2. Thinly slice the apple and add to the dispenser
3. Clap the mint between your hands (opens up the flavour) and add to the dispenser
4. Dissolve the matcha powder in a small amount of hot water making sure you remove any clumps. I find the easiest way is to form a paste and then add water little by little. Pour this mixture into a jug of water and mix it around. Pour this into the dispenser.
5. Top up the dispenser with water and ice
6. Using tongs disperse the fruit in the dispenser
7. Make more matcha and add more ice and water as needed throughout the day

Note: The matcha is a naturally sweet non bitter green tea and has 137 times the antioxidants of standard green tea! Matcha is the whole green tea leaf stone ground into a powder so it’s flavour cannot be replaced by using tea bags which are often bitter. When matcha is mixed with the sweetness of the apple and citrus from the lemon and lime it makes a very refreshing iced tea!

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$99.00 $74.00

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$174.00 $134.00

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Zen Green Tea founder Erin talks about some simple practices everyone can use to try and overcome stress and anxiety naturally.

Every day I hear of more and more people who are suffering from stress, anxiety or depression. In my opinion there is a huge lack of understanding in the medical industry where our society seems to be treating the effects with drugs instead of addressing the root causes of these conditions. I have myself experienced at one point stress and anxiety and it’s not a nice feeling, in fact it is really debilitating and a sad place to be. At the time luckily I was able to recognise it and I subsequently made some changes and I was able to get back to my usual positive, happy self.

I wanted to share with you some simple practices you can employ or tell to a loved one who may be experiencing stress, anxiety or depression.

What are the root causes? From what I have seen from friends experiencing stress, anxiety and depression there is a root cause that they feel as though their life is not on track and they do not have a goal they are working towards. When they experience this in conjunction to some aggravating factors like isolation, poor diet, lack of exercise or lack of sleep then it can quickly spiral into a depression.

Factor 1: Perspective on goals and life

One of the best things I did at a time when I had anxiety was to try and change my mindset where I learned not to tie my sense of worth into the goals I was trying to achieve. It was important for me to learn that there is no “on track” in life and that it was fine for me to have dreams and goals but that I needed to enjoy exactly where I was right now. Some of the most useful tools/habits:

• Stopping future negative thinking: Often I would create all these future scenarios in which negative experiences would happen. This was a huge problem causing me anxiety in the present even when everything was ok.
• Stopping past rumination: A lot of stress and anxiety especially when it stems from a decision we’ve made is caused by constantly rethinking or “ruminating” over what has happened. This is not healthy and I always stop myself immediately by reminding myself that I did the best that I could at that point in time with the information I had. I need to learn from the experience and move on.
• Practice gratitude: Happiness is wanting what you have so one of the best ways to help your esteem is to start recognising that even if you feel you are not where you want to be you should still be grateful for what you have. Start the day by being thankful for a warm bed, for a caring friend, for a nice cup of green tea. You’ll soon start to feel lighter and happier.

Factor 2: Isolation

Often stress and anxiety can cause people to isolate themselves or isolation (i.e. break ups, redundancy) can cause stress and anxiety. One of the best things I did when I was stressed was to ensure I had contact with people every day- whether it be friends, family, going to a café for coffee or joining a community group or sporting team. Having a network of real people (not just Facebook friends) will help you see that everyone has problems, everyone goes through hard times and that it’s important to stay positive.

Factor 3: Diet and Exercise

Many studies are showing how important a healthy diet and regular exercise is good for mental health. Serotonin is a chemical in our brain which is thought to have a huge impact on mental health where low serotonin levels can result in depression. We can boost our serotonin levels by consuming a healthy diet of leafy green vegetables, whole grains and good fats like salmon and avocado. Exercise also produces feel-good endorphins and promotes the production of serotonin in the brain. Matcha green tea is fantastic to combat stress as it contains the amino acid L-Theanine which enters the bloodstream and has been shown to help increase serotonin and dopamine levels.

