Matcha Green Tea, 100 g

What Is Matcha?

It’s a form of green tea that’s been enjoyed in China and Japan for hundreds of years. The leaves are made into a powder that’s far stronger than regular tea, so a little can go a long way.

How It’s Made
About 2 weeks before harvest, farmers build structures around the plants to shade them, leaving them almost in the dark. It’s thought that this makes the leaves softer, sweeter, and brighter. After harvest, the tea leaves are quickly steamed, then dried and put into heated ovens for 20 minutes or so. Workers then remove stems, twigs, and other unneeded parts and grind the leaves into powder.

How It Tastes
Though it’s made from the same leaf, some people say matcha is sweeter and creamier than regular green tea. You may also notice a “grassiness” to the smell and taste, especially if you use a lot of the powder.

How to Prepare

Matcha Tea
Whisk together 2 to 4 ounces of almost boiling water with 1 to 2 teaspoons of matcha powder. When it looks frothy and thoroughly mixed, it’s ready to drink. Add a bit more water if it’s too strong for your taste.

Matcha Latte
Any type of milk will work: cow, goat, soy, or almond. You can warm and even foam it, and a bit of honey will sweeten it if you like. Drink it hot, or pour it over ice for a summer treat.

Add It to Your Smoothie
Just a teaspoon or two should do the trick. More than that and you might over-caffeinate yourself for the day. Try different mixtures to find the one that works best with that matcha taste.

Sprinkle It on Oatmeal and Granola
Add matcha to your favorite breakfast in a bowl. If you make your granola at home, look for recipes that use the powder, or just add a teaspoon or two to your current recipe and see what you think.

Stir It Into Yogurt
Sift 2 teaspoons of matcha into half a cup of Greek yogurt and mix it up. Add some fruit, nuts, seeds, and a bit of honey for a healthy treat.