Matcha is a specialized green tea from Japan that is grown in shady conditions to stimulate chlorophyll production. These bright green leaves are then ground into a powder and consumed whole. You've likely heard that green tea is good for you - and it is - particularly due to catechins like epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Studies suggest that matcha has at least 3x the levels of EGCG compared to other green teas. The higher levels of EGCG are important because studies suggest that consuming EGCG may be associated with decreased muscle soreness after resistance training and increased VO2-max, a measure of endurance capacity. Long-term consumption of green tea or EGCG is also associated with lower BMI.