Factor 4: Lack of sleep

Sleep is so important for overall health, if you are exhausted then you do not have the energy to tackle any of the above factors. One of the reasons for insomnia can often be the inability to stop thinking. I have found simply playing some soft background music like “Ocean Sounds” and focusing on this can aid in falling asleep. The streaming service “Pandora” is just $7 a month and has a great channel “Ocean Waves for Deep Sleep” that I often use if my mind is too active. I’d also advise cutting out coffee at least after 10am- if you need the energy boost have a matcha green tea instead which delivers caffeine in a way that won’t cause you sleepless nights.

I hope you enjoy this article and find it useful. I would love to hear from you if you want me to expand on any of the    points above or if you enjoyed   reading this: [email protected]

Erin is the Founder of Zen Green Tea

You can read more about health benefits of matcha here: Matcha Health Benefits

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Matcha and Weight Loss

It’s that time of year again where we all look back on the Christmas festivities with fond memories and round bellies! Often being healthy isn’t about sweeping reform and drastic dieting but instead it’s about making some simple changes that have big effects. Here are some simple changes you can be making in the New Year:

1. Cutting down on the sugar: There is a growing amount of research that is showing that sugar is a major culprit contributing to many conditions like obesity and diabetes. CSIRO estimates that Australians consumer on average 27 teaspoons a day of sugar. The World Health Organisation has recently advised that at the very least we have to halve the amount consumed each day. The easiest ways to reduce sugar intake is to ensure you do not drink any sugar for example drink primarily water, and if you want to mix it up a little add some cut fruit, a squeeze of lemon or some fresh sprigs of mint or rosemary to your water. We have a great sugar free iced tea recipe here: Sugar Free Iced Tea. When you do have a sugar craving why not have a delicious yet healthy treat. A huge trend at the moment is “Nice cream” which is actually just blending frozen banana and adding different healthy treats to make delicious natural ice cream. We have included here a recipe for delicious Green Tea Nice Cream: Matcha Nice Cream.
2. Incorporate more greens into your diet: Green leafy vegetables and antioxidant rich foods are the best thing you can put into your body. Why are antioxidants so important? Everyday your body produces free radicals from exposure to sun damage, toxins, and ageing. These free radicals are missing a component and they travel around your body damaging healthy cells to try and replace their missing part. This cell damage can cause the loss of skin elasticity (aka wrinkles) and also if damaged cells start multiplying then they cause cancer. Antioxidants can be thought of as a missing parts supply where they provide free radicals with the part they need and then take them out of your system with no cell damage. Juicing is a fantastic way to increase your green vegetable and antioxidant count- every second day you could make a delicious green vegetable juice and you’ll notice the lift in energy and glow in your skin. For an added antioxidant boost you could mix in a teaspoon of matcha green tea powder which has the highest level of antioxidants compared to any other natural substance! Here is a delicious green vegetable juice recipe: Anti-Aging Energy Juice.

3. Smart exercise: One of the quickest ways to help increase your fitness is to mix up your exercise routine. During walking you could find some stairs and walk these several times. Another way to help strengthen your muscles is to use a resistance band- resistance bands are a very low impact way to add some weight to your exercises. You should try and do a little exercise everyday- it can be a great opportunity to spend time with family, friends or your partner. Instead of meeting for a coffee and cake or a drink choose to take a walk in your nearby park or beach.

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Carla Thomas is the author of this post. She is a Holistic Counsellor, published author, and founder of The Juicy Movement.

A Day on a Plate with Carla

As a holistic counsellor with a focus on mind-body medicine, for me, everything about what I eat and drink needs to respond with a big YES! to two basic questions:

• Does it taste delicious?
• Will it nourish me?

To do this, I simply load my meals with goodness – both through choosing nutrient-packed ingredients and also by boosting my diet with my wholefood supplement of choice, which bridges the gap between what I can physically consume in a day, and what my body actually needs (reach out to know more about this, if you’d like!).

