What is Matcha? The Ultimate Guide to Japan’s Most Famous Tea

From frothy bowls of vibrant green tea drunk in traditional ceremonies to its delicious modern incarnation in lattes and cakes, matcha has become something of a cult phenomenon. It’s not only praised for its wealth of health benefits, it’s also an integral part of Japanese culture. So exactly what is matcha, and does it live up to the hype? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Japan’s most famous type of tea.

Matcha is a powdered green tea, which is made by grinding up whole tea leaves. The resulting fine powder is then whisked with hot water to make a drink. This is different to most other varieties of tea, which are made by steeping the leaves in hot water and then removing them before drinking.

What truly makes matcha special is the leaves it’s made from. Although all tea comes from the same plant – camellia sinensis – matcha is created from high-grade leaves that have been shaded before harvesting to boost their production of chlorophyll. This is what gives the drink its vivid green color, unique umami flavor, and high nutritional content. Only fresh young leaves are used to make matcha, and farmers pick them by hand to ensure good quality. After being steamed and dried, the leaves are ground into a powder using either a traditional grinding stone or more modern equipment. If you'd like to try harvesting fresh tea yourself, sign up for our Nishio Matcha Tea Tour in Aichi!

Although now a quintessentially Japanese tea, matcha actually originated in China. Japanese Buddhist monks who had been studying in the country found it helped them to achieve a state of calm alertness that assists with meditation. They then brought the tea back to Japan with them in around the 8th century, where it later became popular among the nobility too. This led to the development of the Japanese tea ceremony, which remains a significant part of the country’s culture to this day.

Matcha has its own rich characteristic flavor, because the entire tea leaf is dissolved into the water rather than being steeped in it and then taken out. The resulting drink is smooth and creamy, with a complex grassy taste that strikes the perfect balance between sweet and umami. Like all green teas, it also has a hint of bitterness, which is why it pairs so well with traditional Japanese wagashi sweets.

Matcha can be divided into several grades, which have distinctive characteristics and are designed for different uses:

This is the highest quality of matcha, and is intended purely for drinking. As the name implies, it’s the type of matcha that’s used in Japanese tea ceremonies. It has a fine texture, vibrant green color, and delicate sweet flavor. The resulting tea is rich and thick, with a smooth feel and grassy scent.

Sometimes included as a type of culinary grade, premium grade matcha is usually made from the second tea harvest rather than the first. This gives it a slightly more intense and bitter flavor, but the same rich green color and nutritional benefits. As it’s cheaper than ceremonial grade matcha, it’s an ideal choice for everyday drinking at home.

Culinary-grade matcha is intended for use in baking and cooking, whether that’s adding it to smoothies, ice cream, cakes or lattes. The leaves used to make it are a little older than those in ceremonial and premium grade matcha, giving it a stronger taste, higher astringency, and darker color. This category can be further subdivided into:

• Cafe grade – ideal for blended drinks such as smoothies and lattes
• Ingredient grade – ideal for ice cream and other desserts
• Kitchen grade – commonly used for large-scale production of baked goods
• Classic grade – the most economical option, which can be used in all sorts of recipes

So now that we’ve covered what matcha is, let’s look at how you can enjoy it. There’s a definite art to preparing the tea, however, it’s easy to make at home with just a few tools by following these simple steps:

1. Use hot water to warm up a chawan tea bowl (or a mug if you don’t have one), then empty it out
2. Sift 1-2 teaspoons of matcha powder into the bowl (this helps to ensure there are no clumps of tea)
3. Add a small amount of hot water (about 176℉/80℃ is ideal – boiling water will scorch the powder and make the tea more astringent) 
4. Whisk the mixture using a bamboo chasen. If you don’t have one, you can use a wire whisk or a spoon, however, you won’t get as much of a frothy texture. Start with a circular motion to dissolve the powder, then whisk vigorously in a zigzag pattern to froth up the tea
5. Top the tea off with more hot water, and whisk again to get a foamy layer on top
6. Enjoy!

While the above method is perfect for everyday drinking, to truly experience the cultural significance of matcha you can’t beat taking part in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Kyoto and Uji are some of the best places to attend one, and there are plenty of ceremonies conducted in English at temples and teahouses across Japan. Don’t worry if you’re not able to travel to Japan though, because with our Online Interactive Tea Ceremony you can join in from the comfort of your own home!

