What is matcha? Find the answer, learn about its benefits, and discover different types as well as how to brew it as a simple tea recipe in this Matcha 101 guide!
What is matcha?
Matcha is a type of Japanese green tea powder made out of dried tea leaves that are ground into a fine powder.
Unlike other types of green tea, matcha tea leaves are grown specifically in the shade. This increases the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves, giving the tea its vibrant green color.
The leaves are then handpicked for processing. Matcha tea has been an integral component of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies for centuries. However, in recent years, it has become popular around the world, particularly in the United States.
What does matcha tea taste like?
Matcha has a slightly vegetal, more earthy flavor than other types of green tea. It’s slightly grassy with sweet undertones.
Bitterness
High-quality matcha should not be bitter. If your tea is bitter in flavor, that’s a sign that your powder is a lower-quality brand.
Types of Matcha
Not all matcha powder is created equally! There are two grades including:
- Ceremonial Matcha: This is the highest quality you can find and is made with young, high-quality tea leaves. As a result, it has a smooth, sweet taste and is bright green in color, making it perfect for brewing as a tea for drinking or using in recipes like my matcha latte and morning boost green smoothie.
- Culinary Matcha: This is lower quality, meaning it’s stronger and more bitter in flavor.
Even though culinary-grade matcha is recommended for baking, it gives baked goods a brownish-green tint. That’s why I use ceremonial-grade matcha for my strawberry matcha roll cake and matcha sponge cake!
Other Types of Matcha
In addition to plain powders, you can also find flavored matcha powders, latte mixes, and instant green tea powder.
- Flavored matcha powders are great for quick drinks. The Tea Forte chocolate and coconut flavors are two of my absolute favorites!
- Matcha latte mixes are a type of pre-mixed powder with a sweetener designed to create quick homemade lattes.
- Instant green tea powder is perfect for iced lattes and other quick drinks.
Flavor
If you have tried matcha tea before and decided you don’t like it because of its grassy, bitter taste, I encourage you to try a ceremonial-grade variety. Or, test out one of the flavored teas from Tea Forte. You might just be pleasantly surprised!
Just make sure to read the ingredient list, and avoid the powders with added sugar, milk powder, and other ingredients! Many are way too sweet for my taste.
Matcha brands I love
I’ve used many different matcha brands over the years. In the past, I bought matcha tea at Narita airport while traveling to Mongolia. As my trips have slowed down and my matcha consumption has increased, I found a few favorite online brands that I love.
- My absolute favorite brand on Amazon – so smooth and vibrant!
- This one is my second favorite on Amazon
- Another great quality matcha on Amazon
You really can’t go wrong with any of the above teas!
How to make matcha green tea
It’s quite simple to make a cup of matcha tea, but there are some rules around it:
- Boil a pot of water and let it cool for a few minutes. I usually pour the water into a tea kettle!
- In a small tea cup or bowl, whisk 1-2 teaspoons of matcha powder and 1 tablespoon of the boiled water until smooth. Do not use boiling water, as it will burn the delicate tea powder, creating a bitter taste!
- Add water and sweetener, if using, whisk to combine, and enjoy!
For smooth-tasting matcha tea
To prevent bitter tea, do NOT use boiling water!
The ideal water temperature for making matcha tea is between 160°F and 175°F (70°C to 80°C).
FAQs:
The ratio of powder to water depends on the strength and flavor you prefer. A general rule of thumb is to use 4-7 ounces of water or milk for every teaspoon of powder. Add more or less, depending on how strong you like your tea.
Making matcha taste good is all about finding the right balance of sweetness and bitterness. You can do this by experimenting with different ratios of matcha powder to water and adding sweeteners such as honey or sugar to taste.
In addition, be sure to use high-quality matcha and filtered water that has been heated just below the boiling point. Matcha can be a bit of an acquired taste. So, keep experimenting to find what you like best!
Once opened, leftover powder is best used within a month or so. For the best results, store the leftover powder in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
More Helpful Ingredient Guides
How to Make Matcha Tea
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1-2 teaspoons ceremonial grade matcha powder
- 1 teaspoon honey if desired
Instructions
- Boil a pot of water and let it cool for a few minutes. I usually pour the water into a tea kettle! (TIP: The ideal water temperature for making matcha tea is between 160°F and 175°F (70°C to 80°C).)
- In a tea cup or bowl, whisk 1-2 teaspoons of matcha powder and 1 tablespoon of hot water until smooth. This step ensures smooth, lump-free tea.
- Add more water and honey, if using, and whisk to combine.
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Tips & Notes