I also do my very best to stop, sit down and appreciate what I have in front of me. Believe me, I know, some days it’s tough to do – and sometimes, I just don’t manage it. I rush between one meeting and the next, deadlines, events… and nibble or sip on something absentmindedly at my desk or on the way to a meeting. It happens! But, when I can, I make myself stop and dedicate precious minutes quietly enjoying my food or sitting down to dinner with my hubby, Byron. Present in the moment. When I switch back on again, I am always more focused, energised, and thankful for the break I allowed myself.

Recipes on a mission:

So, I’d like to share three recipes from my recent book, The Juicy Movement: A holistic approach to clean living with you here, in a sort-of “Day on a Plate”.

With them, I set you a mission to slow down, just for a little while. Put your phone in a drawer, create a calm atmosphere, and dedicate yourself the few minutes it’ll take to prep and enjoy these recipes and nourish from the inside-out.

***SPECIAL OFFER***

To add extra inspiration, I’m offering a special discount code JUICYZEN to Zen Green Tea fans to purchase my book at the discounted rate of $30.00 including free shipping within Australia. Simply visit my website and enter the code before 30^th November 2017!

Recipes: A Day on the Plate

Breakfast

I truly believe your first meal sets the tone when it comes to the rest of your food choices that day, so breakfast is a non-negotiable. Most days, it’s a nutrient-packed smoothie. Here’s one of my favourites:

My Green Staple

Ingredients

• 1 tsp Zen Green Tea powder
• thumb tip-size of fresh ginger, peeled
• 1 tbsp nut butter or raw nuts of choice
• 1 small banana, frozen pieces or fresh
• ¼ cup frozen peas
• ½ cup chopped cucumber
• ½ small or ¼ large avocado
• 1 tsp hemp seeds
• 1 tsp chia seeds
• 1½ cups unsweetened nut milk of choice
• ½ cup coconut water
• 1 tsp maca powder
• 1 sachet of Juice Plus+ Vanilla Complete (see Tips)
• sprinkle of ground cinnamon
• sprinkle of ground turmeric
• 1 – 2 cups fresh spinach and/or kale

How

Simply place all ingredients in your blender and blitz until smooth.

Tips

• Sprinkle with a few extra chia seeds and an extra pinch of cinnamon and turmeric, to serve.
• JuicePlus+ Complete is my wholefood protein powder of choice. It’s all natural, vegan and, most importantly, peer-reviewed and backed by science. If you don’t have it, substitute with 1 scoop protein powder of choice but please be mindful as not all protein powders are created equal! I’m more than happy to provide more details, so just reach out if you need.

Lunch & Dinner

As I say in The Juicy Movement book, I’m not a fan of labelling which meals you can eat when. I truly believe we will be more satisfied if we just eat what we feel like eating. If you want to have a “breakfast food” for dinner and a “lunch food” for breakfast – go for it! So, here are two of my go-to savory dishes, feel free to enjoy them at any time of the day!

Byron’s Crispy Skin Salmon

My husband, Byron, is the king of cooking salmon to perfection, so this is an ode to him. We enjoy it with a huge salad on the side.

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 2 skin-on salmon fillets (approx. 200g each)
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp organic unrefined coconut oil
• 1 garlic clove, crushed or finely chopped
• 1 thumb tip-size piece fresh ginger, grated
• 1 small or ½ large red chilli, finely chopped

How

1. Give the salmon skin a good sprinkle with salt, then set aside.
2. Place a non-stick pan over high heat and add coconut oil. Once the oil has melted, add the garlic, ginger and chilli. Stir to add flavour and fragrance to the pan, but be careful not to burn.
3. Once the pan is very hot, add the two salmon fillets skin down. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until skin is nice and crispy (but not burnt!). Turn and cook for a further few minutes or to your liking.

Veg & Guacamole Nori Rolls

This is my lazy dish for when I don’t feel like cooking. It’s just a whole heap of veggies and messy eating with my fingers! Add in some extra protein, like cooked chicken or boiled eggs, if you like.

