Sorori Tea Sisters reviewed our Luxury Matcha! This Luxury Matcha had a different name before. The name is Morning Organic Matcha. Sarah, a member of Sorori Tea Sisters, who live in Norfolk in the UK reviewed our Luxury Matcha (Morning Organic Matcha). Please read her review Here!
Have you ever felt that Japanese Green Tea is bitter or astringent and therefore hard to appreciate? Japanese Green Tea contains catechins, a group of polyphenols that give tea a bitter and astringent taste.
There is also caffeine, which is a bitter substance and all these cause the tea to appear bitter and astringent.
Although catechin has these properties, it is also noted for its preventive effects on lifestyle related diseases and for numerous other health benefits.
Learn about health benefits of Matcha Green Tea Here!
The oldest reliable record of tea drinking in Japan can be fond in "Nihon Koki" (one of the six classical Japanese history texts).
One passage describes how the Buddhist monk Eichuu offers tea to the Saga emperor on the 22nd of April 815. At that time, tea was a very rare delicacy.
It then got more widely spread during the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE) when Yosai, a Buddhist monk also known for having started the Rinzai Sect, brought back to Japan from Sung dynasty China.
The tea drunk at the time was close in resemblance to today's Matcha. Sencha came into being during the Edo period and within time it spread to the common people as well.
The birthplace of tea is thought to be China, and originally it was used as a remedy and antidote. The father of herbal medicine, Shen Nong, who according to the legend is credited for having created the base for today's Chinese medicine is said to have wandered through fields and mountains in search of beneficial herbs.
As he was trying to discern whether different types of herbs and leaves were good to consume for humans or not, he got poisoned as many as 72 times a day but when that happened, he always used tea leaves (camellia sinensis) as an antidote.
The story is of great importance for the understanding of the world of tea!
Japanese Green Tea was drunk as a medicine long time ago. Matcha is fine power of Japanese Green Tea. So drinking Matcha Green Tea means that you ingest the entire Green Tea leaves! That is why Matcha is called super healthy drink. Check out how good Matcha Green Tea is on this video.
Matcha Green Tea is becoming popular worldwide but still many people don't know about Matcha Green Tea well. The consequence of this fact is that many people waste their money for low quality matcha green tea. To avoid this happening, the most important thing is "Knowledge" but don't worry, we'll explain simply. :)
We posted the article "THE BASIC FACTS ABOUT JAPANESE MACHA " to a Tea lover blog called "The Cup of Life". Please read our post Here and become a Matcha Green Tea expert.
You have matcha questions and we have the answers! If you're curious about the Japanese green tea powder and need some more information before giving Grace & Green's matcha a try, here are 5 of the most frequently asked questions about matcha and our answers. We hope you learn something new about our favourite tea. Be sure to head to our shop page to find different matcha options to purchase afterwards, too.
1. What is the difference between matcha and other green teas?
Matcha and other green teas are from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis but the growing and processing methods of the tea leaves is the main difference. To make matcha, tencha green tea leaves are used. The plants are shaded before harvesting by covering them with bamboo mats or tarps. After the leaves are harvested they are steamed to prevent oxidation. They are then sorted before grinding in the the green powder we all know and love. Other green teas do not go through this entire process.
2. What is the difference between the ceremonial and culinary grades of matcha?
The main factors when comparing ceremonial grade matcha to culinary matcha are harvest, origin, plant and leaf quality and processing technique. Ceremonial grade matcha is higher quality and commonly used in the Japanese tea ceremony. It is the best for drinking matcha straight. Culinary grade matcha is lower quality and commonly used in recipes. Since it is a different quality than ceremonial grade, it can be a bit bitter and more grassy. Mixing it with other ingredients helps!
3. What should authentic Japanese matcha taste like?
Of course the taste of matcha will depend on the quality you are drinking and how you make it. But, authentic matcha from Japan should be the best quality with vegetal notes, smooth mouthfeel and no bitterness.
4. What are the health benefits of matcha?
Matcha is quite unique when it comes to other teas because you are ingesting the entire tea leaves when drinking it. Therefore, you are getting all of the nutrients from those tea leaves! Matcha is rich in vitamins, fiber and chlorophyll.
5. Why does my matcha not froth?
Your matcha may not be frothing for a few reasons! If you’re using too much water, the layer of froth on the surface of my matcha is hard to achieve. Also take a look at your water temperature. If the water is too cold the matcha will not suspend well in the water. The other option is that your matcha is low quality. Higher quality matcha is best if you really want to get a nice layer of froth. Lower quality matcha is harder to froth and better to be made into a latte, smoothie or other recipes.
Matcha is a powdered green tea produced in Japan. It is also the tea that is commonly used during the Japanese tea ceremony. However, the Japanese tea ceremony prepares matcha as a hot tea — not as a matcha latte. The matcha is made and served straight with no additives. This is also the healthiest way to consume the green tea powder.
Making matcha at home as a hot tea (the traditional way) is rewarding and such a revitalizing experience. We would love for more individuals to experience this! Thankfully, you do not need too many tools to make a great bowl of matcha at home.
Here are the items that you will need to get started:
1. Ceremonial Matcha
If you’re preparing matcha traditionally, it’s very important to have high quality matcha. The best matcha will be vibrant green and so smooth with absolutely no bitterness. It will also froth easier when whisked with the proper tools. To get started on your at home matcha making journey, check out this matcha that we offer.
2. Bamboo Scoop
When matcha is prepared in a tea ceremony you will not see regular teaspoons lying around. Instead, a bamboo scoop is used to measure out the perfect amount of matcha per serving. The best bamboo scoop will be handmade in Japan and should not have any chemical bleach treatment. Find the one we use daily here.
3. Matcha Sifter
Sifting your matcha before adding water can be helpful in getting rid of any lumps. A delicious bowl of matcha will be lump free, smooth and kind of creamy with the frothy surface. To achieve this better, it’s recommended that you invest in a matcha sifter. The few extra seconds you take during this step makes a difference in the end product. You do not need to spend a lot of money on one either. An expensive sifter will not make your matcha taste any better. This is a great, affordable option here.
4. Bamboo Whisk
You can certainly make matcha at home with an electric frother or whisk, but if you are preparing it in a traditional setting a bamboo whisk is required. It is also known as a chasen. It’s an authentic matcha tool that can also make a difference in preparing your matcha, therefore making the taste much better. Like the bamboo scoop, the whisk should be handmade in Japan without chemical treatment. Bamboo whisks come with various amounts of prongs. We recommend this one which has 72 prongs, as it is great for a thin matcha.
5. Bowl
Traditional matcha is made in a bowl, not a cup of mug. A matcha bowl is also known as a chawan. They are available in many shapes, sizes and designs. However, if you do not have one you can easily use another bowl at home. A soup bowl with high walls can work well. Just make sure you have enough room in the bowl to use the bamboo whisk without breaking it.
Grace and Green carries all of the items above so you can get everything you need to make matcha at home right here!