What Is Matcha?

Matcha is a high-grade green tea ground into powdered form. The green tea powder is whisked into hot water, instead of steeped, to form a frothy drink. The meditative act of preparing, presenting, and sipping matcha is the backbone of the Japanese tea ceremony. While matcha’s origins are ceremonial, the green tea powder is widely popular around the world in beverages like tea lattes or boba tea, and as a cooking ingredient in everything from ice cream to salad dressing.

  

What Is The Origin Of Matcha?

Matcha isn’t just the latest beverage fad or coffee replacement. Matcha isn’t just a trendy drink that Hollywood drinks by the gallon. Matcha dates back nearly a thousand years to a time when dynasties ruled China and Shogun clans ruled Japan. Matcha can be traced all the way back to the The Tang Dynasty that spanned the 7th – 10th centuries in China. During this time, the Tang Dynasty steamed tea leaves to form into bricks, making their tea harvests easier to transport and subsequently trade. These tea bricks were prepared by roasting and pulverizing the leaves then mixing the resulting tea powder with water and salt. However, the ensuing Song Dynasty, which reigned from the 10th – 13th, is largely credited with making this form of tea preparation popular. Eisai, a Japanese Buddhist Monk, spent the better part of his life studying Buddhism in China. In 1191, Eisai returned permanently to Japan, bringing with him tea seeds along with the Zen Buddhist methods of preparing powdered green tea. The tea seeds that Eisai brought back with him from China was largely considered to create highest quality tea leaves in all of Japan. Eisai subsequently planted these seeds on the temple grounds in Kyoto, the home of the Kamakura Shogun. During the period of the Kamakura Shogun, matcha was only produced in extremely limited quantities and was thus regarded as a luxurious status symbol. Soon after Eisai’s return to Japan, Zen Buddhists developed a new method for cultivating the green tea plant. Tencha was developed by growing the green tea plant under shaded conditions – this method is largely credited for maximizing the health benefits of matcha.

WHAT IS A MATCHA CEREMONY?

The tea ceremony was not conceived until the 1500’s by a Zen student named Murata Juko. Juko brought together several fragmented pillars of the tea ceremony into a formalized ritual that included the cultivation, consumption and ceremony. Zen Master Sen-no-Rikyu is largely credited with popularizing Juko’s tea ceremony ritual and has become the most well-known and revered historical figure of the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Sen-no-Rikyu formed the four basic principles of the Japanese Tea Ceremony Harmony (wa), Respect (kei), Purity (sei) & Tranquility (jaku) The Japanese Tea Ceremony is called “Chado” or “Sado.” Translated, this means “The Way of Tea.”

How Do I Use It?

Step 1
Sift 1-2 tsp matcha into a cup using a small sifter.
Step 2
Add 2oz hot water. For best results use water just under a boil.
Step 3
Whisk vigorously in a zig zag motion until the tea is frothy
Step 4
Enjoy your matcha tea straight from the bowl.
As matcha is highly concentrated, a little goes a long way. It can seem costly compared to regular green tea, but its benefits reflect its price tag. Our suggested serving size is ½ teaspoon (1.5g). We have a special matcha spoon HERE if you need.
  
The traditional ceremonial preparation requires a whisk and a time-consuming process. Our matcha has been carefully selected to be more accessible and convenient, so you can use a whisk if desired or simply dissolve in a dash of WARM water to form a paste and then add boiling water (for a plain tea), warm milk (for a latte) or mix it in with other ingredients depending on the recipe
(see HERE for some of our favourites).

 

What Are The Benefits Of Using Matcha?

  • Is packed with antioxidants including the powerful EGCg
  • Boosts metabolism and burns calories
  • Detoxifies effectively and naturally
  • Calms the mind and relaxes the body
  • Is rich in fiber, chlorophyll and vitamins
  • Enhances mood & aids in concentration
  • Provides vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc & magnesium
  • Prevents disease
  • Lowers cholesterol & blood sugar
  • Sugar free, dairy free, almost calorie free & vegan friendly