Matcha is taking over the tea world

The next time you run to Starbucks to grab your favorite latte, think again. There's a new drink in town, and it not only tastes good, but it has health benefits that you wouldn't even believe.

Matcha is typically spotted in its original green tea form, but because it's made from a very fine powder, can also be used in recipes for things like cocktails, smoothies, ice cream, and pastries. While the US is only now starting to catch onto the matcha craze, it's been in the Japanese tea world for decades. It's made from plant leaves which are dried, then ground into a fine powder, which can then be mixed with water (although mixing it with ice cream sounds WAY better). This also makes it easy for you to recreate matcha culinary works of art at home, perhaps even replacing your favorite energy drink.

Because of matcha's powder consistency, it has a higher concentration than your average tea, which means you'll get more antioxidant, immunity, and anti-aging benefits. As if that wasn't enough, it's also known to boost the immune system, and can even give you about 3-6 more hours of energy a day. With those benefits, it's no wonder matcha's popping up in more coffee and tea shops around the country.

To satisfy your matcha craving, take a look at the pictures in the gallery below:

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