Finding the Right R&D Matcha

In recent years, products like coffee and tea have dramatically transformed in the marketplace. Not only are many more types of quality coffee and tea available to consumers, but their scope of use now runs the gamut—from a huge range of RTD bottled and canned beverages to use in an increasing number of foods. To think about something like tea as little more than steeped Camellia sinensis is decidedly old-fashioned.

I continue to see examples of product and menu developers including tea and its constituent components—from the functional (even for kids now) to just plain flavorful and fun. The latter sometimes dips a sideways toe into rapidly flowing stealthy healthy waters, putting the “fun” back into “functional”—and, personally, I just love those energy tea drinks (I’m a confirmed tea geek with dozens of types—mostly traditional, not herbal (although a pinch of pomegranate "tea" has been sneaking into my Arnold Palmers of late...)—in my pantry, and have also been known to linger in the energy-drink aisle ... a marriage made in hyperdrive heaven...).

One highly useful (and free!) R&D tool we provide in our ever-expanding virtual home away from printed home is the Food Product Design eBook series. A recent entry, “Matcha: The Mother of All Green Tea,” brought to us by Aiya, dips into the reigning emperor of green teas, matcha, and all of its healthy, invigorating properties. Key points covered include a brief history and overview of matcha (including background, cultural importance and defining characteristics, and available matcha ingredients) and technical insight into the healthy properties of its constituent antioxidants (like EGCG) and amino acids (like L-theanine), as well as formulation suggestions (I particularly like the idea of seeing more mochi ice creams—mochi applications seem to be picking up steam of late, and “matcha mochi” has such a nice ring to it...).

Swing your way through the eBook and see what brews up. Highly recommended reading for anyone investigating the commingled realm of tea and health-and-wellness food and drink.