One of the main reasons matcha has become so popular in recent years is because of the many health benefits it’s purported to have. So, is matcha good for you or is this just clever marketing?

Well, green tea of all kinds is known to be healthy thanks to its high levels of antioxidants called catechins and the presence of L-theanine. Matcha in particular offers even greater nutritional value because the powder is completely dissolved in the water. That means when you drink it, you’re consuming the entire tea leaf and not just the infusion. 

Research suggests that matcha may provide a whole wealth of different health benefits. These include:

• Reducing damage to your cells from free radicals
• Keeping your heart healthy
• Protecting your liver
• Helping to prevent cancer
• Enhancing weight loss
• Lowering cholesterol
• Maintaining healthy skin

One of the biggest benefits of drinking matcha is improving your mental health and cognitive functions. Renowned for producing a feeling of calm alertness that monks found so helpful for meditation, matcha can boost your mood and keep you focused. This makes it the perfect choice for days when you want to be both relaxed and productive!

Because it’s shaded for a few weeks before being harvested and you’re ingesting the entire tea leaf, matcha contains higher levels of caffeine than other types of green tea. Compared to brewed coffee, however, it has lower amounts of caffeine. Bear in mind that the amount of caffeine in any one cup of matcha will depend on factors such as the amount of powder you use and how concentrated you make the drink.

Matcha’s big advantage when it comes to caffeine is that the L-theanine it contains alters the effects of the stimulant, causing your body to absorb it more slowly. This keeps you alert while avoiding the crash in energy levels that some coffee drinkers experience.

Whether you enjoy matcha the traditional way or in a latte or dessert, it can be a delicious and healthy addition to your diet. Not to mention, taking part in a tea ceremony either in Japan or from home is a fantastic way to discover more about Japanese culture. Time to put the kettle on!

After learning about the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, wouldn’t you like to try making it for yourself? Take a look through these tea ceremony experiences and soon you’ll be whisking with the best of them!

A Japanese tea ceremony in a temple couldn’t sound fancier if it tried, and that’ll be your life if you join this tea ceremony and sweets experience at Tokyo’s Koboji Temple. Founded in 816 AD and known for Hoto, a flame that’s been burning for over 1200 years, light your own flame for the art of Japanese matcha. 

Learn the history behind the tea ceremony, the tools used in the precise process of making matcha, and then give it a go — gracefully, of course. Alongside the perfectly poured matcha, you’ll also enjoy the gentle flavors of wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets), said to counteract the bitterness of the tea with its natural sweetness.

Add a photoshoot: Commemorate your experience of a traditional tea ceremony with photos taken by a professional photographer.

Try ikebana flower arrangement: Immerse yourself in another traditional Japanese art by learning Japanese flower arrangement.

With over 50 years of culinary experience between these two hosts, this sushi and tea ceremony in Tokyo is an experience you won’t want to miss. Get hands-on with the history of Japan, first enjoying a sensational sushi lunch crafted by a professional chef of over 35 years.

Once you’ve savored the sushi, witness the wonders of the Japanese tea ceremony, demonstrated by an expert of over 15 years experience before trying it out for yourself. To reward your hard work, relax and chat over your freshly brewed matcha and nibble on the traditional wagashi sweets they’ll be paired with.

Plus, if all your new knowledge and skills weren’t enough, you’ll be presented with a tenugui hand towel as a souvenir — a symbol of this memorable experience in Tokyo.

Add a sake tasting: Prefer your sushi with a side of sake? Upgrade your experience to include high-quality, Japanese sake with lunch.

A mountaintop tea ceremony and breakfast in Hiroshima — does it get any better? Hike up the sacred Mt. Futaba trail, visit the Toshogu and Kinko Inari shrines, and enjoy the mindful movements and moments of a traditional Japanese breakfast and tea ceremony while soaking up the sweeping views of Hiroshima below.

For an experience that’ll make your friends back home get serious FOMO, there’s nothing quite like this.

Craving some desserts featuring this unique flavor? Check out these Matcha Dessert Cafes in Tokyo!