For me, matcha stands for purity and balance. Alcohol, on the other hand, is about pleasure and letting go - and in the worst case, hangovers. The new Matcha Hard Seltzer from Sundays contains both. So I ask myself: can pleasure be contradictory?
Already recovered from the weekend? Not me. Although I did drink a low-alcohol drink – namely, the new Matcha Hard Seltzer from Sundays. But of course, it didn't stop there. It was probably the Pisco Sour or the Pineapple Queen that finally got me. Back to the question: can a drink with matcha actually be unhealthy? The first part of the Matcha Hard Seltzer practically promises health and well-being – after all, matcha has long been considered a superfood. Combining it with alcohol, of all things, almost seems like a sin. Or is that precisely the attraction?
It is available in every conceivable variety: hot or cold, baked in cakes or cookies - or even in cocktails such as the Matcha Spritz. I've been a huge fan of the matcha hype since day one. At times, demand for the green tea was so high that Japan even faced shortages. Today, tea farmers in Japan who grow matcha are subsidized by the state – as this valuable export brings in a lot of money.
It's not just the bright green color that screams, "I'm healthy". A look at the ingredients also confirms this. The caffeine in matcha is bound to polyphenols, which means that it has a slower and gentler effect than coffee, for example. The non-essential amino acid L-theanine promotes relaxation without drowsiness. And I imagine it actually makes me more focused – at least, when I don't combine it with booze. And there's more: the catechins contained in matcha are highly effective antioxidants, intercept free radicals, have an anti-inflammatory effect, lower blood pressure and stimulate the metabolism. Green tea also contains vitamins A, C, E and K as well as minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc. Bam!
I know. Alcohol, as charming as it can be, is – when seen in a sober light – full of health risks. Although our liver can break down most of the ethanol we consume, excessive and abusive consumption produces harmful substances.
And yet, like many, I appreciate it not only for its taste, but also for its effect. That warm, exhilarating feeling that loosens inhibitions and makes evenings easier. Ultimately, as with other stimulants, it's the dose that counts. When consumed in small quantities and consciously, alcohol is mostly harmless.
I was surprised by how nonchalantly Sundays combines both. A Matcha Hard Seltzer, with 4% ABV sounds harmless at first – a gin and tonic easily contains around 8 to 12 percent ABV – but it is still an alcoholic drink. Two such contradictory components in a single can. A courageous balancing act? I don't think so.
In this day and age, it is anything but unusual for opposites to clash: Mindfulness and hedonism coexist peacefully, mental wellbeing is just as present as collective escapism. Or to be more specific: I absolutely have to eat superfoods like avocado and acai for brunch on the weekend. And if I go to the gym during the week, I party twice as hard come Saturday.
The contrasting components in lifestyle drinks like Matcha Hard Seltzer are not disruptive, but rather a feature. When it comes to pleasure, contradiction is not just possible – it's preferable. Because it's precisely when you shouldn't do something that makes indulgence feel all the more intense. And perhaps, people like me are proof that contradictions are what make up today's culture of enjoyment. I don't want to have to choose between discipline and excess. I want both – and sometimes even at the same time.