Serves 1-2

Ingredients

Nori Rolls

• handful of fresh spinach
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds or mixed seeds (pumpkin, sunflower) or pine nuts
• ½ – 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• squeeze of lemon juice
• salt and pepper, to taste
• dulse flakes
• ½ medium carrot, cut into sticks
• ¼ – 1/3 cucumber or 1 small Lebanese cucumber, cut into sticks
• ¼ – ½ red capsicum, cut into sticks
• 1-2 gherkins, halved
• 6 olives
• 1-2 tbsp sauerkraut
• freshly chopped coriander or parsley, to serve
• 3 Brazil nuts or 1 tbsp almonds, walnuts or cashews
• 2-3 sheets nori paper, torn into quarters

Guacamole

• ½ large ripe avocado
• juice of ½ lime
• 1-2 slices red onion, finely chopped
• 4 cherry tomatoes, finely chopped
• pinches of ground turmeric and paprika
• salt, to taste
• 1 tsp yeast flakes (optional)

How

1. Place your spinach, seeds and/or pine nuts in a small bowl and dress lightly with oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper and dulse flakes, then toss to coat.
2. Arrange the carrot, cucumber and capsicum on a large plate or board along with the gherkins, olives, sauerkraut, nuts, and dressed spinach. Place torn sheets of nori on the side. Top with the chopped herbs.
3. For the guacamole, place the avocado in a bowl and mash with a fork, then add remaining ingredients and mix together.
4. Now, this is where the fun begins! Grab one of the nori sheet quarters and fill it however your heart desires. Mix and match, eat some with a fork, some with your fingers… Just dig in, get messy, playful and have fun with it.

Want more recipes? Check out Carla’s full book- The Juicy Movement: A holistic approach to clean living. 

***SPECIAL OFFER*** 

Free Shipping: Use the discount code JUICYZEN on Carla’s website to purchase your copy for only $30 (SAVE $8 on shipping!. Offer open until midnight, 30th November 2017.

Carla Thomas: Holistic Counsellor/Mind-Body Medicine, Wholefood Cheerleader, Author, I Quit Sugar Expert, and Founder of The Juicy Movement

Keep in touch!

Instagram: carlathomas_liveclean
Facebook: Carla Thomas Live Clean
Email: [email protected]

Matcha is great for your teeth- keeping them clean and cavity free

Matcha is great for your teeth because it has an exceedingly high catechin (notably EGCG) content.

The catechins is matcha have antibacterial effects, and in essence they act as microscopic plaque scrubbers that can help prevent cavity formation and periodontal disease.   Matcha actually inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause plaque, and hence many dentists has come to think of a cup or glass of matcha after a meal as a delicious liquid floss.

Matcha catechins also inhibit the bacteria that cause bad breath as well.

Unlike coffee, matcha won’t stain your teeth either. Not bad added bonuses for a delicious drink of matcha.   So if oral hygiene is a priority for you, you now have yet another reason drink it!

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Every beauty junkie knows never there’s always something new and exciting to try, hence the lifelong addiction to product hoarding! If you haven’t heard of Matcha, get ready to be wowed, and if you have heard of it, you don’t know the half!

What exactly is Matcha and from where does it derive?
Derived from Japan, Matcha is revered and harvested with great care. It is a finely milled, high quality Green Tea, considered one of the finest teas in the world. As we all know, Green Tea is great. But, with Green Tea, you are consuming the essence of the tealeaves. With Matcha, you are consuming the tealeaves! It is indeed quite a powerhouse ingredient and contains ten times the nutrients of other teas. The benefits are tremendous.

Whoa. OK, so this stuff is serious! Give us the scoop on the benefits.
Well there are three key benefits. Beautifully green in color, Matcha is rich in chlorophyll, which is an excellent source of antioxidants and known to be great for detoxification. It is also high in catechin content, an antioxidant that helps fight bacteria and infections. In fact, Matcha is so high in antioxidants that it has a greater level than spinach, blueberries and dark chocolate! Also important, Matcha has L-theanine, an amino acid mainly found in tea that naturally enhances your mood, sense of well being, and increases your focus and concentration. All good, right?

See our Q & A with Emily, a matcha fan who runs an organic beauty salon!

