Matcha & CO: premium organic matcha from Uji

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The Matcha & CO adventure begins on a trip to Japan, when Pepe Cabestany discovers the tea ceremony. He then learns what matcha tea is and one of its main virtues: providing calm, sustained energy. No jitters, thanks to the L-theanine it contains.

In June 2018, he partnered with Victor Abrines and together they launched Matcha & CO. Their aim: to democratize matcha consumption in Europe, without compromising on quality. 

A ceremonial-quality organic matcha

Matcha & CO works in direct and exclusive collaboration with organic farms in Uji, Japan, which allows them to offer a superior-quality matcha, stone-ground. 

The matcha is described as ceremonial quality. This means it can be consumed as during the Japanese tea ceremony. Beyond organic certification, the founders were also keen to offer products that are not tested on animals, vegan, and free of additives and GMOs.

The importance of preparation

According to Pepe Cabestany, “there is a big difference between a well-prepared matcha and a poorly prepared matcha”. And for a matcha prepared according to the rules of the art, Matcha & CO offers all the necessary equipment. The two important points to remember are the water temperature and the whisking. If the water is too hot, the tea will become bitter and lose its benefits. The ideal temperature is 70 to 75°C.

Whisking the tea using a bamboo whisk chasen is equally important for two reasons:

• It prevents lumps (which is more pleasant when tasting).
• Frothing the tea with a whisk releases all the flavors of the matcha.

The benefits of matcha

Matcha stands out from energy drinks for its ability to provide sustained energy without jitters. Although it contains caffeine, it owes its calming and relaxing properties to L-theanine, an amino acid.

But it is far from the only benefit of this green powder. The L-theanine also helps to boost the secretion of dopamine and serotonin, the hormones of happiness and pleasure. Enough to feel relaxed throughout your day.

As winter arrives, matcha is a good ally to support your immune system thanks to its richness in vitamins A, C, E and antioxidants.

Its high concentration of antioxidants is due to the polyphenols it contains. These protect us against free radicals, unstable molecules that can damage our cells. 

Matcha & CO product lines

Matcha is hugely popular as a latte, paired with cow’s milk, or a plant-based drink such as oat, soy, or coconut. For even more indulgence, Matcha & CO also offers vanilla-, chocolate-, or strawberry-flavored matcha.

To help people take even better care of themselves, the brand goes further by offering a range of matcha collagen products. Collagen is a protein present in the body that ensures the elasticity and firmness of the skin, and the strength of tendons and ligaments. Its production decreases around age 25, hence the idea of supplementing via drinks such as these. 

Beyond ceremonial matcha, Matcha & CO also offers chai tea, infusions (sleep, digestion) and cosmetics such as a matcha face serum.

This article includes affiliate links that may generate a commission, with no impact on the price.

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Sources and scientific studies

1. Manjun Shen, Yi-Yang, Ying Wu, Beibei Zhang, Haishan Wu, Lu Wang, Hui Tang, Jindong Chen. L-theanine ameliorate depressive-like behavior in a chronic unpredictable mild stress rat model via modulating the monoamine levels in limbic-cortical-striatal-pallidal-thalamic-circuit related brain regions. [Online] November 25, 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30474152/

2. Sara Sokary, Maha Al-Asmakh, Zain Zakaria, Hiba Bawadi. The therapeutic potential of matcha tea: A critical review on human and animal studies. [Online] November 23, 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9792400/