Is Matcha green tea?
Matcha is a traditionally processed green tea from Japan. It is covered with tarps about twenty days before harvest. This produces more chlorophyll, giving the leaves a deep green color. After harvesting, the leaves are steamed and carefully ground into a powder. The Japanese processing method is unique. Therefore, it's crucial that the powder comes from Japan. If it comes from China, Korea, or elsewhere, we no longer call it matcha, but green tea powder. The effect when consumed will be completely different.
What is the difference with “regular” green tea?
The green tea leaves are placed in a tea bag, tea infuser, or other filtering mechanism, the tea is steeped for a few minutes, the leaves are then discarded, and the infusion is drunk. So, you're essentially throwing away a lot of nutrients. With matcha, the tea is ground into a powder. With this powder, you pour hot water over it, mix the tea with the water, and drink all the active ingredients from the tea leaf.
When you read it that way, it makes a lot more sense. Because you're drinking the entire leaf, and not just an infusion, you get x-fold more nutrients because they're not wasted. This also means you'll get more caffeine than with a cup of "regular" green tea.
How do you prepare matcha and what does it taste like?
A properly prepared matcha should absolutely not be bitter.
Temperature, but also the quality of the tea, is very important. Matcha also ages very quickly. So don't forget to store it in the refrigerator. Fishy smell? Hay smell? That's definitely not how matcha should taste or smell. A true, high-quality matcha is smooth and creamy, with an umami aftertaste.
Why is some Matcha so expensive?
As with all types of tea, there's a significant price difference, and matcha is no exception. Just like with whiskey, wine, and even olive oil, quality plays a huge role here. Does this mean that cheaper tea or matcha is always bad? No, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
Matcha comes exclusively from Japan. Anything called matcha that isn't from Japan shouldn't actually be called matcha. It would have to be called green tea powder. Green tea powder from China doesn't have the same potency as Japanese tea. Do you remember the specific production process? And of course, there's a different basis. Today, 80% of the powders sold as matcha aren't matcha at all. 5% of that green tea powder isn't even green tea powder, and a very high percentage isn't pure. You're always welcome to visit, and we'll show you all our Japanese organic JAS certificates!
*Blend vs. Single Estate. Just like with wine, whiskey, and olive oil, there are so-called single estate and blends. Blends are usually cheaper. That doesn't make them worse, but "single estate" teas usually have more authentic properties that blends lack. The quality of the blend is also important: are inferior, cheaper leaves added, or is it a blend of all first-harvest organic tea from organic plantations? In my shop, I pride myself on single estate for my matcha. Many people drink this tea for the boost it gives them and for "health benefits."
Flavorings and colorings are often added to tea to mislead consumers or guarantee a certain taste they're accustomed to. In the case of matcha, this can be downright mind-boggling. This is another reason why we NEVER trust cheap matcha.
Can I drink matcha when pregnant?
No, just like "regular" green tea, it's strongly discouraged. Knowing that green tea is very diuretic, it's not a good idea to drink matcha during pregnancy. Especially not after what you've read above. If you do drink green tea, you're advised to limit it to a maximum of 1 or 2 very light infusions per day (no matcha!). It's also discouraged during breastfeeding, as it can cause colic in the baby. And no parent wants that...
When I'm feeling flu-like and need all my strength to heal, I'll never choose green tea either. Fluid retention takes away many essential nutrients that are crucial for healing. People undergoing chemotherapy or other treatments that are very demanding are also advised against drinking matcha.