Holy cow! So are Matcha’s beauty benefits best strictly as a topical treatment, or can we still ingest this tea to get the same results?
Absolutely. As long as I have been drinking Matcha, I’ve also been using it on my skin. Using Matcha internally as well as externally is the ideal collaboration. Besides being a great detoxifying agent, chlorophyll is a great source of antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory and healing properties. And aside from fighting bacteria and infections, catechins may slow down the aging process. As for L-Theanine, well, to put it simply, it is a feel-good benefit. And as Audrey Hepburn said, “The happy girls are the prettiest girls.”

Fab! So masks, lotions, cleansers, where can we infuse Matcha into our beauty regime?
Beauty products that contain Matcha are not plentiful, but can be located. Products with Green Tea, however, can be easily found in beauty products these days. Do-it-yourself treatments are a great option for those that do not have access to ready-made product.

Where can we find Matcha? Is it hard to source?
Like a good man, good Matcha is hard to find. Matcha comes in different grades. Quality Matcha normally comes with a higher price tag, but it’s worth it for the great benefits. Believe me, I’ve had some bad Matcha and don’t want you to waste your time and money. With its increasing popularity these days, you can find quality Matcha at Zengreentea.com.au (thanks for the recommendation Emily!)

What Matcha-infused products do you recommend we try?
I particularly love a Matcha face mask, which has Zen Green Tea Matcha Tea and and organic moisturiser as its key ingredients. It’s one of my absolute favorite beauty products and I recommend it all the time to everyone since it’s great for all skin types. Personally, as someone that has acne-prone yet mature skin, I notice a difference when I don’t use Matcha regularly. My skin tends to break out and look irritated if I don’t use it as a treatment at least once a week. You’ll look like a green monster for twenty minutes, but the baby soft, nourished skin you get right after is so well worth it! Everyone I know that’s used it, loves it and has achieved great results.

Sounds great. Any additional application tips or tricks?
To make your own “green goddess mask,” simply mix a tablespoon each of Matcha, honey, and yogurt. Heavier on the Matcha and not so heavy on the honey, unless you prefer it sticky.
Also, if you love ice cream as much as I do, you can mix Matcha into vanilla ice cream to turn it into a great-tasting green tea ice cream. See, who said ice cream isn’t good for you?

Thanks Emily! This info is awesome! Look out for more beauty ingredient info from our girl soon!

Matcha green tea powder is the perfect drink to help you concentrate

You know the feeling when you are working or studying and are so tired you can barely keep your eyes open to focus on what needs to be done. When I’m really tired, I am past the point of a coffee, as it just makes me jittery and puts me in a weird state of tired alertness. Matcha green tea, on the other hand, wakes me up without the haze and without the jitters. Caffeine is found in both beverages, but matcha and coffee deliver caffeine in different ways, leading to different results!

Have you ever wondered how caffeine actually works in your body? Caffeine is classified as a psychoactive drug, which works to block a particular molecule that suppresses your central nervous system. This means that the transmissions between cells in your body increase so you are more alert and hormones such as dopamine and serotonin are released.

A cup of matcha contains approximately 20% of the caffeine in a cup of coffee. However, there is a vital difference in the way matcha delivers this caffeine in comparison to coffee. With matcha, the caffeine is absorbed and released slowly by the body over a period of 6-8 hours. This means that matcha provides a sustainable energy boost without the rapid 30-minute spike, slump, and jitters associated with coffee.

In addition, tea is the only plant that makes the amino acid theanine. And because matcha plantations are shaded before harvest, matcha contains the highest concentration of theanine. Theanine is known for its ability to increase alpha waves in the brain and promote calmness and alert concentration, giving matcha users a great “zen” state.  Controlled experiments have shown that theanine has a positive effect on the mind and improves memory by increasing dopamine levels. Additionally, the alpha brain waves increase 40 minutes after a person consumes theanine, making this a great drink for students.

Although both matcha and coffee stimulate alertness, matcha releases caffeine over time and its high concentration of theanine means that the caffeine is better harnessed to promote focus and concentration.

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