Matcha

What is Matcha?

Matcha is a true superfood! Unlike ordinary tea, it is not an infusion of the tea leaves that you drink. And because Matcha is a tea leaf grinded into a recognizable green powder and mixed with water, all the good nutrients of the tea leaf are present. These include all the antioxidants, protein and L-theanine that Matcha contains (and believe us, there are many!). Because you get all these good things, Matcha has a wide range of health benefits. We love it!

Where does Matcha come from?

This special tea originally comes from China, but was discovered long ago by Japanese travellers who then started using it in their traditional tea ceremonies. This was a ritual to which foreigners did not have access. This explains why Matcha has remained a closely guarded secret for centuries, even after Europeans had discovered drinking ‘regular’ tea long before. In order to make Matcha, the tea plants are placed in the shade of tarpaulins about three weeks before harvesting. Then mainly the upper leaves of the plant are harvested which are the freshest and greenest. When the leaves are dried, they are ground between stones to a fine green powder.

How do I make Matcha?

Preparing Matcha tea must be done carefully and with the proper “tools”. These are a Chasen (bamboo Matcha whisk), a Chawan (Matcha bowl), Kusenaoshi (Matcha whisk holder) and a Chashaku (Matcha spoon). Of course, you can find all these items in our Matcha assortment. You mix a couple of spoons of Matcha powder with warm (not boiling) water and beat this with the beater in a zigzag fashion. It is important that there are no lumps in this creamy mass. That is not very nice to drink. You can then dilute the tea with water of about 70 degrees Celsius or with warm milk. Beat this mixture until it foams up well. Matcha is very much a tea that you take your time for.

Matcha's health benefits

Because Matcha is full of antioxidants and other good nutrients, it has several health benefits. It strengthens your immune system and gives you a nice energy boost after drinking. It can help with memory and concentration and also control blood sugar, so it can help improve your metabolism. And with a healthy metabolism, losing weight can be easier. Plenty of good stuff, indeed!