Kirkland Signature brand has been around since 1992 and mainly sold at Costco store. The Japanese matcha green tea blend is manufactured in Japan by ITO EN, one of the world’s largest tea manufacturers and Japan’s leading green tea distributor.
ITO EN gives importance to the age-old traditions and aims at preserving the culture of tea-growing and tea-making. At the same time, the brand keeps the welfare of farmers and that of the environment in mind.
The teas from the house of ITO EN have a pleasant flavor and loads of health benefits to offer. The brand is working towards multiple endeavors to let green tea lovers enjoy their favorite beverage.
About Kirkland Ito En Matcha Green Tea
Kirkland Signature Ito En matcha green tea brings 100% genuine Japanese sencha with the much-loved matcha to tea lovers. It is produced exclusively for Kirkland Signature by Ito En.
Procured from the lush green tea gardens of Japan, Kirkland green tea is counted amongst the best teas in the world. It is very reasonably priced and rather one of the best green tea in the tea bag category.
As ITO EN wants to keep traditions alive, the tea leaves undergo careful steaming, rolling, and drying.
Along with sencha, there is matcha powder present in the tea as well. This allows you to enjoy both the types of teas in one cup.
Green tea is fresh, aromatic, and pleasant in taste. It is because of the minimal processing that prevents the leaves from getting oxidized.
And, because Kirkland Ito En matcha green tea blend is a combination of Japanese sencha and matcha powder, the taste is smooth, sweet, predominantly vegetal and herbal.
It is deep and does not taste bitter at all even if you happen to over steep it. You don’t even need to add any sweetener or lemon juice into the tea to make it palatable.
The color of the brewed tea is bright green and its aroma wafts straight into your senses.
Just like every high-quality green tea, Kirkland Ito En matcha green tea has numerous health benefits to offer.
Right from its antioxidant properties and its ability to fight inflammation to helping one stay alert and calm at the same time, there is a lot in store for you.
Adding a cup of Kirkland green tea to your diet plan is indeed a great way of supplementing your already active and healthy lifestyle.
Moreover, most consumers say that it takes just 20-30 seconds to brew the tea. Sticking to this timeline will ensure that it doesn’t turn bitter and harsh.
Talking about the packaging, Kirkland matcha green tea comes conveniently packed in nylon tea bags. The teabags starts degrading on being exposed to hot water.
It contains both sencha and matcha content in them.
Health Benefits of Kirkland Green Tea
Kirkland matcha green tea has Japanese sencha along with matcha that offers a lot of health benefits.
Sencha is rich in nutrients such as beta-carotene, calcium, folic acid, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamin C. It contains polyphenols that have antioxidant properties.
The main bio-active compound is EGCG (or Epigallocatechin gallate).
In addition, it contains caffeine which is way less as compared to that in coffee. It has about a third of the amount of caffeine you would find in a cup of coffee (about 25 mg.).
Clubbing together the wonderful properties and compounds of Sencha and matcha present in the tea, here are the benefits of drinking Kirkland green tea.
1. Helps with weight loss
The presence of the polyphenol EGCG makes sencha green tea a wonderful weight loss aid. It speeds up the metabolism and in the process helps you burn more calories.
This eventually leads to weight loss in a healthy manner.
2. Fights cancer
Sencha is rich in antioxidants that help in fighting the damage caused by free radicals in the body. By preventing oxidative stress, there are reduced chances of developing cancer.
Therefore, with sencha being a part of your daily diet, you will keep moving away from the deadly disease.
3. Helps in regulating cholesterol
Drinking sencha regularly is helpful in regulating blood cholesterol levels. The compound EGCG reduces bad cholesterol and prevents plaque build-up in the inner walls of arteries.
This makes this tea a wonderful way of keeping the cardiovascular system healthy.
4. Improves immunity
Being rich in vitamin C, sencha is helpful in increasing the body’s production of disease-fighting white blood cells. In addition to that, the body will be able to heal itself faster and you will fall ill less often.
5. Boosts brain health
Sencha is rich in antioxidants that help stimulate neural pathways. It helps in increasing your focus and concentration along with keeping your mind sharp.
