Matcha

WHAT IS MATCHA?
Matcha is a finely ground powder made from specially grown and processed green tea leaves Camellia sinensis. While regular green tea involves steeping whole or broken leaves in hot water and throwing them away, with matcha, you are consuming the entire tea leaf. Because the powder doesn't dissolve entirely, it is whisked directly into hot water or milk to form a vibrant, frothy brew.

What Makes it Different?

The unique nature of matcha comes down to how it is grown and processed:

The Shade Method: About 20 to 30 days before harvest, the tea bushes are covered to block out direct sunlight. This shade trick jacks up the plant's chlorophyll production, turning the leaves a deep, intense green and increasing the production of amino acids.

The Texture: Only the finest, youngest tea buds are hand-picked. The veins and stems are meticulously removed, leaving a pure leaf material called tencha. This is then slowly stone-ground into the micro-fine powder we call matcha.

The Caffeine & The "Calm"

Matcha contains more caffeine than standard steeped green tea, often coming close to a cup of brewed coffee. However, it rarely gives people the jitters.

Matcha is packed with L-theanine, an amino acid that slows down the absorption of caffeine in your body. The result is a steady, sustained release of energy often described as "alert calmness" rather than the sharp spike and crash associated with coffee.

TIP! Real matcha is sensitive to light and air. If you buy a tin, store it in the fridge or a dark, cool cupboard, and try to use it within a couple of months of opening to keep that bright green color and fresh flavor from oxidizing.

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