We're getting serious mermaid vibes off the latest trend that's sweeping Instagram: blue matcha powder is rising above its beloved green cousin, but what is it?
Well, despite the name, it's actually not matcha. Blue matcha is made from entirely different leaves than the antioxidant-bursting green stuff, and comes from the butterfly pea flower.
Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, Health’s contributing nutrition editor says: “Animal research shows that butterfly pea may help improve memory and reduce stress, but the research is limited, and different parts of the plant—roots, stems, leaves—are used in different ways.”
Author of Low Fad Diet and dietitian Jo Travers told Metro UK: ‘Blue matcha isn’t actually anything like green matcha (apart from that it’s a powder and it’s confusingly called the same!) because it comes from a different plant, so the antioxidant profile is completely different.
‘There isn’t much research on the benefits of blue matcha unfortunately. Although blue matcha may contain some antioxidants and looks pretty on Instagram, I would stick to green matcha if it’s health benefits you are after.’
But sure look, it's doing you no harm and it looks beautiful.
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