You’ve seen the vibrant green drinks and green baked goods. You’ve also probably heard someone talk about matcha’s benefits. What is matcha anyway and what’s all the hype about? Read on to learn all about what matcha is and how to use it in recipes!
What Is Matcha
This green powder tea is very common in Japan, as it’s been around since 1190s. They were popular amongst Japanese monks, which then spread through the rest of Japan, and now, across the world. Matcha is a Japanese word and literally means “powder tea.” It refers to Japanese green tea leaves from the Camellia sinensis tea plant that have been ground into fine powder.
How is it different than green tea?
Green tea is made by heating the tea leaves, then drying them (simply put). We do not consume the full leaf of green tea, as we drink the liquid after steeping green tea leaves. With matcha, the whole leaf is ground up after being de-stemmed and de-veined. We’re essentially consuming the entire leaf because of this process!
What Does Matcha Taste Like
Some call it grassy. Others say seaweed-y. Chalky and bitter are also words used to describe this green tea powder. In my opinion, there’s definitely an herbal, grassy, and earthy taste. You can also think of it as a more concentrated taste of green tea.
Please note that depending on the variety, the taste can range vastly – just like wine! Further, depending on the grade, the smoothness or bitterness will change drastically as well.
One thing’s for sure – the green drink is an acquired taste and I’m so glad I’ve acquired it! I hope you do too!
Is Matcha Good for You
This mysterious green tea powder seems to have varied health benefits. I’m no health expert, but here’s what I’ve gathered about its health benefits…
Matcha may help reduce inflammation, promote heart health, and protect the body from disease due to the antioxidants in it. It’s also said that this vibrant green powder helps improve concentration and alertness because of the L-Theanine content in it.
Umamiology Disclaimer: Umamiology is a food blog, not a nutrition or medical source. If needed, please seek health advice from a certified professional.😄
Does Matcha Have Caffeine
Yes, there is caffeine in it! I’ll keep things simple… There’s about one fourth of the caffeine in a cup of green tea in comparison to a regular cup of coffee. However, a cup of matcha green tea can have up-to or more caffeine than coffee depending on the variety and how much powder you use.
A cool fact, though, to keep in mind is that unlike coffee, matcha caffeine doesn’t give you the caffeine jitters. The green powder’s caffeine has an amino acid called L-Theanine, which makes it different than coffee caffeine. This amino acid, apparently, helps soothe anxiety and stress, which helps calm you.
Moreover, another interesting matcha caffeine fact is that it releases gradually and our body absorbs it more like water. This is different than the immediate jold that coffee caffeine give you. In conclusion, the caffeine in matcha hangs around longer and you don’t end up with that caffeine crash at the end! Fascinating!
What Is Ceremonial Grade
I always wondered why the word “ceremonial” was written in some cafes. Now I know, after much studying, that “ceremonial” refers to one of the 3 main grades of matcha.
Ceremonial grade is the highest in price. It’s also the most sought after because of its smoother flavor, which makes it perfect for classic tea – no bitterness! The ceremonial grade powder has a vibrant shade of green in comparison to the other grades. The ceremonial grade tea leaves are taken from the first harvest, then de-stemmed and de-veined before they are stone grinded to a fine powder.
Next is culinary grade. These leaves are taken from the second harvest. Culinary grade powder boasts itself in its bold and rich flavor. It even has a bit of bitter taste which ends up balancing out with other ingredients used, like milk or sweeteners. We use culinary grade in our Matcha Tiramisu – mmMmmMmm!
The last grade that we’ll cover is the ingredient grade. The leaves in the ingredient grade are from the later harvest tea leaves. These have more of a yellowish green tint and has a definite bitter taste. This powder is used mostly in supplements.
The Starter Kit
Is it worth getting a starter kit? Definitely yes – I love mine!
I do recommend getting a starter kit, especially if you don’t have tools to use as substitutes. This is the one I got – Matcha Starter set – and I’m glad I did! It’s easy to use and store and it gave me everything I needed for the perfect cup of tea.
However, you can aways use a wide-mouthed, round bowl or mug, regular spoons, and whisks or hand-held frothers!
What Does It Mean to Bloom Your Bamboo Whisk
In traditional Japanese custom, the bamboo whisk, or the chasen, is used to mix and froth the green powder mixture. Personally, I love my chasen. It’s super quick and easy it is to use, clean, and store.
So what does it mean to “bloom” your bamboo whisk? In my research, I’ve found that there are couple of ways people refer to when they say “bloom” your bamboo whisk.
- When you first purchase a bamboo whisk, the best practice is to soak it in warm water. This helps rid the whisk of any impurities. It also lets the curled up prongs to open up a bit – allowing it to bloom.
- Upon usage, naturally, the core and the curls at the end of the bamboo whisk with start to uncurl more and more. This happens naturally every time you use your whisk. So, the chasen blooms naturally with usage.
Quick tip, though, is that it’s always good to soak the chasen in warm water for a quick 20-ish seconds before each use. This practice allows the bamboo prongs to soften for flexibility while whisking. It also helps it last longer!
Perfect Matcha Latte Recipes
We love lattes here at Umamiology. Hence, introducing our perfect latte trio:
Check out all three matcha latte recipes and let us know in the comments below which one’s your favorite!
More Matcha Recipes
We’ve also crafted special recipes for the more adventurous fans:
Any way you matcha, we know you’ll love it so “matcha!” (Yes, I did just do that ;p)
