Matcha tea is advertised as a cure for menstrual cramps and gum disease, even though it tastes like “mashed grass” according to some people.
The drink, popular with celebrities like Zendaya, Kourtney Kardashian, Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber, contains a compound called catechin that can reduce hormones that cause period pain.
One user posted the claims on
But others chimed in, claiming that matcha, often made with milk to create a matcha latte, “tastes like earth.”
One person wrote: “Even though it’s so GROSS, the shit tastes like crushed grass.”
Euphoria star Zendaya has been photographed drinking matcha
Bella Hadid is known for enjoying matcha tea
Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker with their matcha teas
It comes as a new study found that matcha mouthwash can kill bacteria that cause gum disease, tooth loss and other health problems.
The research, published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum, states that rinsing the mouth with matcha extract can destroy the insect Porphyromonas gingivalis, which colonizes the surfaces of teeth and gums, causing periodontitis.
In addition to dental problems, the condition is linked to diabetes, premature birth, cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and cancer.
Matcha tea has become popular among celebrities for its supposed health benefits.
Many claims have been made about its effects in the past, although many of them are based on little evidence.
Viral tweet claimed that matcha can cure period pains
Some respondents don’t like the taste.
Others said they enjoy matcha when it’s flavored with other things.
A small study conducted in the Netherlands suggested that drinking matcha may increase attention, reaction time, and memory.
It is also claimed that tea helps the body metabolize caffeine, preventing the “crash” that some report after drinking a caffeinated beverage like coffee.
Claims about matcha’s effect on menstrual pain or dysmenorrhea come from a 2019 study in China that looked at the effect of catechins in green tea.
Didn’t try matcha in particular, but matcha is known to contain high levels of catechins, along with oolong tea.
Matcha tea is often brewed with milk to create matcha latte, either iced or hot.
It found that 56.4 percent of college students suffered from menstrual cramps, and 6.5 percent reported very severe or unbearable symptoms.
Hormone-like compounds produced in the uterus, called prostaglandins, were said to be the cause of these cramps. The catechins in green tea were found to help inhibit its production.
Black teas, such as those used to make the traditional British cup of tea, were found to be ineffective.
The researchers warned: ‘Our study suggests that drinking green tea is associated with a lower prevalence of dysmenorrhea among women of reproductive age in China. On the other hand, it is not advisable to drink tea in excess, since tea can inhibit iron absorption.
The viral tweet also claimed that the amino acid L-theanine, found in matcha, helps relax muscles, something matcha makers often boast about. However, scientific research on this is limited.
The gum disease study, which involved 45 people, was conducted in Japan.
Participants were randomly assigned to 3 groups: one received a mouthwash with barley tea, the second received a mouthwash made with matcha extract, and the third received a mouthwash that included sodium azulene sulfonate hydrate, which is used to treat inflammation.
They were instructed to rinse twice a day and saliva samples were collected before and after the study.
Matcha-flavored KitKats are sold in Japan
Matcha is one of several unusual flavors the iconic chocolate bar comes in.
The researchers found that those who used the matcha mouthwash had significantly lower levels of harmful bacteria in their saliva samples at the end.
They wrote: “Matcha may have clinical applicability for the prevention and treatment of periodontitis.”
Matcha is used in traditional ceremonies and to flavor drinks and sweets. Even KitKats are flavored with matcha in Japan.
It is made from the raw leaves of the camellia sinensis plant.