There is also a reduction in neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer’s. The tea has the amino acid L-theanine that provides anti-anxiety effects. It helps in improving cognitive abilities.
The credit for improving brain health goes to the combination of caffeine and L-theanine. Together they work well in improving brain function and help one stay alert and relaxed simultaneously.
6. Provides energy
If you are looking for something to boost your energy levels, green tea will definitely be the best bet. There is a healthy dose of caffeine that gives the required energy boost without any caffeine crash later on.
7. Keeps you youthful
Sencha is also known to have anti-aging effects due to the presence of vitamin E in it. This makes it a must-have in your list of foods and beverages that help in keeping you young.
8. Controls blood sugar levels
As per studies, sencha works towards controlling blood sugar levels in the body that helps in preventing diabetes. In addition to sencha, Kirkland green tea is mixed with matcha.
Therefore, you will get to enjoy the health benefits of matcha as well.
The health benefits offered by matcha are similar to those of sencha. However, the main difference between regular green tea and matcha tea is that it has higher amounts of EGCG in it.
In addition to that, the levels of L-theanine are higher in matcha as well because of the way the tea leaves are grown.
Proof that it works…
The combination of sencha and matcha in Kirkland ITO EN matcha green tea has a lot to offer. Both are rich in EGCG which is the main antioxidant compound that gives green tea its health-promoting properties.
Drinking Kirkland green tea helps in weight loss, fighting oxidative stress, and maintaining cardiovascular health. It also helps in controlling blood sugar, boosting brain health, preventing certain kinds of cancers, improving immunity, and helping you stay young.
Additionally, it helps in warding off several chronic illnesses thereby helping you live longer without any ailments.
The presence of caffeine and L-theanine helps in giving a boost of energy while helping you stay relaxed. This makes you more productive at work.
Kirkland ITO EN matcha green tea is a perfect blend you need before starting your day at work. As sencha and matcha are together, this tea works really well in delivering all the health benefits of the two tea varieties.
It is obviously healthier than just regular green tea. Plus, being easy to steep it helps in saving a lot of time.
How to brew Kirkland Ito En Matcha Green Tea?
Here is how you can enjoy a cup of Kirkland green tea,
- Heat water to around 80 degrees Celsius.
- Place the Kirkland Ito En matcha green teabag in a cup and add the hot water to it.
- Let it stay in there for 20 to 30 seconds. Shake the tea bag 3-4 times before you remove it. The matcha will settle down at the bottom of the cup or will float on top.
- There will be remaining matcha from the outer envelope of the teabag. Put it into the teacup and enjoy your tea.
You can also have it iced if you wish to!
Side effects of Kirkland Ito En Matcha
Most of the side effects of green tea are due to the presence of caffeine in it. While the caffeine content in a single serving is low, the tea may cause harmful effects if consumed in large quantities.
Too much caffeine can make you suffer from the following side effects:
- Headache
- Sleeplessness
- Irritability
- Digestive issues
So, it is always better to consult your doctor before you start consuming green tea. Sometimes, pre-existing conditions or medications may also interact and led to unknown health problems.
My Kirkland Ito En Matcha Green Tea Review
Product Name: Kirkland Ito En Matcha Blend Green Tea Bags
Ingredients: 100% Japanese Green Tea and Sencha.
Price Today: Check here
Brand: Kirkland Signature
Quantity: 100 count tea bags (Pack of 1)
Money-Back Guarantee: Lifetime! No questions asked!
Kirkland ITO EN Matcha Green Tea is made from good quality green tea leaves and is processed with utmost care. Even though Kirkland is not a premium tea brand, it is good enough.
Like most green teas, the Ito En matcha provides several health benefits that range from boosting immunity to fighting cancer. It even offers weight loss benefits that a lot of people are on a lookout for.
Moreover, the anti-bacterial properties of Japanese sencha help prevent neurodegenerative diseases, some bacterial and virus infections.
Overall, the combination of sencha and matcha makes the Kirkland Ito En matcha green tea rich in catechins antioxidants, and EGCg.
In short, if you want to stay healthy this is the right beverage for you. You can make it a part of your lifestyle and see how it helps in improving your overall well-being.
