Swapping your green tea for blue

The verdict on matcha tea is in — blue is the new green! Blue matcha is all the craze now, especially with its calming and aesthetic turquoise shade that mirrors a miniature ocean. Made from all-natural indigo-coloured powder, this new drink not only tastes great, but may also offer a range of nutritional and health benefits, similar to the ones offered by green matcha.

Blue matcha is made from the plant clitoria principissae, better known as butterfly pea flower, which aids in protecting the skin from premature ageing and consists of high levels of anti-oxidants. This mesmerising drink also contains anthocyanins and proanthocyanins, which are antioxidants that — according to research — could have the potential to lower the risk of heart disease and cancer, improve cognitive functions such as memory, and increase the amount of collagen in skin cells.

However, not much research has been conducted on the health benefits of blue matcha, at least for now. According to dietitian and author of Low Fad Diet Jo Travers, “There isn’t much research on the benefits of blue matcha unfortunately. Although blue matcha may contain some antioxidants and looks pretty on Instagram, I would stick to green matcha if it’s health benefits you are after.” For instance, it has been proven that green matcha contains anti-oxidants that aid in calorie burn and increase in metabolism…