For years, green tea has been hailed as a natural health booster, largely because it is loaded with disease-fighting antioxidants.

But another type of tea is gaining in popularity and has ten times more antioxidants than green tea.
It’s called matcha, a powder made from young green tea leaves, placed in shade for two to four weeks before harvesting, Fox News reports.

“When it’s shaded for that long, you up the chlorophyll, you up the antioxidant level, and it just completely changes the profile of the plant,” said Mariza Snyder, author of “The Matcha Miracle.”
“After they harvest, they steam, dry, then grind it with a stone grinder. You’re consuming the entirety of the leaf.”

The antioxidants in matcha — 14 times that of wild blueberries — are especially beneficial because they may boost heart health, lower cholesterol, prevent cancer and Type 2 diabetes, and improve concentration.

Matcha also contains L-Theanine, an amino acid that may improve mental alertness.

One cup a day is all you need, Snyder said.