Matcha is a finely ground green tea powder made from specially grown and processed green tea leaves. The tea plants used to make matcha are shaded from the sun for several weeks before harvest, which increases the chlorophyll and amino acid content in the leaves, giving them a brighter green color and a unique taste.
What is special about matcha?
Matcha is considered special because of the way it is produced and consumed. Unlike other types of tea, which are steeped in water and then discarded, matcha is consumed in its entirety, including the leaves, which are ground into a fine powder. This means that when you drink matcha, you are consuming all of the nutrients and antioxidants that the tea leaves contain.
What the the health benefits of matcha?
The benefits of matcha are numerous. Because it is made from the whole tea leaf, it contains a higher concentration of caffeine and antioxidants than other types of tea. Matcha is also rich in a type of antioxidant called catechins, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
Matcha is also said to boost metabolism, enhance mood, and improve cognitive function. Its unique combination of caffeine and other nutrients can provide sustained energy and focus without the crash that can come with other caffeine sources.
Overall, matcha is a nutritious and delicious beverage with a long history of use in Japanese culture, and its popularity is growing around the world.
History of matcha
Tea was first introduced to Japan by travelling Buddhist monks in the early Middle Ages. Although this is something Japan has in common with most of China, over the centuries, the Land of the Rising Sun has developed its own, unique tea culture.
At first tea was imported from China, but since the 7th century, tea has been grown and produced in Japan, using techniques that had spread in China during the Song Dynasty. The tea was steamed, then rubbed into a paste and baked into briquettes. The tea was brewed in a special way. First it was ground into fine powder, matcha, then mixed with hot boiled water, whipped to a froth. The resulting suspension is the tea drink. This way of tea serving survives to this day in the classical Japanese tea ceremony. You can buy matcha in our shop. This is tea from the oldest tea regions, such as Shizuoka Prefecture at the foot of Fuji Mountain and Uji plantations in the southern part of Kyoto Prefecture.
The taste is fresh, juicy and energizing: this tea is amazing to kick off your day in a bright way.
How to make matcha at home?
Here is a simple recipe for preparing matcha at home:
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon of matcha powder
60 ml of hot water (not boiling, ideally around 70- 80°C)
200 ml of milk or milk alternative (optional)
Sweetener of your choice (optional)
Equipment:
Matcha bowl or any wide, shallow bowl
Matcha whisk (chasen) or any small whisk
A measuring spoon (chashaku)
Instructions:
Sift 1 teaspoon of matcha powder into your matcha bowl to remove any lumps.
Pour 60 ml of hot water over the matcha powder and whisk vigorously in a "W" or "M" motion using a matcha whisk or any small whisk, until the mixture becomes frothy and there are no lumps left.
If you prefer a creamier texture, you can add 200 milk or plant based milk to the matcha and mix thoroughly.
If desired, add sweetener of your choice to taste.
Enjoy your homemade matcha!
Note: For a traditional Japanese preparation, you can use a bamboo scoop called a chashaku to measure the matcha powder instead of a measuring spoon.
