teapigs #matchachallenge

teapigs

I was first introduced to teapigs by my boyfriend. When we first met he didn’t drink caffeinated tea or coffee, he only drank herbal and fruit tea and he insisted it had to be by teapigs. I remember asking him why (obvs I just thought he was being fussy) and he swiftly pulled out a chamomile tea bag and showed me the chamomile flower buds inside the bag. Admittedly, I was impressed. As a child my mum used to make me chamomile tea to help me sleep and quite frankly, it looked nothing like this, it didn’t taste anything like it either. And just like that, I was a teapigs convert!

teapigs And Me

Over the years, I have purchased numerous amounts of teapigs; ordered bulk amounts on their website (spend over £35 and shipping is free, ok then!), bought it in Waitrose and ordered it in cafes. My favourite has to be the peppermint tea, second favourite is the rooibos creme caramel and the lemon and ginger is amazing if you have a cold. Along side their selection of teas (fruit, herbal as well as caffeinated) teapigs also make matcha Tea…

What Is Matcha Tea?

Matcha is 100% natural, organic green tea leaves which have been carefully ground down to form a fine powder. It is naturally packed with flavanoids and nutrients and it has been drunk in Japan for over 900 years. Matcha is known to give a slow release of energy, help keep you alert and focussed, and to boost metabolism. You can read all about the health benefits of matcha green tea at the teapigs website, but here are the highlights:

• Increased Brain Power
• High in Antioxidants
• Slow Release Energy
• Calorie Burning
• Healthier Skin

How To Make Matcha Tea

Matcha can be served in a variety of ways, but the easiest way is to whist half a teaspoon into hot or cold water and whisk. It can also be whisked into fruit juice, lattes, smoothies, milkshakes or even sprinkled onto of porridge. It really depends on your morning routine and how you prefer it! Personally, either whisk it into my morning latte, or whisk it into a glass of cold water. When I *finally* buy myself a Nutribullet, I will pop half a teaspoon into a smoothie!

Matcha Juice Drinks

teapigs have also made a matcha juice drink which contains matcha, spring water and fruit juice (Elderflower, grapefruit and apple). They are perfect for drinking on-the-go or if you don’t want to bother preparing the juice in the morning. These cartons contain all natural ingredients and no added sugar.

#matchachallenge

This January, teapigs challenged me to take the #matchachallenge. Just half a teaspoon of matcha green tea a day, drank (or eaten) however I like, to see if I feel more sprightly as a result. As a huge fan of teapigs, I obviously jumped at the chance to get involved. Last year 1000 people took the teapigs #matchachallenge and 99% of those people said they would buy matcha again, 91% said they felt more energised, 87% said it helped with their health and diet routine and 66% found their hair, nails and skin looked healthier. With results like this, how could I resist!

My teapigs #matchachallenge

Earlier this month, I set myself a whole heap of unachievable New Years Resolutions. Not only have I broken them all, but I have pretty much forgotten what they were in the first place. Oh well! One thing I have managed to stick to is the #matchachallenge. Truthfully, I didn’t even have to try, drinking a half teaspoon of matcha each day fitted seamlessly into my routine. I put the tin next to the kettle and each morning I have drank it with cold water or as a matcha latte. Both ways are good, it just depends how my mood takes me. I probably prefer it in my latte, it’s a surprisingly delicious combination! I also like it whisked into cold water, it’s easy to make and easy to drink. Taste wise, I love the effects of regular green tea, but I don’t like the taste. Matcha tea tastes better and it’s 10 times better for you than regular green tea, so it’s a win-win situation. I would advise buying yourself a whisk if you don’t have one, as matcha is a ground substance and if you try and stir it into your drinks, it can be hard to blend it with a spoon.  A small hand held whisk will do the hard work for you in a jiffy!

After a few weeks of drinking matcha tea, I didn’t think I felt much different; perhaps less bloated, maybe even a little more energetic. I thought that was it. Then I heard all my friends moaning about the ‘January blues’, they all complained they were struggling to feel motivated at work, they were tired, lethargic, grumpy and kind of miserable. I wanted to sympathise, but for me the ‘January blues’ have just been an excuse to Instagram lots of blue things. That’s when it dawned on me, I feel great! I haven’t struggled to feel motivated, I don’t feel sad christmas is over, I’m not even finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning. Then I looked around at my house, which is in the process of being renovated. I’m talking top-to-bottom building works; we have a make-shift kitchen, builders banging from 9-5, there have been days where we haven’t been able to shower, even more days where we have had no heating and the money is draining from our bank accounts. I am literally living in a building site and it has been a freezing cold month. I’m not sure if it’s the matcha, but somehow in all this craziness I feel energetic, motivated and generally really good. I have also noticed that my consumption of coffee has dropped way down and I do feel less bloated. Like the 99% of people in last years challenge, I will definitely be drinking Matcha again!

This post is written in collaboration with teapigs.